This spicy turkey meatball curry with turkey meatballs, turmeric, and lots of other spices is one of the best I've ever had.
This turkey meatball curry must be one of the spiciest dishes I have ever cooked. And I don't mean necessarily hot. The sauce is kind of hot, but not extremely so, but really spicy.
When cooking this recipe, I literally plundered my spice cabinet. And let's not forget the garlic - there's a lot of it in there.
Try more delicious Indian curries, such as Chicken Balti, Healthy Chicken Saag, or Rajma Recipe.
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Recipe ingredients
This turkey meatball curry has two main ingredients: ground meat and spices. The ingredient list might seem long, but itโs just spices most people already have.
Ground meat: I used turkey ground meat or mince because I like it and it makes this dish even leaner than it already is. Ground beef can be used instead. Try these Chicken Meatballs in Sauce, too.
You will also need fresh garlic and ginger.
Spices: As mentioned above, you will need lots of them. Make sure your spice jars are not too empty before you start cooking and that you have enough garlic in the house. ๐
Curry powder, Garam masala, cumin, coriander, cayenne pepper, red pepper flakes, and ground black pepper.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Use more of those spices to make Kidney Bean Curry - Rajma, Paneer Curry, or Chicken Balti.
How to make turkey meatball curry?
- Step #1: Mix all the meatball ingredients in a large bowl. Wet your hands and form the meatballs.
- Step #2: Bake the meatballs in the preheated oven.
- Step #3: Saute onions, garlic, ginger, and turmeric. Add spices and stir.
- Step #4: Add the chopped canned tomatoes, water, bay leaf, and salt. Bring to a boil, lower the heat, and simmer for about 25 minutes.
- Step #5: Blend the sauce. Adjust the taste with lemon juice, cayenne pepper, and salt.
- Step #6: Add the meatballs to the sauce, cover, and simmer very gently for a further 10 minutes. Sprinkle with chopped cilantro and serve with rice.
ย Good to know!
The source for this recipe is Bon Appetit (the link opens in a new tab), but I've made a few changes. I used turkey instead of beef to make it lighter (and because I like turkey mince).
I also reduced the requested oil quantity and left out the chilies. I had to keep the kids in mind, and it turns out that the meatball curry was hot enough as it was without any jalapenos or chiles de arbol in it.
Search for the spices and measure them in a small bowl before you start cooking or while the onion-garlic mixture cooks. If you start looking for them just before they have to come into the pan, the onion mixture might turn dark due to the long waiting time.
Blender choice: You will need to puree the sauce, but if using a white hand blender, be aware that it will not be white anymore after making this sauce. Turmeric will make it yellow, so to avoid that, use a food processor, a dark-colored blender, or one made of a different material than plastic.
How to serve?
Serve the turkey meatball curry imediatelly or reheat it at a later point. The meatball curry is a great dish to serve to guests as it can be made well in advance and reheated just before serving. Not to mention that it tastes fantastic!!!
You can serve the meatball curry with plain rice (white or brown), naan bread, couscous, or other grains like quinoa or bulgur.
Spicy Turkey Meatball Curry
Ingredients
Meatballs:
- 6 green onions Note 1
- 6 garlic cloves
- 1 inch ginger 2.5 cm
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon garam masala
- 1 teaspoon coriander
- ยฝ teaspoon cumin
- ยฝ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 small pinch dried chili flakes
- 2 lbs ground turkey 900 g, Note 2
- 1 large egg
- 3 tablespoons plain yogurt
- 2 teaspoons fine sea salt
Curry sauce:
- 2 tablespoons oil
- 3 medium onions
- 10 garlic cloves
- 1ยฝ inch ginger 4 cm
- 2 pieces fresh turmeric each about the size of your little finger
- 1 teaspoon ground turmeric or use 4 teaspoons if you don't have fresh turmeric
- 4 teaspoons curry powder not too hot
- 4 teaspoons cumin
- 3 tablespoons ground coriander
- ยฝ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 can tomatoes 14 oz/ 400 g
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 tablespoon fine sea salt
- 2 cups water 500 ml
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- cayenne pepper to taste
- cilantro to garnish
Instructions
Meatballs:
- Preheat the oven to 400ยฐF/ 200ยฐC. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil.
