I love experimenting with different cuisines and using the spices and herbs that are commonly used in different areas, so today we’re travelling to Indonesia with these Bali Balls as I like to call them. The main flavor punches in this recipe are the lemongrass and Kaffir lime leaves. They really make this dish and give the meatballs their wonderful aroma and flavor. I decided to go with a chicken meatball here but beef or pork is great as well. The sauce is to die for, a creamy coconut sauce made with red chili paste, curry powder and of course infused with lots of flavor from the lime leaves and lemongrass. I could put that sauce on everything and drink it out of a glass, it’s so good.
Kaffir Leaves? Lemongrass?
I know that at home in Canada at least, these are two ingredients that aren’t cooked with all that often, which is a shame because they are such beautiful flavorful additions!
Kaffir
Kaffir lime leaves can be found in the produce section of your grocery store near the lemongrass. If you can’t find any, just use regular lime juice. If you have any Asian markets nearby, you can always find them there.
Lemongrass
Lemongrass is a stiff grass native to India and is usually used as a herb in Asian Cuisine. It’s citrusy with a lemony flavor and it tastes like a mix of lemon and lemon mint. Lemongrass is also very fragrant. You’ll want to remove it before eating the dish.
Ingredients
Meatballs
Meat – We’re using ground chicken today for some nice light meatballs. Breadcrumbs – I used panko today as it gives us a nice moist finished product. If you want to use a gluten free substitute for the panko breadcrumbs, substitute with 1/3 cup potato starch, also called potato flour. Chili – I chopped up a fresh chili pepper to give this dish lots of heat. You can omit this ingredient if you’d prefer. Garlic – Use as much or little as you like. Spices – Nutmeg and garam masala. Garam masala is an Indian spice blend that gives these meatballs tons of dimension. Red curry paste – We’re really bringing a ton of South East Asian influence to our dish today and this paste adds a touch of heat, color, and flavor. Herbs – Chopped fresh cilantro and chopped green onion. Seasoning – Salt and pepper. Egg – The binder of our humble little meatballs! Oil – I used peanut oil for frying these up, feel free to use any neutral tasting high smoke point oil you prefer.
Sauce
Lemongrass – 2 stalks, removed before serving. Kaffir lime leaves – 5 of them fresh. I never use up all the ones I buy in one recipe so I store the rest in the freezer. Broth – Chicken broth low sodium. Red curry paste – We want to ensure that our curry paste flavor makes its way through all elements of this dish. Coconut milk – Unsweetened, whichever fat percentage you prefer. Coconut – Sweetened and shredded, totally optional but completely delicious. Seasoning – Salt and pepper to taste. Spices – Just curry powder for this part of the dish. Cilantro – Cut up fresh. Feel free to omit this ingredient if you’re not a fan of the taste.
How To Make Indonesian Meatballs
Meatballs
Sauce
How To Serve
I prefer to serve these Indonesian meatballs over white rice but they’re also delicious over rice noodles!
Mashed Potatoes Creamy Polenta Coconut Rice Rice noodles – cooked according to package instructions.
Some Tips and Tricks
Leftovers
These Indonesian meatballs can be made ahead of time. Both the sauce and the meatballs themselves are perfect for the fridge or freezer.
Fridge
These meatballs can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 – 4 days.
Freezer
This recipe also freezes quite well so just be sure to separate the balls from the sauce in airtight containers and store. Each should last around 3 months frozen. Just allow them to thaw in the fridge overnight and reheat on the stove top when ready to eat!
Craving More Meatballs? Try These Delicious Recipes:
Stout Meatballs With BBQ Sauce Salisbury Steak Meatballs with Gravy and Mashed Potatoes Moroccan Meatballs Meatballs with Mushroom Sauce Porcupine Meatballs Thai Meatball Lettuce Wraps Cheesy Chicken Meatball Rolls Meatball Banh Mi Bowls Thai Red Curry Turkey Meatballs
