Quick Easy Cilantro Meatballs in 15 minutes

Quick Easy Cilantro Meatballs in 15 minutes

These cilantro meatballs are tender, juicy and full of  flavor. Made with fresh cilantro leaves with a touch of ginger and garlic for that added kick. A squeeze of lemon. These make perfect appetizers or sides.

Quick and Easy Cilantro Meatballs

I am a huge fan of cilantro!! Being Indian by origin I grew up with cilantro in almost all my dishes. I love it so much I find it hard to believe there are many who can’t stand the sight or smell of cilantro too! Ah well, If you here you probably like it too.

Cilantro has that smell of freshness don’t you think? and when cooked it has this rich thick texture that really adds to the sauce. I love the combination of cilantro and coconut as well as cilantro with tomatoes. It’s just does it for me.

My kids have grown up eating Cilantro since they were babies but for Ziv it was new in the beginning. He has over time begun to like and enjoy it too!

Quick and Easy Cilantro Meatballs in 15 minutes

My Aadi and Rhea are huge fans of meatballs. In fact one way to get my Rhea to eat meat is meatballs. Her dietitian highly recommends she eats meats but she herself is a very veggie kinda person. Her favorite is my Mongolian Meatballs. Aadi’s favorite is the Turkey Meatballs Pasta. As a family we all love the Meatball Curry very much.

So let’s talk Ingredients and Substitutes

• Cilantro – Now this is  the star of the show so yes, please use fresh cilantro. Having said that if you prefer you can also use fresh Parsley. Depending on how you like your herbs you can go a little less or more. If you reduce the quantity of herbs you will just have less thickness in the sauce. But the taste will still be good.
• Ginger and garlic – Garlic makes all things better – doesn’t it? Well, ginger adds that earthy pungent flavor that there but not so as strong either.
• Semolina or Bread Crumbs – This adds body and helps keep the meatballs nice and juicy making sure you bite into a juicy piece of meat.
• Turmeric – You can omit the turmeric but I think it not just enhances the green color and is also a great antioxidant.

I’m a mortar and Pestle kinda girl and do a lot of my blending in this little baby but you can use the food processor or blender as well.

Quick and Easy Cilantro Meatballs in 15 minutes

Recipe – Quick and Easy Cilantro Meatballs

Ingredients

• Beef mince – 250 grams (1/2 lbs)
• Garlic – 1 large
• Ginger – 1/4 inch
• Cilantro – 1/2 cup chopped
• Semolina or dry bread crumbs – 2 tbsp
• Oil – 2 tbsp
• Coriander – 1 tsp
• Turmeric – 1/4 tsp
• Lemon – 1 tbsp
• Salt & pepper to taste

Method

Grind the Marinade/Sauce

• Place the cilantro, ginger, garlic in a blender (or mortar and Pestle) and blend until smooth

Quick and Easy Cilantro Meatballs

Season the Meatballs

• Add the semolina or bread crumbs to the meat
• Followed by just 1 tbsp of the cilantro marinade
• Season with salt and pepper
• Divide the meat and foam balls. Do not squish the meat too much and the meatballs will be dense.

Quick and Easy Cilantro Meatballs.

Cook the Sauce

• Add oil to a saute pan or fry pan
• Followed by the cilantro marinade/sauce
• Cook on medium for 3 to 4 minutes – until fragrant.
• Add the turmeric and coriander
• Season with salt and pepper
• Add lemon juice and 1/4 cup water
• Let come to a slight boil reduce heat.
• Carefully distribute the meatballs in the pan so they are not touching each other.
• Shake the pan slightly so the balls sink into the marinade.
• Turn the heat down to a medium low
• Let cook for 10 minutes turning once or twice so they cook evenly.
• If necessary add a few tbsp of water to help cooking.
• Do not cover the pan as you will loose the pretty green color of the cilantro.
• Once the meatballs are cooked thru (about 10 to 12 minutes) remove from heat
• Garnish with more fresh chopped cilantro and serve.

Save this recipe for later. You can find a collection of recipes and tutorials here on Pinterest 

Quick and Easy Cilantro Meatballs

Recipe Card – Quick and Easy Cilantro Meatballs in 15 mins

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Quick and Easy Cilantro Meatballs in 15 mins

Prep 5 mins

Cook 10 mins

Total 15 mins

Author Veena Azmanov

Yield 4 servings

These cilantro meatballs are tender, juicy and full of  flavor. Made with fresh cilantro leaves with a touch of ginger and garlic for that added kick. A squeeze of lemon. These make perfect appetizers or sides. 

Ingredients

Ingredients

• Beef mince - 250 grams (1/2 lbs)
• Garlic - 1 large
• Ginger - 1/4 inch
• Cilantro - 1/2 cup chopped
• Semolina or dry bread crumbs - 2 tbsp
• Oil - 2 tbsp 
• Coriander - 1 tsp
• Turmeric - 1/4 tsp
• Lemon - 1 tbsp
• Salt & pepper to taste

Instructions

Grind the Marinade/Sauce

• Place the cilantro, ginger, garlic in a blender (or mortar and Pestle) and blend until smooth

Season the Meatballs

• Add the semolina or bread crumbs to the meat
• Followed by just 1 tbsp of the cilantro marinade
• Season with salt and pepper
• Divide the meat and foam balls. Do not squish the meat too much and the meatballs will be dense.

Cook the Sauce

• Add oil to a saute pan or fry pan
• Followed by the cilantro marinade/sauce
• Cook on medium for 3 to 4 minutes - until fragrant.
• Add the turmeric and coriander
• Season with salt and pepper
• Add lemon juice and 1/4 cup water
• Let come to a slight boil reduce heat.
• Carefully distribute the meatballs in the pan so they are not touching each other.
• Shake the pan slightly so the balls sink into the marinade.
• Turn the heat down to a medium low
• Let cook for 10 minutes turning once or twice so they cook evenly.
• If necessary add a few tbsp of water to help cooking.
• Do not cover the pan as you will loose the pretty green color of the cilantro.
• Once the meatballs are cooked thru (about 10 to 12 minutes) remove from heat
• Garnish with more fresh chopped cilantro and serve.

Courses Appetizer, Sides

Cuisine Indian

Nutrition Facts

Amount Per Serving
Calories 220
% Daily Value
Total Fat 17 g		26%
	Saturated Fat 4.5 g	23%
	Unsaturated Fat 12 g
	Trans Fat 0.5 g
Cholesterol 45 mg		15%
Sodium 240 mg		10%
Total Carbohydrates 6 g		2%
	Dietary Fiber 1 g	4%
Protein 13 g		26%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

Look at how soft and juicy that looks inside

Quick and Easy Meatball Cilantro

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• Quick and Easy Beef and Pepper Stir Fry – Asian Cooking
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