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Lunch recipe · from the recipe book

Curry-Spiced Chicken Meatballs in Ginger Tomato Sauce

Tender ground chicken meatballs warmed with curry powder and ginger simmer in a silky tomato sauce enriched with coconut milk, spooned over fluffy basmati-style rice with a cilantro finish.

Curry-Spiced Chicken Meatballs in Ginger Tomato Sauce

Ingredients

  • 1 lb500 gGround chicken
  • ⅓ cup40 gPlain dry breadcrumbs
  • 1 large50 gEggslightly beaten
  • 1½ medium160 gYellow onionfinely chopped, divided
  • 4 cloves12 gGarlicminced, divided
  • 2½ tbsp grated15 gFresh gingergrated, divided
  • 1½ tbsp8 gCurry powderdivided
  • 1 tsp2 gGround cumin
  • ¾ tsp5 gSaltdivided
  • 1 cup chopped16 gFresh cilantrochopped, divided
  • 1½ tbsp20 gCanola oildivided
  • 1¾ lb800 gDiced tomatoes, canned
  • ½ cup120 gCoconut milk, cannedstirred well
  • 3 cups loosely packed90 gBaby spinach
  • 1½ cups280 gLong-grain white rice, dryrinsed
  • 2 cups500 gWater

Steps

  1. Combine the rice, the water and a pinch of the salt in a saucepan; bring to a boil, cover, and simmer on low for 15 minutes, then rest covered off the heat for 10 minutes and fluff.
  2. While the rice cooks, mix the ground chicken, breadcrumbs, egg, one-third of the onion, half the garlic, half the ginger, half the curry powder, the cumin, half the salt and half the cilantro in a bowl. Roll into 20 balls with damp hands.
  3. Heat half the canola oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Brown the meatballs in batches, turning, about 6 minutes; transfer to a plate (they will finish cooking in the sauce).
  4. Add the remaining half of the canola oil and the remaining two-thirds of the onion to the skillet; cook 5 minutes until soft. Stir in the remaining garlic, the remaining ginger and the remaining curry powder for 1 minute.
  5. Add the canned tomatoes and the remaining salt, bring to a simmer, then return the meatballs to the skillet. Cover and simmer 12 to 15 minutes, until the meatballs reach 165°F (74°C) in the center.
  6. Stir in the coconut milk and the spinach and simmer 2 minutes until the spinach wilts.
  7. Spoon the rice into bowls, top with the meatballs and sauce, and scatter with the remaining cilantro.

Check labels: Dairy-free when you buy plain dry breadcrumbs made without milk.

Contains: Egg, Gluten. Some brands contain milk, soy.

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Saved in the Every Helping recipe book on October 24, 2026.

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