Put Some Pop in Your Pork!

By Katie Barreira

The first I heard of spiking ground meat with soda was while cooking with a friend and fellow chef who uses a splash of Sprite to tenderize the filling in her pork dumplings. But the idea has been around at least as long as the soft drink. For Coke, that’d be 125 years as evidenced by their heritage meatloaf recipe – a mixture of ground beef, onions, catsup, basil and ½ cup of Coca-Cola.

While soft drinks also make excellent marinades for tough cuts, like flank steak, they are particularly effective in ground meat mixtures. So what’s the method behind the madness?

• The acidity in soda unwinds strands of protein, tenderizing the meat.
• Soda’s carbonation incorporates air into the mixture giving balls, patties, even loaves, a light and delicate texture.
• Soda’s syrupy base balances the savory meat mixture and when it caramelizes on the meat’s surface, becomes a sticky-sweet coating, bursting with addictive flavor.
• Whether it’s the classic flavor combination of orange and pork, the earthy sweetness of Coke paired with beef, or the clean citrus of lemon-lime soda with shrimp, soft drinks can enhance the flavor of any meat.

Orange Pork and Chive Meatballs

Makes 20

1 pound ground pork
¼ cup finely chopped shallots
1/4 cup chopped chives
1/4 cup orange soda
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 teaspoon orange zest
¼ cup panko breadcrumbs
1 tablespoon vegetable oil

1. In a large bowl, combine the pork, shallots, chives, orange soda, soy sauce and orange zest. Mix lightly with hands, then add panko and mix until just combined. Roll into 1 ½-inch balls.
2. In a large skillet, heat vegetable oil over medium-high heat and cook meatballs until golden on all sides and a just a touch of pink remains in the center, 6 to 8 minutes. Serve hot.

Serving Suggestions:

• Skewered with toothpicks alongside a soy-based dipping sauce (pictured: soy sauce, sliced scallions and strips of orange zest). Meatballs can be cooked up to 2 days ahead and reheated in a 350-degree oven for a make-ahead party appetizer.
• With a side of whipped parsnips and sautéed broccoli rabe.
• Over a bowl of rice, topped with thin slices of pan-fried garlic.

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Comments

[Lia | Color Correction]

Ooh I can't imagine pork mixed with orange soda. Very interesting.