Whole30 Chicken Meatballs in Coconut Curry Sauce
I made this for my Whole30 days. Whole30 is so fun, only if you prep your meals ahead of time since you can’t just grab a pack of instant noodles when you are hungry. This dish is perfect coz they can be made ahead and enjoy whenever you are ready.
For the meatballs, I fried them in coconut oil since there is no way I can bake them without getting them too dry and overcooked. And I love how charred they get when frying. Hey, I didn’t deep fried these and use only one tablespoon of coconut oil, so I still did the right thing, yeah?? I mean, c’mon, look at how pretty these meatballs are! These are even delicious as they are, but why not make it yummier??
This dish is also quick to prepare. Frying the meatballs will only take less than 10 minutes if your skillet can accommodate the meatballs at once. The frying time will just take about 2-3 minutes on each side. Alternatively, you can bake the meatballs at 400 F for about 20 minutes on each side. After that, you can make the sauce in the same skillet so you can get all the juices from the meatballs and the charred (or burnt??) parts in the skillet, they will also slightly add flavor.
In the sauce, I used cashew butter. In fact, it is homemade, but I didn’t like the looks of it that’s why I didn’t take a photo. It tasted good, though. I ate several spoonfuls while cooking. I also used two kinds of curry – red curry paste and curry powder – double curry goodness, tastier and more flavorful.
This dish is perfect with cauliflower rice, but I am absolutely sure that it is amazingly delish with white rice. When I finish my Whole30, I will definitely cook this again. And I feel so excited now.
Yay! I am sharing another healthy dish to this week’s Fiesta Friday #260. Thank you to our co-hosts, Mollie and Diann.
Chicken Meatballs in Coconut Curry Sauce
To all curry lovers, you will love this. This dish is tasty, spicy and so amazingly perfect with white rice. If, for some reason, you don’t eat rice, this goes very well with cauliflower rice, too.
Ingredients
For the meatballs:
- 400 g ground chicken
- 1/3 cup grated carrot
- 2 tbsp grated onion
- 2 tbsp chopped coriander
- 1 tbsp lime juice
- 1 tsp lime zest
- 3 cloves garlic pressed or grated
- 1 tbsp ground ginger
- ¼ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- 1 tbsp extra virgin coconut oil
For the coconut curry sauce:
- 3 cloves garlic pressed or grated
- 1 14- oz can coconut milk
- 2 tbsp red curry paste Whole30 compliant
- 2 tsp curry powder
- 2 tbsp cashew butter
- 1 tbsp lime juice
- A handful of baby spinach
- Roughly chopped coriander to garnish
- Salt & pepper to taste
Instructions
For the meatballs:
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In a bowl, mix everything. Form into balls and set aside.
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Using a non-stick skillet over medium-high heat, add coconut oil. When oil is hot enough, add the meatballs and cook. Make sure not to overcook them as they will turn dry.
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Transfer the cooked meatballs into a plate/container.
For the coconut curry sauce:
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In the same skillet over low-medium heat, add little coconut oil if needed.
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Add garlic and cook until fragrant.
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Add curry paste, cashew butter, coconut milk and lime juice. Stir until everything is incorporated.
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Turn the heat to low, put a lid on and simmer for about 10-15 minutes or until sauce is reduced.
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When the sauce is reduced, do a taste test and adjust accordingly.
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Turn off the heat. Add baby spinach and the meatballs. Garnish with coriander if desired.
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Serve over white rice or cauliflower rice.
Recipe Notes
If you want a less spicy dish, you may want to decrease the amount of red curry paste.
Thanks a bunch for spending your precious time with me!
I am also sharing this at
Happiness is Homemade | What’s for Dinner? | Mix it up Monday | Melt in your Mouth Monday | What’d You Do This Weekend? | Cooking and Crafting with J & J | Dishing It & Digging It | What’d You Do This Weekend? | Lou Lou Girls Fabulous Party | Totally Terrific Tuesday |
Cook Blog Share | Delicious Dishes Recipe Party | Snickerdoodle Create Bake Make |
24 Comments
Karen (Back Road Journal)
Your chicken curry looks and sounds delicious. While I would probably serve it over rice, I’ll be passing it on to my daughter who will love it over the cauliflower as she is on a low carb diet. I’m pinning.
