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Ginger Pork Meatball Soup with Bok Choy

Ginger Pork Meatball Soup with Bok Choy

Hey there! Today’s Ginger Pork Meatball Soup recipe is a delectable, heartwarming comfort food especially for those who love fresh ginger!

This filling, Asian-inspired soup is loaded with umami flavours from the plump ginger (and garlic) pork meatballs and flavourful broth that’s both deliciously salty and slightly sweet.

The addition of tasty baby bok choy and carrots adds more sweet vegetable notes as well as nourishing vitamins and minerals. Did you know that bok choy (a type of Chinese cabbage) is rich in nutrients such as vitamins A, C, K and folate?

I hope you enjoy this recipe!

How do you make this meatball soup recipe?

(Full ingredient amounts and instructions available in the recipe card down below).

Add the chicken broth, water, and sliced ginger into a large pot. Bring the liquid to a boil before reducing the heat to a low simmer (first photo). Let it simmer while you prepare the other ingredients.

Combine the meatball ingredients (ground pork, breadcrumbs, garlic, ginger, soy sauce, egg, and black pepper) in a large bowl. Form heaping tablespoon sized meatballs (second photo).

In a large sauté pan or iron-cast skillet at medium-high heat, brown the meatballs in one tablespoon of vegetable oil, about 1-2 minutes per side. (third photo). Remove from the skillet onto a paper-towel lined plate or cutting board (not shown).

Remove the sliced ginger from the broth (or leave it in if you love ginger). My husband and I love the spicy taste of ginger so we tend to always leave it in (first photo).

Add in the meatballs, bok choy, and carrots and bring the broth to a boil before reducing it to a simmer for 10-15 minutes, until the pork is cooked and vegetables are tender (second photo).

Stir in the remaining ingredients (green onions, soy sauce, rice vinegar, sugar, and sesame oil) into the soup. Ladle into bowls and enjoy!

Overhead view of two wooden bowls full of ginger pork meatball soup with bok choy.

Looking for more easy and simple soup recipes? Here are four more recipes.

A top angled view of ginger pork meatball soup with bok choy with another bowl of soup in the background.

In summary, this ginger pork meatball soup recipe is:

  • Delicious: This Asian-inspired soup is full of umami flavours. The juicy ginger pork meatballs, tender bok choy, and flavourful broth really shine in this recipe.
  • Hearty and warming: It’s a wonderful meal to make on a cool day or evening to warm you up inside.
  • Simple to make: Follow the uncomplicated instructions to easily make this filling soup in under an hour.
  • Adaptable: Use ground turkey or chicken instead of pork and/or switch up the bok choy with other leafy Asian vegetables.
A gold spoon holding up a single ginger pork meatball over bowl of pork meatball soup with bok choy.

Did you make this easy recipe? Leave me a rating and comment down below or tag me on any of my social media. I’m @yay_for_food on Instagram. Please share your recipe pictures!

Overhead view of two wooden bowls filled with ginger pork meatball soup with bok choy and carrots.

Ginger Pork Meatball Soup with Bok Choy

Yield: 6
Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes

Ginger is the star of this delicious, simple, and comforting pork meatball soup recipe where tender bok choy is cooked in a savoury, flavourful broth.

Ingredients

For the meatballs:

  • 1 tbsp vegetable oil
  • 1 lb. lean ground pork
  • ¼ cup plain breadcrumbs
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1-inch ginger, minced
  • 1 tbsp soy sauce
  • 1 large egg
  • ½ tsp black pepper

For the soup:

  • 4 cups chicken broth (low sodium or no salt)
  • 2 cups water
  • 3-inch piece ginger, sliced into matchsticks
  • 4 cups (3-4 bunches) baby bok choy, chopped
  • 2 medium carrots, chopped
  • ½ cup green onions, chopped
  • 2 tbsp soy sauce
  • 2 tsp rice vinegar
  • 2 tsp sugar
  • ¼ tsp sesame oil

Instructions

  1. In a large pot, pour in the chicken broth and water along with the sliced ginger. Bring to a boil before reducing the heat to a low simmer (This is a good time to prep your vegetables before forming the meatballs).
  2. Make the meatballs by combining the meatball ingredients (ground pork, breadcrumbs, garlic, ginger, soy sauce, egg, and black pepper) in a large bowl. 
  3. Measure out heaping tablespoon sized meatballs until the ground pork mixture is used up.
  4. In a large sauté pan or iron-cast skillet (I use a 12-inch skillet) at medium-high heat, pour in 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil and brown the meatballs, turning once to brown on two sides, about 1-2 minutes per side (the meatballs do not have to be fully cooked through).
  5. Remove from the skillet onto a paper towel lined plate or cutting board. Set aside.
  6. Return to the simmering pot of broth. Use a slotted spoon to remove the ginger slices (or leave them in if you love ginger!).
  7. Add the meatballs, bok choy, and carrots to the broth. Give the soup a mix to distribute the ingredients *(see first note). Bring the liquid back to a boil before reducing to a simmer. Cook uncovered for 10-15 minutes, until the vegetables are tender and the meatballs are cooked through.
  8. Finish by stirring in the green onions, soy sauce, rice vinegar, sugar, and sesame oil (I mix them together in a measuring cup while the soup is simmering). Enjoy!

Notes

  • *If you think too much broth has evaporated, add in more broth or water. Remember that bok choy wilts as it cooks.
  • Nutritional information is based on one serving for a total of six servings.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 6 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 188Total Fat: 7gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 79mgSodium: 1203mgCarbohydrates: 11gFiber: 2gSugar: 4gProtein: 21g

Nutritional values are estimated based on the ingredients used by the author; your ingredients may differ. These values are calculated using Nutritionix.

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Jana

Tuesday 26th of March 2024

I have made this recipe numerous times. I like the pork meatballs better than other meat choices. One thing I do is chop sliced water chestnuts fine - maybe ¼ cup and add into the meatballs. (The test I throw into the soup) and…. I bake the meatballs on parchment in the oven while I’m doing other things. This is a favorite in my house!

Marie | Yay! for Food

Tuesday 26th of March 2024

I love the addition of water chestnuts! Thanks for taking the time to comment, Jana!

Kathy Harris

Thursday 16th of March 2023

Delicious recipe! I wanted something to make with a big bag of baby boy choy besides a stir fry and I had all the rest of the ingredients. To keep it Keto, I used ground pork rinds in place of bread crumbs, and added a little salt to the meatball mix. Made double the recipe and we will be enjoying this soup for several days. Thanks!

Marie | Yay! for Food

Monday 27th of March 2023

Thank you Kathy! I’m glad you enjoyed this recipe. I loved your tip on how to make it keto!

Dana

Wednesday 1st of March 2023

A ginger lover's dream! Really good, and easy too!

Marie | Yay! for Food

Saturday 4th of March 2023

So glad to hear! Thanks Dana!

Marg

Sunday 12th of February 2023

This was very good, I used green cabbage because I had some I wanted to use up and I added shitake mushrooms (again, had them wanted to use them up). My husband added some chili paste to his. I would make it again.

Marie | Yay! for Food

Tuesday 14th of February 2023

Thanks for the review, Marg!

Teri

Thursday 12th of January 2023

This was delicious! Will make it again.

Marie | Yay! for Food

Saturday 14th of January 2023

Thanks Teri!

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