Meatball Curry

Meatball Curry is our household favorite dish,the homemade meatballs take this curry to the next level.Making the meatballs is definitely a labor of love,and totally worth it!

My grandmother makes this curry with her sweet pulav rice and my mother-in-law makes meatball curry with her kichidi pulav,and they both are a delicious combination.Every year for my husband's birthday I make meatball curry and kichidi pulav and that's his favorite comfort food.

Ingredients :-

1lb Ground Meat (use meat of your choice)

To be ground :-

• 1 small Onion
• 2 Green Chillies ( adjust to spice level)
• 1 inch Ginger
• 6 Flakes of Garlic
• 6 Mint leaves
• 8 tender stalks of Cilantro Leaves
• 1/2 teaspoon garam masala powder
• 3 Dried Red Chillies or 1/2 teaspoon Chilly Powder
• 1/4 teaspoon Turmeric Powder
• 1/2 teaspoon Cumin powder
• 1 teaspoon Coriander powder
• 1/4 teaspoon Pepper powder or 6 Pepper Corns
• Salt to taste

Method (to make meatballs)

1. Heat a teaspoon of oil and  saute the onions till they are translucent.
2. Add the ginger and garlic and saute till they are cooked.
3. Add the fresh herbs,green chillies and the spice powders and all the ingredients included in the "to be ground" section,and cook it till the spices are nicely cooked.
4. Once cooked,Grind the cooked ingredients without adding water (if it does not grind,add a tablespoon of water) to a fine paste.
5. Add this ground masala to the ground meat and mix it well.
6. Take a little quantity of ground meat and make tight meatballs,as big as a lemon and keep aside.

Ingredients for the curry :

• 1 Large Onion (finely chopped)
• 1 Medium Ripe Tomato (finely chopped)
• 2 Green Chillies (adjust to spice level)
• 1 inch Ginger (finely chopped)
• 6 Flakes of Garlic (finely chopped)
• 12 Mint leaves (if using tender stalks add only 6)
• 12 Stalks of tender Cilantro Leaves
• 6 Curry Leaves
• 1 inch Cinnamom
• 4 Cloves
• 2 Green Cardamom Pods 
• 1/2 teaspoon Chilly Powder
• 1/4 teaspoon Turmeric Powder
• 1 teaspoon Cumin Powder
• 2 teaspoon Corriander Powder
• 1/4 teaspoon Pepper Powder
• 1/4 teaspoon Garam Masala Powder
• 1/4 cup of thick Coconut Milk
• Salt to taste
• 1 Tablespoon of Oil
• 1 and half cups of water

Method for making the Meatball Curry:

1. Heat one tablespoon of oil in a heavy based pot on medium heat,when the oil is heated,add the whole spices (cinnamom,cloves and cardamom) Saute the whole spices for a minute.
2. Add the Curry leaves and saute for a quick minute.
3. Add the chopped onions and saute them till they become translucent.
4. Add the chopped ginger and garlic,and saute this till the raw smell is gone.
5. Add the fresh herbs (cilantro and mint leaves).Saute this for another minute.
6. Add the tomatoes and salt to taste.
7. Add all the spice powders (chilly,turmeric,cumin,coriander and garam masala).
8. Saute this mixture,till your powders are cooked (saute this for a good 5 minutes).If the mixture sticks to the bottom of your pot,you can add a little water and continue to cook. (I usually like to transfer this masala in the blender and make a fine paste and then transfer it back to the pot,this is an optional step)
9. In another pot,boil a cup and half water.Once it is boiled,add the water to the masala.
10. Add your meatballs one by one to this curry,make sure your meatballs are far apart and do not use a ladle or spoon,or stir the curry when you add your meatballs,otherwise your meatballs will break or mash)
11. Cover your pot with a fitted lid and cook your meatballs in the curry for a good 15 to 20 minutes,until your meatballs have cooked.(to check whether your meatball is fulled cooked,take a meatball and cut it open,if its brown on the inside its cooked fully,if you see any pink spots,it needs to cook more)
12. Once the meatballs have cooked,add 1/4 cup of coconut milk,bring it to a boil and turn off the heat.
    
    Tip :
    
    • You can add potatoes to your curry,and boil them along with the meatballs.

