How to Make Bakso, Indonesian Meatballs

Name: How to Make Bakso, Indonesian Meatballs
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 25 min
Cuisine: Asian
Ingredients: 4 beef bones ((weighing about 700 g (roughly 1.5 lb))); 2 L water; 3 cloves garlic (sliced); 5 cm ginger, sliced; 1 stalk celery; 2 spring onions (scallions, chopped in three piece); 1 star anise petal; 1 very small cinnamon stick; ½ tsp sugar; ½ tsp white pepper; 1 tsp salt; 500 g lean minced beef (5% fat); 100 g cornflour ((cornstarch in the US)); 3 cloves garlic (minced/pounded); 1 small handful fresh coriander leaves and stalks (cilantro); ½ ground white pepper; ½ baking powder; Noodles of your choice (amount, see explanation above); 4 small handfuls beansprouts; 1 large handful of any greens like pak choi or spinach; sambal or chilli paste of your choice; sliced up red chillies in dark soy sauce as in the image; crispy shallots homemade or shop bought (click to read more)

Instructions

Prep:20minCook:5min

Bakso is Indonesian meatball, and is an extremely popular Indonesian food. It’s everywhere; you’re just as likely to find it being sold by street vendors (called kaki lima), mom and pop eateries and swanky restaurants.

Updated at: Tue, 23 Dec 2025 00:02:12 GMT