You know I love to roll my favorite flavors into Meatballs of Love!

The warm Indian spices found in Butter Chicken were the perfect pairing for meatballs. And the sauce is pure heaven!

The Curry Spice Blend

Curry in its most basic form is a type of sauce used in Indian cooking. These sauces or gravies are seasoned with a blend of spices, typically including cumin, turmeric, coriander and others like garam masala (which is a blend on its own) and chili powder.

I’ve found preparing the curry spice blend first when making a recipe like this to be a great time saver. Measure once, use twice.

We’re going to incorporate the same seasoning blend in the meatballs and the curry sauce.

• Ground cumin
• Garam masala
• Ground coriander
• Turmeric
• Red chili powder
• Salt

The Chicken Meatball Ingredients

Ground chicken is a wonderful protein that loves big bold flavors. The meatball ingredients come together quickly!

• Ground chicken
• Onion
• Garlic
• Ginger
• Curry Spice Blend
• Egg
• Panko breadcrumbs

Meatball Preparation

• Mix all the meatball ingredients (except chicken)
• Then add the ground chicken and mix until just combined
• Roll into 1 1/2″ meatballs
• Place on a parchment lined baking sheet
• Bake the meatballs at 400 degrees F. for 20 minutes

The Butter Curry Sauce Ingredients

Like Chicken Tikka Masala, the curry sauce is savory with hints of ginger and garlic. However Butter Chicken also brings a smooth buttery consistency.

• Ghee
• Onion
• Garlic
• Ginger
• Curry Spice Blend
• Tomato paste & sauce
• Chicken broth
• Cream or coconut milk
• Butter
• Salt & sugar to taste

Butter Curry Sauce Preparation

• The sauce begins by sautéing grated onion with melted ghee or butter for 4-5 minutes
• Then the garlic & ginger are added and sautéed for an additional minute
• Add the curry spices and cooked off for a minute
• Add the tomato paste and tomato sauce along with a little chicken broth to bring the ingredients together

• The sauce is then blended until smooth and returned to the pan
• The cream and butter are whisked in
• A final seasoning of salt and a touch of sugar to taste bring the sauce together
• Serve meatballs over basmati rice, covered in curry butter sauce, garnished with fresh cilantro

This sauce is fragrant and full of spice flavor without heat. It’s luscious served over a bed of basmati rice topped with the tender butter chicken meatballs.

Simple Butter Chicken Meatballs over Basmati Rice is on our comfort food rotation!

Don’t forget to follow us @LemonyThyme on Instagram and Facebook! And check out our latest TikTok videos and Pinterest boards too!

All my best,
xo Libby

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Simple Butter Chicken Meatballs Over Basmati Rice

The warm Indian spices found in Butter Chicken were the perfect pairing for meatballs. And the sauce is pure heaven!

Course Entree

Cuisine Indian

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 25 minutes minutes

Servings 4

Author Libby with Lemony Thyme

Ingredients

For the Curry Spice Blend

• 1 1/2 Tablespoons garam masala
• 1 1/2 Tablespoons ground cumin
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground coriander
• 1 1/2 teaspoons red chili powder
• 1 1/2 teaspoons turmeric
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt

For the Chicken Meatballs

• 1 pound ground chicken
• 1/4 cup grated onion squeezed dry in kitchen or paper towel
• 3 cloves fine minced garlic
• 1 Tablespoon grated ginger
• 2 Tablespoons Curry Spice Blend see above
• 1 egg
• 1/3 cup panko breadcrumbs (gluten free for GF Version)

For the Butter Curry Sauce

• 2 Tablespoons ghee or butter
• 1/4 cup grated onion
• 3 cloves fine minced garlic
• 1 Tablespoon grated ginger
• 3 Tablespoons Curry Spice Blend see above
• 1 Tablespoon tomato paste
• 8 ounces tomato sauce
• 1/2 cup chicken broth
• 1/2 cup full fat coconut milk or heavy cream
• 2 Tablespoons butter
• 1/2 teaspoon sugar
• salt to taste

For the Basmati Rice

• 1 cups basmati rice triple rinsed and drained
• 1 Tablespoon ghee or butter
• 1 3/4 cups water
• Cilantro leaves for garnish

Instructions

For the Curry Spice Blend

• Combine the curry spices in a jar.

For the Chicken Meatballs

• Preheat oven to 400° F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Combine all ingredients, except the chicken in a large bowl. Add in the ground chicken and mix until just combined. Roll meatballs into 1 1/2" diameter and place on prepared baking sheet. Bake for 20 minutes.

