Ginger Turkey Meatballs In Coconut Curry Broth Recipe

Alexander Roberts

May 11, 2024 at 3:45 PM·6 min read

turkey meatballs in curry sauce in pot - Alexander Roberts/Tasting Table

Meatballs have rightfully earned their spot in our day-to-day cooking. A quick source of protein that can be ready in under an hour, with cozy vibes to match? Sign us up. When you get tired of making Nonna's classic recipe (if that's even possible), we've come up with a warming spin on classic meatballs. Brought to us by Alexander Roberts, these ginger turkey meatballs are a curry dish inspired by Indian flavors, perfect for weeknights when you're craving something flavorful and filling.

Instead of using ground beef for these, we're going to use ground turkey. Since turkey is leaner than beef, it'll go perfectly with the rich coconut milk broth. After shaping and briefly searing the meatballs, we'll build some flavor in the pan by toasting spices with tomato paste, then add our liquids and simmer the meatballs until fully cooked. While they simmer, make a quick side of grains or roasted veggies for serving time, and dinner is ready.

Gather The Ingredients For Ginger Turkey Meatballs In Coconut Curry Broth

For starters, you'll need a pound of ground turkey. An egg goes into the mixture for binding, along with some breadcrumbs. Olive oil, tomato paste, vegetable broth, and a can of light coconut milk (full fat would work fine too) should also be on your list, as well as some salt, fresh ginger, and fresh garlic. For building a lovely spice flavor, you'll need ground garam masala and turmeric. A bit of fresh cilantro and parsley will go inside of the meatballs, but make sure to reserve half of the amount so you can add a little as garnish when you're ready to eat.

Step 1: Mix The Parsley And Cilantro Together

Add chopped parsley and cilantro to a small bowl. Combine and set aside.

Step 2: Combine The Meatball Ingredients

mixing ingredients for turkey meatballs - Alexander Roberts/Tasting Table

Add turkey, breadcrumbs, egg, 1 teaspoon salt, and half of the herb mixture to a mixing bowl.

Step 3: Mix Them Well

turkey \meatball mixture in bowl - Alexander Roberts/Tasting Table

Mix with hands until combined.

Step 4: Shape The Meatballs

uncooked turkey meatballs - Alexander Roberts/Tasting Table

Shape turkey mixture into 2-inch balls.

Step 5: Heat The Oil In A Pot

heating olive oil in pot - Alexander Roberts/Tasting Table

Place a large pot over medium heat and add the olive oil.

Step 6: Sear The Meatballs

turkey meatballs cooking in pot - Alexander Roberts/Tasting Table

Sear meatballs on all sides for 2-3 minutes, until browned. Remove to a plate.

Step 7: Add Garlic, Ginger, And Tomato Paste To The Pot

adding tomato garlic and ginger - Alexander Roberts/Tasting Table

Add garlic, ginger, and tomato paste to the same pot and cook for 2 minutes.

Step 8: Add The Spices And Salt

garam masala and turmeric cooking in pot - Alexander Roberts/Tasting Table

Add garam masala, turmeric, and remaining ½ teaspoon salt, and cook for 1 minute.

Step 9: Stir In The Coconut Milk And Broth

coconut curry sauce in pot - Alexander Roberts/Tasting Table

Stir in the coconut milk and vegetable broth and bring to a simmer.

Step 10: Cook The Meatballs In The Sauce

blue le creuset pot on stove - Alexander Roberts/Tasting Table

Add meatballs, reduce heat to low, cover, and cook for 10 minutes.

Step 11: Remove The Lid, And Simmer

simmering turkey ginger meatballs in curry sauce - Alexander Roberts/Tasting Table

Remove lid and simmer for 10 more minutes.

Step 12: Garnish And Serve

turkey meatballs in curry sauce served from pot - Alexander Roberts/Tasting Table

Serve hot, topped with remaining herbs.

How Can I Make Meatballs Vegan?

turkey meatballs with curry sauce and rice in bowl - Alexander Roberts/Tasting Table

If you're vegan or on a plant-based diet, you'll want to tweak this meatball recipe to suit your preferences. The easiest way to make this dish without meat is to swap the turkey for a plant-based ground meat. Beyond Meat or Impossible Meat would be excellent for these meatballs since they very closely imitate the texture and flavor of animal proteins. If you're going this route, you can simply substitute in a pound and follow the recipe as written.

If you want to try making something completely from scratch, your best bet would be using a vegan protein, such as tempeh. Our vegan tempeh meatball recipe leans Italian with the seasonings, but you can always follow the base ingredients and swap them out for your desired flavorings before simmering them in the coconut curry sauce. If you'd rather avoid tempeh, our final suggestion would be to try a bean-based variation, like our vegan beet and black bean meatballs.

How Can I Make Turkey Meatballs In A Crockpot Or Pressure Cooker?

turkey meatballs with rice and curry sauce in bowls - Alexander Roberts/Tasting Table

The only thing that could possibly improve this recipe is extra ease, which can be achieved by adding it to a slow cooker! Follow the recipe as written until you add the meatballs back to the sauce. You'll still need to give the meatballs a quick sear so they can gain some color, something a crockpot is not so great at (unless yours has a searing function). Instead of simmering the meatballs on the stovetop, transfer the sauce and seared meatballs to your slow cooker and cook on low for 6-8 hours, or high for 4 hours.

Once they're done, they'll be super tender, and the sauce will have thickened up perfectly. If you have the time to do a slow cooker recipe, this is a great one to test out. One important note is that if you have a larger capacity slow cooker, you may want to double the recipe and freeze portions for later consumption. Ideally, the broth should come at least half way up the sides of the meatballs, if not more, while they are cooking.