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Ball curry
Mutton meatball curry
Ball curry: Anglo-Indian mutton mince koftas simmered in a coconut and tomato gravy, the Christmas lunch favourite with yellow rice
Ask any Anglo-Indian family in Kolkata, Chennai or Bengaluru what's on the Christmas lunch table and ball curry will be near the top, along with yellow coconut rice, roast chicken and a fruit cake for later. The 'balls' are soft koftas of spiced minced meat with onion, green chilli, mint and coriander, dropped raw into a simmering coconut and tomato curry so they absorb its flavour as they cook. Many homes use beef mince; this recipe uses mutton (goat) mince, which is easier to find in most Indian cities and gives a lighter, sweeter flavour. Lamb mince is a good swap. The curry is medium-hot, tangy from tomato and rounded off with coconut milk. Because it is minced meat, cook the koftas through to 71 °C in the centre. Serve with yellow rice, plain rice or appam. Chef's tip: wet your hands with cold water while rolling; the koftas come out smooth with no cracks and stay whole in the gravy.
- Total time
- 75 min
- Difficulty
- medium
- Serves
- 5
Ingredients
For the koftas
- 1 ⅛ lb mutton (goat) minceor lamb mince
- 1 small onionvery finely chopped and squeezed dry
- 2 green chilliesfinely chopped
- 1 tsp ginger-garlic paste
- ⅓ oz mint leavesfinely chopped
- ⅓ oz fresh corianderfinely chopped
- ½ tsp garam masala
- ¼ tsp ground turmeric
- ¾ tsp salt
For the curry
- 3 tbsp sunflower oil
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 ⅛ in cinnamon stick
- 3 cloves
- 2 onionsfinely chopped
- 1 tbsp ginger-garlic paste
- 1 ½ tsp red chilli powder
- 1 tbsp ground coriander
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- ½ tsp ground turmeric
- 3 tomatoesfinely chopped
- 1 ¼ cups water
- 1 cup coconut milk
- 1 tsp salt
- ⅓ oz fresh coriander (optional)chopped
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Method
0/9 doneStep 1: Put 1 ⅛ lb mutton (goat) mince in a bowl with 1 small onion, 2 green chillies, 1 tsp ginger-garlic paste, ⅓ oz mint leaves, ⅓ oz fresh coriander, 2 tbsp pottukadalai (roasted gram) powder, ½ tsp garam masala, ¼ tsp ground turmeric and ¾ tsp salt. Knead with your hand for 3 minutes until sticky and well mixed.
3 minStep 2: With wet hands, roll the mix into 20 smooth balls the size of a walnut. Put them on a plate, cover and keep in the fridge while you make the curry. Wash your hands and board afterwards.
Step 3: Heat 3 tbsp sunflower oil in a wide, deep pan over a medium heat. Add 1 bay leaf, 1 ⅛ in cinnamon stick and 3 cloves and let them sizzle for 30 seconds.
Step 4: Add 2 onions and fry for 10–12 minutes, stirring, until golden brown. Stir in 1 tbsp ginger-garlic paste and cook for 1 minute.
13 minStep 5: Lower the heat and add 1 ½ tsp red chilli powder, 1 tbsp ground coriander, 1 tsp ground cumin and ½ tsp ground turmeric with a splash of water. Cook for 2 minutes, then add 3 tomatoes and 1 tsp salt and cook for 8 minutes, mashing, until the tomatoes have melted and oil glistens at the edges.
10 minStep 6: Pour in 1 ¼ cups water and bring to a gentle simmer. Lower the koftas into the gravy one at a time in a single layer.
Step 7: Cover and simmer over a low heat for 10 minutes without stirring. Common mistake: stirring before the koftas have firmed up; they break into mince. Shake the pan gently instead.
10 minStep 8: Pour in 1 cup coconut milk, swirl the pan to mix and simmer uncovered for 12–15 minutes, gently turning the koftas once, until the gravy is thick and creamy. Cut one kofta open: it should be cooked through with no pink and read 160°F in the centre.
15 minStep 9: Scatter with ⅓ oz fresh coriander and serve hot with yellow coconut rice.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 410 kcal
- Protein
- 24 g
- Carbs
- 14 g
- Fat
- 29 g
- Fibre
- 3 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does ball curry take?
- About 75 minutes in total: 25 minutes to prepare and 50 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 5 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of small onion?
- 2 shallots per onion.
- What can I use instead of mint leaves?
- Fresh coriander, same amount.
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