I am sure everyone has one of these recipes tucked away in their collection. You know the one, not very pretty to look at, uses ingredients that you really don’t want to admit you use, but tastes awesome and is a family favourite.
My mum’s chicken curried meatballs is one of those recipes. Except for the chicken mince that is used, it is basically a pantry meal. So simple to make, very retro and I just love it. This dish is one of my feel good favourites in winter. Any leftovers are also a treat warmed up the next day for lunch.
Sharing this recipe is also a great way of getting my groove back with participation in the The Daring Kitchens’ Daring Cooks’ Challenges. I have been a little slack and not joining in on the fun. The June Daring Cooks’ challenge sure kept us rolling – meatballs, that is! Shelley from C Mom Cook and Ruth from The Crafts of Mommyhood challenged us to try meatballs from around the world and to create our own meatball meal celebrating a culture or cuisine of our own choice.
Part of me wanted to fancy this dish up for the blog and the Daring Cooks’ challenge. Give it a makeover. Then I thought why? I adore these meatballs just the way they are!
Don’t turn your nose up at the use of crushed pineapple, chicken stock cubes or curry powder. Just trust me that there is a magical transformation when all the ingredients are put together, that turn this dish into a soul warming meal.
Ingredients
- 500 grams chicken mince
- 1 onion - finely chopped
- Salt & pepper - pinch
- 2 Tablespoons oil
- 2 Tablespoons plain flour
- 1 1/2 Tablespoons curry powder - I use Keens
- 1 cup water
- 2 chicken stock cubes
- 425 grams can of crushed pineapple
Instructions
- In a bowl mix mince, onion, salt and pepper. Form walnut sized meatballs. Heat oil in a fry pan and cook meatballs until brown all over.
- Remove meatballs from pan and place in a casserole dish, use a casserole dish with a lid. Do not clean your pan before the next stage.
- Add flour and curry powder to your pan. Stir and cook for one minute. Add rest of the ingredients to the pan. Stir well and bring to the boil, then simmer for five minutes or until mixture thickens.
- Pour pan mixture over your meatballs in the casserole dish. Put lid on your casserole dish and place in the oven and cook for an hour and mixture has thickened a little.
- Serve meatballs and their sauce over steamed rice.
Nutrition
Do tell dear Belly Rumbles’ reader, do you have a not so attractive family favourite recipe in your collection?
Sara xxx
Jane
Sounds lovely.
I wonder, what would coconut milk be like instead of water…?
Sara
I wonder too 🙂 Not really sure if it would work or not, is one of those things you would have to try to see.
Food is our religion
Pineapple meat balls?? wow! what an interesting combination!
Iron Chef Shellie
I HEARD BALLS haha
mmmmm they look good!
JJ - 84thand3rd
Hey if it’s not broken why fix it?! Lovely and simple 🙂
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These look so delicious 🙂 And probably healthier too because it’s made from chicken and not pork or beef 🙂
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Totally retro chic Sara! Loving these meatballs
Gourmet Getaways
WOW!!
This looks so comforting and moreish!!! I am definitely going to try it out on my family this winter 🙂 It is being pinned to my “winter warmers” dishes on pinterest
Serena
You have to love a retro recipe, still use Keen’s for my curried egg sandwiches!
Anna @ The Littlest Anchovy
Ooh I love a bit of curry powder in my food. My go to retro dinner is curried prawns done very similarly (minus the pineapple) and I just love it. My Grandma made it, my Dad made it and now I make it! I love these and reckon they would be killer on a roll the next day for lunch too!! xo
Renata
hmmmm, that sounds delicious, Sara! Great to have you back!
Gaby
Sounds delish! My mum used to make a recipe with pineapple and chicken so often that I got sick of it and unconsciously avoid cooking with pineapple now, ha! All of our go-to meals at home are non-attractive 🙂
milkteaxx
chicken meatballs sound devine! move over chicken curry!
Bob
Looks simple enough to make. I might have a go.
Tina @ bitemeshowme
There’s pineapple in there? Now that’s an unusual ingredient to see in meatballs but I can picture it working like a charm.
muppy
hehe, love it! Great idea infact to use meatballs in a curry 🙂