Jhuls @ The Not So Creative Cook
If I’ll choose between rice and cauliflower, I would definitely choose rice next time. 😀 Thank you for the visit. 🙂
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Corina Blum
What a delicious recipe! I love the look of that charring on the meatballs – perfect! I think I would gobble these all up and not want to share at all. Thanks for sharing with #CookOnceEatTwice!
Jhuls @ The Not So Creative Cook
I will understand if you don’t want to share, Corina. I think I might do the same next time. 😀 Thank you for the comment. x
nancyc
Yum! This sounds delicious! 🙂
Jhuls @ The Not So Creative Cook
Thank you, Nancy. It was an amazing meal. 🙂 I hope you are having a good time.
Angie | Fiesta Friday
I was going to make some kind of chicken bites/nuggets for Super Bowl Sunday, but I think I’ll make chicken meatballs instead. Sounds so much better! Good luck on that Whole30!
Jhuls @ The Not So Creative Cook
If you simmer the sauce a little longer, it will become thicker and close to a dip consistency.😁 But the meatballs are delicious even without the sauce. Thanks, Angie.😘
goatsandgreens
A tasty approach to Whole 30.. (I want to do a new Whole 30 myself soon again). This sounds like a keeper, and thanks for sharing it with Fiesta Friday!!!
Jhuls @ The Not So Creative Cook
It is difficult this time – I think it’s because of having only one day off and meal prep is really important. Thanks, Diann.
The Bearded Hiker
I am sooo on this! I love curry too and this looks pretty darn good – on my next weeks’ meal plan!
Jhuls @ The Not So Creative Cook
Yay! I hope you’ll love the dish as much as I did. 😊
Beverly
Jhuls,
Thank you so much for stopping by and leaving a comment at Happiness Is Homemade. OMG I love that chicken meatballs in curry sauce. I had to pin it right away. I love curry so I am making that. Thanks for the recipe.
Have a great week.
Hugs,
Bev
Jhuls @ The Not So Creative Cook
Hello, Bev. I am glad that we share the same love for curry. 😀 Thanks for stopping by.
Zeba@Food For The Soul
Love love this dish! I make meatballs every week, pan fry and store them in the fridge for dishes during the week. Adding this to my list!
Jhuls @ The Not So Creative Cook
That is so exciting, Zeba. I really hope you could try these. 😀
thewildernessprincess
This is fabulous! I can almost taste it by looking at it. And now I feel much better about frying meatballs. I don’t think I will ever try to bake them again.
Jhuls @ The Not So Creative Cook
I tried baking meatballs couple of times, but they always turn dry and overcooked, so this time I tried frying them in little oil and it worked. I mean it will really work, but I loved it better than baking them. And yes, this dish was really good! Thanks for stopping by. 🙂
FrugalHausfrau
Jhuls, these look fantastic! I wish I could smell all the spices in person rather than in my imagination. I do love a chicken meatball, which sounds fantastic, but then look at that glorious sauce! When I make cauliflower rice I like it best with curry! Happy FF!! (Ahem, don’t forget to link to your friendly co-hosts!)
Jhuls @ The Not So Creative Cook
I agree with you, Mollie. Cauliflower rice + curry makes the meal even better. Ohh yes, sorry about that. I’ll add your links rights away.😁 Thanks for co-hosting, Mollie.♥️
FrugalHausfrau
🙂 you probably know why I mentioned it – shhhh!! It’s a secret! 🙂
Jess
These look delicious Jhuls–you find so many ways to still eat great when you’re on the Whole 30. I applaud you 🙂
Jhuls @ The Not So Creative Cook
Thank you, Jess. Honestly, I am running out of ideas already. I have more days remaining – my body can do it, I hope my bank can do it as well.😂