Meatballs in Curry Sauce with Rice
Meatballs in curry sauce with rice is a gentle, family-friendly supper: soft pork meatballs poached in a mild, creamy curry sauce and spooned over fluffy basmati. The sauce takes only a few minutes to make and the meatballs cook right in it, so there is just one pan to watch while the rice steams alongside. Allow about an hour from start to table.
- Total
- 1 h
- Prep
- 25 min
- Cook
- 25 min
- Serves
- 4
- Per serving
- 750kcal
Before you start: meatballs in curry sauce with rice
This is based on boller i karry, a Danish family dish. The meatballs are poached rather than fried, which keeps them soft, and the grated apple gives the sauce a gentle sweetness instead of heat.
Wet hands make shaping far easier, and 24 balls of about 35g give you six per person. For a lighter sauce, single cream or crème fraîche can replace the double cream. A teaspoon of mango chutney stirred in works if you have no apple.
Cooking meatballs in curry sauce with rice
Tap a time to start a timer.
- Mix the meatballs Put the breadcrumbs and milk in a large bowl and leave for to soak. Add the pork, onion, egg, salt and pepper, and mix with your hands for about 30 seconds, only until everything is combined.
- Shape and chill With wet hands, roll the mixture into 24 balls, each a little bigger than a walnut (about 35g). Put them on a plate and chill for so they hold their shape in the sauce.
- Make the sauce Melt the butter in the large saucepan over a medium heat. Stir in the curry powder and flour and cook for . Pour in the stock a little at a time, whisking after each addition, then add the grated apple. Bring to a gentle simmer and cook for .
- Poach the meatballs Turn the heat to low and lower the meatballs into the sauce. Cover and simmer very gently for , turning them over carefully once or twice.
- Cook the rice As the meatballs go in, rinse the rice in a sieve until the water runs clear. Put it in the medium pan with 450ml cold water, bring to the boil, cover and cook on the lowest heat for . Turn off the heat and leave it covered for .
- Check and finish Cut one meatball in half. It should be steaming hot all the way through with no pink and clear juices. Stir the cream into the sauce and warm it for without boiling, then taste and add salt only if needed.
- Serve Fluff the rice with a fork and spoon the meatballs and sauce over the top.
Serving and variations
Serve it with peas or steamed broccoli, and put a jar of mango chutney on the table. If the sauce thickens on standing, loosen it with a splash of hot stock or water.
For a version with leaner mince, try turkey meatballs in curry sauce. Another easy mince supper that also works with rice is minced beef with rice.
Common problems and fixes for meatballs in Curry Sauce with Rice
- The meatballs fall apart in the sauce.
- The mixture was too soft or the sauce was boiling hard. Chill the meatballs as in the method, keep the sauce at a gentle simmer, and turn them with a spoon rather than stirring.
- The sauce is lumpy.
- The stock went in too quickly. Whisk hard to break the lumps, or pour the sauce through a sieve into a clean pan before adding the meatballs.
- The meatballs are dry and tough.
- The mixture was overmixed or the sauce boiled for too long. Mix only until combined and keep the heat low, because the breadcrumbs and milk keep the meat soft.
Frequently asked questions about meatballs in Curry Sauce with Rice
How long do the meatballs take to cook in the sauce?
About 15 minutes at a gentle simmer, until there is no pink inside and the juices run clear.
Can you freeze meatballs in curry sauce?
Yes, for up to 3 months, but freeze them without the rice. Thaw overnight in the fridge and reheat until steaming hot all the way through. In the fridge they keep for 2 days; cool leftover rice within an hour, keep it in a separate container and reheat it only once.
Can I use beef or turkey mince instead of pork?
Yes. Beef mince works in the same way. Turkey mince is leaner, so add a tablespoon of oil to the mixture to keep the meatballs soft.
Which curry powder should I use?
Mild madras suits children. For more heat, use medium curry powder or add a pinch of chilli flakes to the sauce.
How did you like the recipe?
4.7 / 5 · 6 ratings
