As a soup or adapted, as I did, for use as a gravy over meatballs and mashed potatoes... this curry coconut milk broth looks and tastes fussily time-consuming. In reality, it takes but minutes to prepare. Four ingredients. Canned coconut milk, chicken broth, soy sauce (or Bragg Liquid Aminos), and red curry paste. I used Thai Kitchen Red Curry Paste. Ingredients: Red Chili, Garlic, Lemongrass, Galangal (Thai Ginger), Salt, Onion, Kaffir Lime.
The recipe comes from Tropical Traditions, an online source for coconut products. Note: The meatballs' green tint? Green puree of steamed spinach, broccoli, and peas. (The Sneaky Chef by Missy Chase Lapine)
Coconut Curry Chicken Meatball Soup or Gravy
Serves 4.
1 bunch green onions
8 oz mushrooms, shitake or button
1 lb ground chicken breast
1/2 (or 1) pastured egg, beaten
1 garlic clove, finely minced
1 tsp salt
14 oz full fat coconut milk
½ cup chicken broth (I used ½ cup water + ½ tsp Better Than Bouillon Chicken Base.)
1 tbsp organic fermented soy sauce (I used Bragg Liquid Aminos.)
1 ½ tbsp red curry paste (I used Thai Kitchen brand.)
1 ½ inch piece of peeled fresh ginger (I omitted. The red curry paste provides perfect seasoning.)
Meatballs: Chop the whites off of the onions and set the greens aside for the soup. Finely chop ½ cup of the mushrooms and save the rest for the soup. Combine the chicken, egg, chopped whites from the onions, chopped mushrooms, minced garlic, and salt in a bowl. Form the meat into desired size meatballs and place in the bottom of the crockpot.
Broth: Combine the coconut milk, broth, soy sauce (or Bragg Liquid Aminos), and curry paste in a mixing bowl. Add the remaining mushrooms and chopped greens from the onions. Pour over the meatballs and place the piece of ginger (if using) into the liquid. Cook on high for 2 ½ to 3 hours. Alternatively, meatballs may be browned in a pan or, using an oven method, space the meatballs on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake in a 350° oven for 10 minutes. Turn the meatballs over and bake for another 10 minutes until brown and fully cooked internally.
Dick got up from the table to get a spatula for swiping his plate clean. It was that good!