Mincemeat soup (northern china)

This has been cooked for me by my Chinese friend-and it was delicious! I tried it the day after and it tasted almost as good as my friend’s.

Ingredients
For the mince balls:
Mincemeat: 1/3 pork, 2/3 beef
Onion-chopped finely
Ginger-chopped finely
½ teaspoon Sugar
Chinese 5 spices
Salt/pepper
Starch
Eggs (optional)

For the stock
A bit of oil
Fry ginger, onion
3-4 Potatoes-cut into cubes
3 Tomatoes-cut into wedges
Soya sauce
Spring onion
1-2 Anise stars
Coriander

Preparation
1. Mix all of the mince ball ingredients together and leave the flavours to develop for about 20 minutes.
2. Shape the mince meat into balls.
3. Heat the oil and fry the onions and ginger.
4. Fry the potatoes until transparent, it should take you about 5 minutes. Add water occasionally.
5. Add water so that it will be more than just covering the potatoes. When the water is just about to boil add the tomatoes and mince balls.
Add some Soya sauce and 1-2 Anise stars. Cook it on a medium heat for about 20 minutes
6. About 2 minutes before the end add some spring onion and coriander.