Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup whole milk
  • 1/4 cup fine dry breadcrumb
  • 3/4 lb ground pork
  • 3/4 lb ground veal
  • 1 large egg, lightly beaten
  • 1/2 cup canned sliced water chestnuts, rinsed, drained, and finely chopped
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro, plus
  • 1/4 cup fresh cilantro stem
  • 5 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 4 teaspoons sesame oil
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
  • 2 tablespoons water
  • 2 teaspoons sugar

Method

  • Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 500°F.
  • Pour milk over bread crumbs in a large bowl and stir until liquid is absorbed. Add ground meat, egg, water chestnuts, salt, chopped cilantro, 1 tablespoon soy sauce, and 2 teaspoons oil and mix with your hands until combined well. Shape 3 tablespoons meat mixture into a ball and transfer to a 13- by 9-inch glass baking dish. Make more meatballs with remaining mixture, arranging meatballs about 1/2 inch apart in baking dish. Bake until cooked through, about 15 minutes.
  • Meanwhile, stir together lime juice, water, sugar, remaining 4 tablespoons soy sauce, and remaining 2 teaspoons oil in a bowl until sugar is dissolved.
  • Transfer meatballs to a serving dish. Stir sauce, then drizzle meatballs with 1 tablespoon sauce and sprinkle with cilantro sprigs.
  • Serve meatballs with remaining sauce.