I love these tasty meat balls for a party, they are especially favoured by kids who love the crunchiness of the lettuce. You can most certainly use minced chicken pork or prawn meat.
Spicy meatballs in lettuce with salsa
Ingredients
500g minced beef
1 medium onion, finely diced
2 garlic cloves, crushed or chopped
2 tsp mild or medium curry powder
2 tsp ground cumin
1 tspgaram masala
1/2 tsp paprika or cayenne pepper
2 tbsp fresh coriander, chopped
50g fresh breadcrumbs
1 tbsp olive oil
1 ice berg lettuce
Tooth picks
Method
Heat oven to 180°C
Put the mince into the mixing bowl. Add the onions, garlic, curry powder, cumin, garam masala, paprika or cayenne pepper and coriander, then mix well. By adding these spices, you'll get a delicious flavour without having to add any salt
Add the breadcrumbs, then mix again
Divide the meat mixture into 20g evensized pieces and shape into balls (they should be about the size of a walnut). Heat the oil in the frying pan over a medium heat and add in the meatballs
Cook them for about 3 mins before turning, continue to cook until golden brown and cooked through. To finish cooking them you can bake them in the oven for 15mins
Once cooked allow the meatballs to cool slightly before wrapping with a fresh, crisp lettuce leaf and dolloping with the salsa
Tips & Hints
Makes about 25 meatballs depending on the size
For the sauce
Ingredients
1 x 400g tin diced tomatoes
1 tblsp olive oil
1 tblsp minced ginger
1 tblsp minced chili
1 tblsp minced garlic
Method
For the tomato sauce, fry the chili, garlic and ginger in the oil then pour in the tomatoes, cook for 20 minutes on a low temperature until slightly thickened