For the Basmati Rice

• Meanwhile, melt ghee in a skillet with a tight fitting lid. Saute rinsed and drained basmati rice for 2-3 minutes until all grains are nicely coated with ghee. Add water and stir. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Cover and cook an additional 15 minutes or until rice is tender. Fluff with a fork before serving.

For the Butter Curry Sauce

• While meatballs bake and rice cooks, prepare the sauce. Melt ghee in a heavy bottom saucepan. Add in grated onion and saute for 4-5 minutes. Stir in garlic and ginger and cook for an additional minute. Add remaining curry spice blend and stir for 1 minute. Add tomato paste and stir to combine. Then add tomato sauce and chicken broth and whisk until incorporated well. Bring sauce to a gentle boil and simmer for 5 minutes.
• Transfer sauce to a blender and process until smooth. **Careful with hot liquids when removing blender lid** Add sauce back to saucepan and whisk in cream and butter, heat through. Season with sugar and salt to taste.

  Serve meatballs covered in butter curry sauce with a side of basmati rice. Garnish with cilantro leaves.

The post Simple Butter Chicken Meatballs Over Basmati Rice appeared first on Lemony Thyme.

Tender marinated chicken pieces charred and then simmered in a heavenly creamy, rich and moderately spicy sauce.

Sometimes your tastebuds need (and deserve) a trip around the world.

When I set out to prepare a well-known dish such as Chicken Tikka Masala, I spend a good bit of time reading, recreating and recording the process.

As I researched the history of this delightful dish it became clear that the aromatics and the spices were the stars.

What I’ve also found is that there are really two recipes within one….the marinade and the sauce. And both include the same key ingredients.

So for my recipe breakdown below, you’ll see I added a Spice Blend first. This allows you to measure once and use twice and also keeps the ingredients list far less intimidating.

The Marinade

Chicken Tikka Masala begins by marinating chicken pieces in yogurt, aromatics and spices. I used chicken thighs because they love to quickly take on a punchy marinade and remain nice and juicy when cooked. I recommend a minimum of 30 minutes to marinate but an hour or two will nicely intensify the flavors.

The Method

Working in batches, the marinated chicken pieces are pan seared in a smoking hot skillet with ghee until nicely charred, about 2 minutes per side.

Reserve the chicken, wipe the pan to remove any black bits and begin to build the curry sauce.

The Sauce

The sauce begins with sautéed diced onion and freshly grated ginger, followed by minced garlic, a generous amount of spices, and tomato puree.

At this point the aromas wafting through your house will be incredible, fortunately you’re only 15 minutes away from serving!

The sauce is simmered and then pureed in the blender (or remove to a bowl and use an immersion blender).

Return the sauce to the skillet, swirl in the cream and ghee (or butter), and return the charred chicken pieces to the sauce to heat through.

Just like that you’ve recreated Chicken Tikka Masala at home.

Serve Chicken Tikka Masala over basmati rice or with naan bread and a generous sprinkle of fresh cilantro.

This dish is comfort in a bowl. Warm spices, creamy sauce, tender chicken all beautifully balanced. I hope you’ll give this recipe a try and share a comment below.

Don’t forget to follow us @LemonyThyme on Instagram and Facebook! And check out our latest TikTok videos and Pinterest boards too!

All my best,
Libby

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Chicken Tikka Masala

Warm spices, creamy sauce, tender chicken all beautifully balanced in this flavorful dish.

Course Entree

Cuisine Indian

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 40 minutes minutes

Marinade Time 1 hour hour

Servings 4

Author Libby with Lemony Thyme

Ingredients

For the Spice Blend

• 2 Tablespoons garam masala
• 1 Tablespoon ground cumin
• 1 Tablespoon turmeric
• 1 Tablespoon paprika not smoked
• 1 teaspoon ground coriander
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper or more for extra spicy flavor

For the Marinade

• 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs cut into 1" pieces
• 1 cup plain full fat yogurt
• 1 Tablespoon fresh grated ginger
• 1 Tablespoon fresh minced garlic about 3 cloves
• 2 1/2 Tablespoons Spice Blend see above

For the Sauce

• 4 Tablespoons ghee divided
• 1 large onion fine diced
• 2 Tablespoon fresh grated ginger
• 2 Tablespoon fresh minced garlic about 6 cloves
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 3 Tablespoons Spice Blend see above
• 1 14 ounce can tomato puree
• 1/2 cup cream
• 1/2 cup water if needed

To Serve

• 1 1/2 cups Basmati Rice
• 1 handful fresh cilantro leaves chopped
• naan bread optional

Instructions

For the Spice Blend

• Combine ground spices in a jar with a lid and shake to combine.

