Pearl Balls 珍珠丸子 Chinese Pearl Meatballs with Sticky Rice 糯米丸子

beef

Healthier: chicken

Cheaper: pork

Chicken offers a leaner option while pork is often more affordable.

mirin

Healthier: rice vinegar + sugar

Cheaper: white wine

Rice vinegar with sugar mimics the sweetness of mirin.

dashi

Healthier: vegetable broth

Cheaper: chicken broth

Vegetable broth provides a lighter flavor, while chicken broth is often less expensive.

shichimi togarashi

Healthier: black pepper

Cheaper: cayenne pepper

Black pepper adds heat without additional cost.

pork

Healthier: ground turkey

Cheaper: ground chicken

Ground turkey is lower in fat while maintaining flavor.

glutinous rice

Healthier: quinoa

Cheaper: regular rice

Quinoa is higher in protein, but regular rice is more economical.

glutinous rice flour

Healthier: almond flour

Cheaper: regular rice flour

Almond flour is lower in carbohydrates, while regular rice flour is more accessible.

black sesame paste

Healthier: sunflower seed butter

Cheaper: tahini

Sunflower seed butter offers a similar nutty flavor, while tahini is often less expensive.

peanut butter

Healthier: almond butter

Cheaper: sunflower seed butter

Almond butter is healthier, while sunflower seed butter is budget-friendly.

red bean paste

Healthier: homemade bean puree

Cheaper: canned beans

Homemade puree is healthier and canned beans are more economical.