- Blend spices: Roughly chop the green onions, garlic cloves, and ginger. Place them in a (small) blender together with the lemon juice, garam masala, coriander, cumin, cayenne pepper, and chili flakes. Blend until smooth.6 green onions + 6 garlic cloves + 1 inch ginger + 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice + 1 tablespoon garam masala + 1 teaspoon coriander + ยฝ teaspoon cumin + ยฝ teaspoon cayenne pepper + 1 small pinch dried chili flakes
- Meatball mixture: Transfer to a large bowl and add the ground meat, beaten egg, yogurt, and salt. Mix well with your hands until the mixture is quite sticky. With wet hands, form the meatballs, about 35 of them. Place them on the prepared baking sheet. 2 lbs ground turkey / 900 g + 1 large egg + 3 tablespoons plain yogurt + 2 teaspoons fine sea salt
- Bake the meatballs for about 15-20 minutes until lightly brown and cooked through. Remove them from the oven and set aside.
Curry sauce:
- Saute: Chop the onions finely. Grate or crush the garlic cloves and grate the ginger and fresh turmeric. Heat two tablespoons of oil in a large pan and cook these ingredients until they start to brown slightly (about 8 minutes) while stirring often.3 medium onions + 10 garlic cloves + 1ยฝ inch ginger + 2 pieces fresh turmeric + 2 tablespoons oil
- Add the ground turmeric, curry powder, cumin, coriander, and black pepper and continue stirring until fragrant, about 1 or 2 minutes.1 teaspoon ground turmeric + 4 teaspoons curry powder + 4 teaspoons cumin + 3 tablespoons ground coriander + ยฝ teaspoon ground black pepper
- Simmer sauce: Add the chopped canned tomatoes, water, bay leaf, and salt. Bring to a boil, lower the heat, and simmer for about 25 minutes. Blend the sauce with an immersion blender (Note 3).1 can tomatoes + 2 cups water/ 500 ml + 1 bay leaf + 1 tablespoon fine sea salt
- Adjust the taste with lemon juice, cayenne pepper, and salt.1 tablespoon lemon juice + cayenne pepper + more salt
- Add the meatballs to the sauce, cover, and simmer very gently for a further 10 minutes. Sprinkle with chopped cilantro and serve with rice. cilantro
Notes
- Search and measure all the spices in a small bowl before you start cooking the onions.ย
- Ground meat: You can also use ground beef or a mixture of ground beef and pork.
- Blender: If you use a white hand blender, be aware that it will no longer be white after making this sauce. Turmeric will make it yellow, so if you want to avoid that, use a food processor, a dark-colored blender, or one made of a material other than plastic. The sauce is very hot; don't burn yourself when blending.
Beck and Bulow says
These meatballs are a new family favorite! So easy to prepare and easy to freeze for future use. Iโve already shared the recipe with several friends and they love them also!
mjskitchen says
What a fantastic variation of a bowl of meatballs. Have never had a meatball curry, espeically one that doesn't have the standard Italian tomato sauce. This is a really exciting bowl and one I'm dying to try. Pinned for the holidays! thanks Adina!
Kelly | Foodtasia says
Adina, these meatballs look so amazing! I have a pack of mince in the fridge. I was going to make meatloaf, but change of plans - now I'm definitely making these! That sauce looks so yummy!
Adina says
Hi Kelly. Let me know if you like them. ๐
Anne|Craving Something Healthy says
Adina - I have all of these spices in my cabinet but I can never think of what to do with them. Thanks for this recipe - it sounds absolutely delicious!
Denise says
What a great looking, hearty dish. Love anything with turmeric.
Kathryn @ Family Food on the Table says
I'd be trying to take all the leftovers too - these look fantastic! I'm all about using turkey in my meatballs and I love how loaded up with spices these are. Sounds so flavorful!
Anu - My Ginger Garlic Kitchen says
Meatballs in turmeric sauce sound incredibly delish, Adina. I love turmeric and this one is calling my name. Love all the ingredients you have used here.
Monica says
I want to scoop some of these meatballs right onto my plate!! Great use of spices and just love your cooking along a theme like this...
Sissi says
First of all it's such a beautiful dish.... and secondly, we seem to crave meat balls at the same time because I had meatballs (chicken meat, so very close!) last weekend! I am not very fond of ground beef alone (I prefer all other meats or beef+pork), so I am sure I'd prefer your turkey version. It does sound filling, but healthy and light. My kind of dish.
Meghan | Fox and Briar says
I love all the spices in these! I would never think to use turmeric in meatballs but I bet it tastes amazing! Pinning!
grace says
this is supreme comfort food, especially as the chill begins to creep into the air! great recipe and wonderful use of turmeric!
Cheyanne @ No Spoon Necessary says
Oh my goodness, I've never met a meatball I don't like, especially when they are in a soup or a thick sauce, so I am loooooving these! That tumeric sauce looks absolutely delicious, girlfriend! Cheers!
Allie says
I love this great dish Adina. And this series. Turmeric is such a wonderful spice with such great benefits. I can see why your husband loves this dish so much! Tons of flavor. Love the garlic too.
Angie@Angie's Recipes says
I want to drink that curry gravy !!