Whole30 Paleo Coconut Curry Meatballs

One great thing about the Whole30 is the fact that it encourages you to try out new recipes.  I have to admit, before the Whole30 I RARELY ate beef (maybe a few times a year) and now I’ve already made 3 recipes using grass-fed, local ground beef.  I don’t think it’s great to incorporate red meat with all your meals, but there are lots of great health benefits to the occasional red meat and I’m happy to enjoy them now!

After trying out and loving the paleo pesto meatballs, Kyle and I wanted to have a go at another meatball recipe.  This time, we looked for something with a different flavor profile than the Italian pesto meatballs.  It didn’t take long for me to find this recipe and decide it was a winner!

The original recipe calls for beef and lamb, but Kyle and I couldn’t find ground lamb and so we opted for ground pork instead.

Kyle says this is his new favorite recipe.  He doesn’t generally like curry or Indian flavors, so I was shocked he loved these so much.  They are quite different from any other foods we normally eat, and they made a perfect dinner!

 

Coconut Curry Meatballs (Paleo and Whole30 approved)

Ingredients: 

Meatballs: 

• 1/4 red onion, diced
• 1/2 granny smith apple, diced
• 1 TBS garam masala
• 1 TBS curry powder
• 1 tsp ginger powder
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp pepper
• 1 egg
• 1 lb ground beef
• 1/2 lb ground pork

Sauce: 

• 2 cloves of garlic, smashed
• 1 TBS coconut oil
• 2 TBS curry powder
• 1 24 oz can tomato sauce
• 1 can coconut milk
• 1 TBS tomato paste
• 1 tsp red pepper flakes
• 1 tsp salt

Cauliflower Rice:

• 1 head cauliflower
• Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

Meatballs: 

Preheat oven to 400F

Chop up apples and onions into small pieces

 

 

Add all the spices to a bowl

Stir in apples, onions and egg

Add meat and mix together well.

 

Form into golf-ball sized meatballs and place in a glass baking dish.

 

Bake for 25 -30 minutes on 400F until browned.

 

Sauce: 

Melt coconut oil in pan, add in curry powder and crushed garlic.  Cook 1-2 minutes until fragrant.

Pour in tomato sauce.

Pour in coconut milk.

Add tomato paste, salt, and pepper, and stir to incorporate everything.

Cook over medium-low for 10-15 minutes.

Now, add your meatballs to the sauce.  Cover and cook for another 20 minutes.

 

Cauliflower rice: 

Chop up a whole cauliflower into small pieces.

Add to a food processor and pulse until it forms rice.

It’s best to do this in batches.

You can cook your cauliflower rice by microwaving 1-2 cups in the microwave for 2 minutes (in a glass bowl)

Or, you can cook it on the stovetop until it softens- about 5-10 minutes.

Serve your meatballs overtop the rice and voila!!