For the Marinade

• In a large bowl, combine 1 cup yogurt with 1 Tbl. freshly grated ginger and 1 Tbl. freshly minced garlic. Add 2 1/2 Tbl. of Spice Blend, stir to combine. Add chicken pieces and stir to thoroughly coat all pieces. Cover bowl and refrigerate for a minimum of 30 minutes but up to 3 hours.
• Heat a large cast iron or heavy skillet over high heat. Add 1 Tbl. of ghee, heat until smoking. Working in batches, sear the chicken pieces in a single layer, about 2 minutes per side. They should become blackened and charred. Remove pieces to a plate. Add more ghee and sear another batch. Repeat until all chicken has been charred on both sides. Reserve.

For the Sauce

• Wipe the skillet to remove any black bits. Heat skillet over medium heat, add 1 Tbl. ghee and sauté onion and ginger, stirring constantly until onion is translucent. Add minced garlic and salt and cook an additional minute. Sprinkle in remaining spice blend, stir to coat onions and sauté for 1 minute. Stir in tomato puree, reduce heat to low, cover and simmer for 10 minutes.
• Transfer sauce to a blender and puree until smooth or transfer to a bowl and use an immersion blender. Return sauce to pan, stir in cream, 1 Tbl. ghee or butter. Add water, up to 1/2 cup, to achieve desired thickness. Bring to a low simmer, return charred chicken pieces to sauce to heat through.

To Serve

• While making the sauce, prepare basmati rice according to package instructions. To serve, place a serving of rice in each bowl, with 1/4th of the chicken tikka masala. Sprinkle with a generous amount of chopped fresh cilantro. Serve with side of naan bread (optional). Enjoy!

The post Chicken Tikka Masala appeared first on Lemony Thyme.

I think if I were going to have a Food Truck (and you know we’ve all secretly wanted to own a food truck), I’d make it all about the meatballs ~ Mobile Meatballs (ooo or maybe Meatball Madness). 

The possibilities are endless. 

Of course we’d serve traditional Italian Meatballs. The the kind I dream of…soft and bursting with garlic and herb flavors…bathed in a tomato sauce.

Turkey Meatballs would be delicious served bowl style with mashed potatoes and mushroom gravy.

I have a hunch that our Meatball Beef & Broccoli will be a Food Truck top seller!!

Kefta Mkaouara with Moroccan Spicy Meatballs would bring an international flair to our offering.

We’ll serve Maryland Crab Cake Balls too! Everything we love about a Crab Cake rolled into bite-sized nuggets. 

We would certainly offer Swedish Meatballs in a warm gravy served over egg noodles with a hint of nutmeg smiling through.

Kalua Pork Meatball Sliders are addicting bites of juicy flavor!

My Mobile Meatball Food Truck would offer multiple serving options.  You could pile your meatballs of choice on a salad, load them in a pita pocket, stack them on a stick, ladle over hearty grains, or serve them slider style like these Chicken Parmesan Meatball Sliders.

Thanksgiving Dinner Party Meatballs would be a hit all year round.  Who doesn’t love the comfort of a holiday meal delivered in tasty bite-sized meatballs?!!

Looking for fresh bright flavors? Chicken Piccata Meatballs are loaded with aromatics. Comfort food without the guilt!

Our signature Turkey Burger Meatballs, oh so moist with a subtle sweet BBQ flavor, would be a featured item.

We could have an entire food truck menu built around Philly Cheesesteak Meatballs. We could serve them on a hoagie roll or as a rice bowl or just piled high smothered in Provolone Cheese Sauce.

Greek Chicken Meatballs bursting with Mediterranean flavors would be on regular rotation!

Mini Vietnamese Banh Mi Bites, loaded with aromatics, have definitely earned a spot on the food truck fantasy!!

Our Salisbury Steak Meatballs served on a bed of rice with Mushroom Gravy would be a stick to your ribs favorite for certain.

We’d serve our Chicken Satay Meatballs as lettuce wraps or rice bowls with a side of Peanut Dipping Sauce. The flavors in this one will keep them coming back for more.

Let’s not forget Buffalo Chicken Meatballs with hot wing sauce and North African Lamb Meatballs with a cilantro mint sauce.

Jamaican Jerk Meatballs are packed with so much flavor and pair perfectly with a nice bowl of Red Beans & Rice!

Let me tell you, these Chicken Marsala Meatballs will have them lining up around the block. So tender and savory.

You betcha we’ll be serving French Toast Breakfast Meatballs from our Food Truck!

When our Fantasy Food Truck pulls up to the county fair, Spaghetti & Meatballs on a Stick are going to draw a crowd!!

In the cooler months, our meatballs would find their way into big bowls of soup.  We’d have Lemon, Tortellini & Meatball Soup.

Italian Bean Soup with Mini-Meatballs would be a lunchtime favorite.

