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Curried Meatballs Recipe
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5 from 5 votes

Curry Meatballs Recipe

These curried meatballs are hand formed, baked, then simmered in a spicy curry sauce with roasted tomatoes, perfect for parties, appetizers, or main course.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time30 minutes
Course: Appetizer, Main Course
Cuisine: American, Indian
Keyword: curry, garam masala, ground beef, meatballs
Servings: 24 meatballs
Calories: 102kcal
Author: Mike Hultquist

Ingredients

FOR THE MEATBALLS

  • 1 medium white onion minced
  • 1 jalapeno pepper minced
  • 5 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 tablespoon garam masala
  • 2 teaspoons salt or to taste
  • 1 teaspoon cayenne or more to taste
  • ½ teaspoon cumin
  • 1 large egg beaten
  • 2 tablespoons plain yogurt
  • 2 slices bread
  • 1/4 cup milk
  • 1.5 pounds ground beef 80/20 preferred (or use ground turkey)

CURRY SAUCE

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 large onion chopped
  • 2-3 serrano peppers chopped (use jalapenos for less spicy)
  • 6 garlic cloves chopped
  • 1 1- inch knob of ginger peeled and chopped
  • 4 dried chiles de arbol
  • 1 tablespoon curry powder (I used Madras curry powder)
  • 1 tablespoon ground coriander
  • 2 teaspoons ground turmeric
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • Salt and pepper to taste about 1 tablespoon each
  • 1 14.5- ounce can fire roasted tomatoes
  • 2 cups water
  • 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice (plus more for serving)
  • For Serving. Fresh chopped cilantro and red pepper flakes

Instructions

FOR THE MEATBALLS

  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
  • Soak the bread in 1/4 milk, then squeeze out excess milk. Tear into pieces and add to a large bowl.
  • Add the onion, jalapeno, garlic, garam masala, salt, cayenne, cumin, egg, yogurt, and torn bread to a food processor or blender. Blend until smooth.
  • Transfer mixture to the large bowl and add the ground beef. Hand mix, but do not overmix.
  • Form the meat mixture into 24 equal sized meatballs and transfer to a lightly oiled baking sheet.
  • Bake for 20 minutes, or until the meatballs are cooked through.

FOR THE CURRY SAUCE

  • While the meatballs are baking, heat the oil in a large pan to medium heat. Add the onion and serrano peppers. Cook for 5 minutes to soften.
  • Add the garlic and ginger and cook for 1 minute, stirring a bit.
  • Add the chiles de arbol and seasonings, and stir. Cook for 1 minute to let the spices bloom.
  • Stir in the fire roasted tomatoes, water, and lemon juice. Reduce heat and simmer for at least 20 minutes to let the flavors meld.
  • Cool slightly, then transfer to a food processor or blender. Blend until smooth.
  • Transfer the curry sauce to the large pan. Stir in lemon juice. Taste and adjust for salt and pepper.
  • Add the meatballs to the curry sauce and simmer for 10 minutes.
  • Top with chopped cilantro and red chili flakes and serve.

Nutrition

Calories: 102kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.4g | Cholesterol: 27mg | Sodium: 246mg | Potassium: 135mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 199IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 25mg | Iron: 1mg