Coconut-Broth Meatballs

Meatballs

Makes 5 meal-prep portions, using 2.25 pounds 70/30 ground beef in the final batch.

• 2.25 pounds 70/30 ground beef
• 4 slices bread
• 1 cup milk
• 1 large onion, very finely minced
• 2 shallots, finely minced
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 1½ teaspoons black pepper
• 1 teaspoon ground coriander or cumin, optional

Broth

• 6 garlic cloves, minced
• About 3 inches ginger, grated or minced
• 2 lemongrass stalks, bruised and cut into sections
• Chili, to taste
• 2-3 tablespoons olive oil, only as needed
• 1 can, 14 ounces, coconut cream
• 2 cans, 14 ounces each, coconut milk
• 1-1½ cups chicken stock
• 1½ teaspoons cornstarch
• 3 tablespoons cold water
• Juice of 2 limes
• Cilantro
• Spring onion

A later version bloomed cardamom, coriander, and cumin with the garlic, ginger, and chili before the stock went in. Exact quantities for those optional additions were not retained.

Method

1. Soak the bread in the milk until soft.
2. Combine the soaked bread, beef, onion, shallots, salt, pepper, and optional coriander or cumin.
3. Mix gently and form meatballs.
4. Chill the mixture or formed meatballs overnight when preparing ahead.
5. Brown the meatballs in batches.
6. Remove the meatballs and aggressively spoon off rendered fat, leaving only about 2 tablespoons in the pan. This is essential with 70/30 beef.
7. Fry the garlic, ginger, chili, and optional dry spices in the remaining fat.
8. Add the chicken stock and scrape the pan.
9. Add the bruised lemongrass.
10. Add the coconut cream and coconut milk.
11. Return the meatballs.
12. Maintain a gentle simmer for 12-15 minutes. Do not boil hard or the coconut broth may split.
13. Mix the cornstarch with 3 tablespoons cold water.
14. Stir the slurry into the broth and simmer briefly until lightly stabilized.
15. Turn off the heat.
16. Finish with lime juice, cilantro, and spring onion.

Meal-Prep Handling

1. Cool before sealing the containers.
2. Refrigerate.
3. Remove any hardened excess fat if necessary.
4. Reheat gently, stirring once or twice. Avoid a hard boil.