These rice and herb packed meatballs will find their way into steamy bowls of Albóndigas Soup {Mexican Meatball Soup}.

It’s the meatballs after all that completely make Italian Wedding Soup.

And rounding out our offerings would be these amazing Asian Salmon Meatballs with just the right balance of fresh cilantro and ginger served with a sesame soy honey ginger dipping sauce.  Now who’s with me on this one?!!

Don’t forget to follow us @LemonyThyme on Instagram and Facebook! And check out our latest TikTok videos and Pinterest boards too!

All my best,
xo Libby

The post Our Favorite Meatball Recipes {and a Food Truck Fantasy} appeared first on Lemony Thyme.

Tandoori Marinade is classically used to make Tandoori Chicken.  However, the Whole Roasted Tandoori Cauliflower was fabulous.  Stay tuned for future Tandoori dishes.

To begin, assemble a Tandoori Spice Blend.  The recipe will yield enough for future dishes and once you taste it you’ll be glad it does.

We have My New Roots to thank for this lovely recipe, that was clearly enjoyed by all.

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Tandoori Marinade

Course Marinade

Author My New Roots

Ingredients

For Tandoori Marinade

• 4 garlic cloves
• 1 Tbl. minced ginger
• 1 Tbl. tandoori spice blend
• Juice of 1 lemon
• 1 tsp. salt
• ½ cup plain yogurt

Instructions

• In a mortar and pestle (or food processor) smash garlic and ginger into paste. Add the tandoori spice, lemon and salt and mix until well blended. Fold in the yogurt.

The post Tandoori Marinade appeared first on Lemony Thyme.

I separated this Tandoori Spice Blend from the Whole Roasted Tandoori Cauliflower post because it’s so versatile it’s worth a post of it’s own.  I can see myself using this in various dishes and thankfully the recipe made enough to for us and to share with Shelby.

I also learned that a coffee grinder is one powerful little gadget.  Yes, the cinnamon sticks go in whole and come out as part of this blend.  Pretty amazing.

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Tandoori Spice Blend

Author Sarah B’s Tandoori Spice Blend

Ingredients

• 2 tsp. chili or cayenne
• 1 Tbl. cardamom ground or seeds
• 4 Tbl. cumin seeds
• 2 Tbl. coriander seeds
• ½ whole nutmeg grated
• 2 tsp. whole cloves
• 2-3 cinnamon sticks
• 2 Tbl. ground turmeric
• 2 Tbl. paprika

Instructions

• Place all ingredients except for turmeric and paprika in a spice mill, mortar and pestle or coffee grinder. Grind until powder. Add turmeric and paprika. Store in a glass jar away from light and heat. Will keep for up to six months.

The post Tandoori Spice Blend appeared first on Lemony Thyme.

I made scrumptious Pistachio-Chai muffins yesterday afternoon.  I sat down at my computer this morning, muffin by my side, to write about them.  I didn’t get two sentences in before I was stuck.  How do I describe the flavor of Chai Tea?  I love it.  I’ve had it many times since Shelby first introduced it to me several years ago.  I know there’s cinnamon, I think there may be ginger and clove, but it’s depth of flavor is far more than that.

Perhaps a little Spice Exploration is in order.  And so I did what I do….read at least a dozen Chai Tea recipes, researched the origin of Chai, and had a quick geography lesson.  What I’ve learned from this mini-research session is that Chai Tea blends are as unique to South Asian cuisine as are Curry Powders.

After doing all the research for my muffin post, there was only one thing left to do…make Homemade Chai Tea.  I followed a basic recipe from Whole Foods and only adapted it slightly to create a fuller more bold flavored tea.  Delicious and ever so perfect with a nice warm Pistachio-Chai Muffin.

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Homemade Chai Tea Latte

Cook Time 30 minutes minutes

Total Time 30 minutes minutes

Servings 2

Author adapted from Whole Foods

Ingredients

• 1 cinnamon stick
• 1 star anise
• 6 whole cloves
• 6 cardamom pods
• 4 peppercorns
• 1 cube crystallized ginger or 1 (1-inch) piece fresh ginger, peeled and sliced
• 2 single-serve black tea tea bags
• 1 cup milk
• 2 Tbl. brown sugar
• 2 cups water

Instructions

• Place cinnamon, star anise, cloves, cardamom pods, peppercorns, and ginger in a small pot with two cups of water. Cover and bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to steep for an additional 10 minutes.
• Return pot to heat and bring to a boil. Remove from heat, add tea and cover. Let steep for 10 minutes. Strain through a fine mesh sieve, discard solids. Return liquid to pot, add in milk and brown sugar. Heat over low 1-2 minutes until hot. Pour into mugs to serve.

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