Lionhead Meatballs

Ingredients

• For the meatballs
• 1 lb ground beef
• 4 garlic cloves, finely chopped
• 2 tablespoons grated fresh gingerroot
• 2 spring onions, finely chopped
• 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
• 1 tablespoon shaoxing rice wine (or more, to taste) or 1 tablespoon dry sherry (or more, to taste)
• 2 tablespoons light soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
• 1 free-range egg, beaten
• 1 tablespoon cornflour
• 1 pinch white pepper
• For the Finished Dish
• 3 1/2 fluid ounces peanut oil
• 1 1/4 pints vegetable stock
• 11 ounces Chinese cabbage, leaves quartered lengthways
• 3 dried Chinese mushrooms, soaked in warm water for 15 minutes, then drained (alternative use fresh chestnut mushrooms, sliced)
• 1 tablespoon light soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon cornflour, mixed with
• 2 tablespoons cold water (optional)
• sea salt
• white pepper
• 2 large spring onions, sliced
• 1 dash sesame oil (optional)