Mutton Curry (Meat Curry)

This is my grandmother's simple mutton curry recipe,the meat is cooked
with mild spices and a ton of fresh herbs (cilantro and mint leaves).I love
the simplicity of this curry,the freshly ground masala adds to the rustic
taste,reminding me of home and home cooked meals!

Ingredients:-

• 1lb Mutton ( I used goat's meat)
• 2 Large Onions ( Sliced)
• 1/4 teaspoon Turmeric Powder

To be ground :-

• 2 Green Chillies (adjust to desired spice level)
• 6 Flakes of Garlic
• 1 inch Ginger (chopped)
• 4 Curry Leaves
• 10 Mint Leaves (I added tender stalks and the leaves)
• 12 tender stalks of Cilantro Leaves
• 1 teaspoon Chilly Powder
• 1/2 teaspoon Cumin Powder
• 1/2 teaspoon Pepper Powder
• 1 teaspoon Poppy Seeds
• 1 large ripe Tomato
• Salt to taste

Method:

1. Wash the meat,strain the water,pat dry with a paper towel.
2. Add turmeric powder and salt.Keep it aside.
3. Grind all the ingredients in the "to be ground section"to a fine paste.Remove the masala and add a little water in the blender and save the masala water.
4. Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a wide based pressure cooker,when the oil is heated add the sliced onions and fry till they reach a nice golden brown color.
5. Add the meat and stir fry it for few minutes till it gets a nice sear.Stir it every once in a while so that it doesn’t stick to the pressure cooker.
6. Add the ground masala to the meat,along with the masala water,make sure the meat is immersed in the liquid,allow it to boil,and then cover and pressure cook until 4-5 whistles (till your meat is cooked)
7. Once the pressure cooker has been turned off and the pressure has been removed,you can open the cooker and turn it back on the heat and heat the curry on high if you want a thicker gravy.
8. Enjoy the curry with a cup of steaming hot rice or any Indian flat bread.

Mince with Mixed Vegetables (Ground Meat with Mixed Vegetables)

Mince is ground meat,could be any kind of ground meat and it is a dish cooked with a few spices and herbs.This meat dish,can be eaten as a side with rice and curry,or with Indian breads.I usually use left over mince in the kids sandwiches and they taste delicious.This is a simple dish to make and one that my kids really enjoy.

Ingredients

• 1lb of ground meat (turkey,chicken or beef)
• 2 tablespoons Oil
• 2 medium sized Onions (finely chopped)
• 1 medium sized  Tomato (finely chopped)
• 1 green chilly slit
• 5 cloves of garlic (finely chopped)
• 1/2 inch ginger (finely chopped)
• 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder
• 1 teaspoon chilli powder
• 3/4 tablespoon coriander powder
• 1 teaspoon cumin powder
• 1/2 teaspoon garam masala powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baffat powder (if you like it spicer you can add 1 teaspoon)
• 1 cup mixed vegetables (I used frozen carrots,peas,beans and corn)
• 2 tablespoon cilantro leaves (finely chopped)
• 1 tablespoon mint leaves (finely chopped)
• 1/4 cup coconut milk (optional)
• Salt to taste

Method :

1. Heat the oil in a heavy based frying pan and saute the onions till they turn translucent.
2. Add the chopped ginger,garlic and saute for 2 minutes.
3. Add the slit green chilly and fry for a quick 30 seconds
4. Add the tomatoes,the chopped cilantro,mint and salt and saute till the tomatoes become mushy.(I usually add a little water to get my tomatoes really mushy)
5. Add the dry powders (chilly powder,turmeric powder,coriander powder,cumin powder,garam masala and baffat powder) and saute this masala for two minutes.
6. Add the mince (ground meat) and cook the meat and the spices together till everything is incorporated.Stir the meat every once in a while to prevent the meat from sticking to the bottom of your pan.Simmer the meat covered for 5-7 minutes.
7. Add the mixed vegetables ( you can use vegetables of your choice,I used a mixture of frozen carrots,peas,green beans and corn)
8. Cook the vegetables and meat covered for another 7-10 minutes till the vegetables are cooked to your liking.
9. Add 1/4 cup of coconut milk and let the mince cook for another 2 minutes.(we like our mince dry,so I cook it till all the liquid evaporates)
10. Garnish with Mint leaves.