Ingredients to Make Bola Bola
Taste the flavors of Filipino cuisine at home with this bola bola meatball recipe! It just takes a handful of simple ingredients to make. Check out the recipe card at the bottom of the post for the exact measurements.
Ground Pork: Ground pork is traditional but use ground chicken or ground turkey if you prefer. Onion: I like to finely dice or sometimes grate the onion so that I get the flavor and not the texture. Carrot: One small carrot will do! You don’t even need to peel it, wash and grate it whole. Garlic: Fresh minced garlic is the best! Panko Breadcrumbs: Gives it a tasty texture and helps give the meatball structure. Egg: Helps to bind the ingredients. Soy Sauce: Just a little for that umami flavor and to help moisten the mixture. Salt and Pepper: Enhances and balances the meatball flavors. Oil: Use a neutral oil for frying like canola or vegetable oil. Sweet Chili Sauce: Serve your meatballs with this yummy sauce. It’s so good!
Filipino Meatballs Recipe
These meatballs come together quickly and easily, making them perfect as a side dish, main course, or an appetizer for gatherings.
Breadcrumbs: Traditional bola-bola uses all-purpose flour to help bind the meatball ingredients, but I love the texture that panko breadcrumbs add. Feel free to use flour, cornstarch, or plain breadcrumbs in place of the panko! Cooking Methods: My bola bola recipe is cooked by frying. Using a deep fryer makes it SO easy! Feel free to bake, steam, air-fry, or braise your meatballs in sauce if you prefer. Oil: Be sure to use a neutral oil for frying! Use canola, vegetable, or safflower oil. Serving Ideas: We love these meatballs as an appetizer with dipping sauce on the side! Make it a meal and enjoy them over rice or with a side of veggies. You can also add them to a soup for added protein! Sauces: Dip your bola-bola meatballs in sweet and sour sauce, this firecracker sauce, or my tried and true teriyaki sauce.
In the Refrigerator: Once the meatballs have cooled, place them in an airtight container. Put it in your fridge for 3-4 days. To Reheat: You can reheat them in the microwave, but I prefer crisping them up in the air fryer. Place the meatballs in a single layer in your air fryer, then heat for 3-4 minutes at 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
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