Grilled meatballs are a popular street food enjoyed by Thais of all ages. However, in an era where most meatballs are factory-made, finding authentic handmade traditional meatballs has become rare.
Thairath Online takes you to Nong Pla Mo Subdistrict, Ban Pong District, Ratchaburi Province, to discover a small sidecar meatball stall with a remarkable life story behind it.
We share the craft secrets of Sirikan Khunanyawasin and Apisit Sinsengiam, a married couple who create handmade grilled meatballs that attract a steady stream of customers.
This business began from a life crisis with just 500 baht from his mother. Behind the deliciousness is Apisit, the owner, a former meatball factory worker who quit due to health issues. After trying various jobs and running low on savings, he was left with only 500 baht, his mother's last support.
With limited capital, he combined his prior knowledge with lessons learned from YouTube on traditional meatball making, using only household kitchen tools to save on costly machinery. Starting by giving away meatballs at merit-making events, positive feedback from locals boosted his confidence to turn it into a livelihood.
The secret to the "handmade meatballs" lies in patience. Sirikan, the owner, personally shapes over 10 kilograms daily. The key technique begins with kneading very cold pork thoroughly, then carefully shaping each piece with a spoon to perfect bite size.
The secret to tender, bouncy, and non-gamey meatballs is the "water temperature." Sirikan explained that meatballs must be dropped into warm water over low heat only. Boiling water is forbidden as it ruins the shape, causes uneven cooking, and hardens the surface. Once the pot is full, the heat is increased gradually while stirring to ensure even cooking, resulting in a bouncy texture and distinct pork aroma.
The charm of charcoal grilling: the smoky aroma penetrates every bite. After preparing the perfect handmade meatballs, they are skewered and loaded onto the trusty motorcycle sidecar for selling. Using a charcoal grill not only reduces gas costs but also creates a unique flavor not achievable with electric grills.
Their grilling technique involves scoring the meatballs before placing them on the grill. This allows heat and smoky aroma from the charcoal to fully penetrate the meatballs, delivering hot, fragrant, and authentically textured bites to customers every time.
For those eager to taste this 10-baht craft street food, there's a promotion: buy 10 sticks, get 1 free.
Anyone wanting to enjoy fresh, handmade pork meatballs can visit daily from 1:00 p.m. until evening. The stall is located in front of Nong Pla Mo Temple and moves to the front of CJ Supermarket Nong Pla Mo branch in Ban Pong District, Ratchaburi, in the evening until night.