Granny's Malaysian Meatball Curry

Total Time: 55 mins Preparation Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 40 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 4
• 1 1/4 lbs ground beef
• 3 tablespoons breadcrumbs
• 1 large egg, lightly beaten
• 2 tablespoons finely chopped spring onions
• 2 -3 tablespoons finely chopped cilantro
• salt and pepper
• 2 onions, peeled and roughly chopped
• 5 cloves garlic, peeled and roughly chopped
• 3/4 inch fresh ginger, peeled and roughly sliced
• 2 1/2 tablespoons malaysian curry powder
• 1/2-1 teaspoon hot ground pure chile powder (or more or less to taste)
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 star anise
• 8 fresh curry leaves
• 1 cup coconut milk, mixed with
• 1 cup water
• 1 large potato, peeled and cut into medium-sized cubes
• 2 -3 tablespoons tomato paste
• salt

Recipe

• 1 prepare all ingredients before commencing to cook.
• 2 in a medium-large bowl, combine the beef, breadcrumbs, egg, chopped spring onion and cilantro, with salt and pepper to taste, and place to one side.
• 3 grind onion, garlic and ginger to a paste with a stick blender or in a small food processor.
• 4 in a small bowl, combine malaysian curry powder, chili powder, ground cloves and a little water, to make a paste.
• 5 heat the oil over a medium-high flame in a wok, add onion paste, and stir-fry for about 5 minutes.
• 6 add the curry paste, star anise, cloves, curry leaves, reduce heat to medium, and stir fry until quite toasted and the oil starts to ooze out: this can take 5 – 10 minutes, but be careful not to burn.
• 7 add coconut milk and bring slowly to the boil.
• 8 while curry liquid is boiling start making and dropping in bite sized meatballs - stop occasionally and stir gently.
• 9 when all meatballs have been added, add tomato paste and salt to taste.
• 10 simmer, covered, on medium heat for 10 minutes, adding a little extra water as necessary.
• 11 add potato and simmer uncovered for another 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, again adding a little water if necessary.
• 12 serve with bread, roti chani, roti jala or steamed rice.