Thai Chicken Meatballs in Coconut Curry

This dish is warm, fragrant, comforting… but still light, balanced, and kind to your body. Instead of frying, we bake the meatballs. Instead of heavy breadcrumbs, we use oats. Instead of drowning everything in richness, we let herbs, ginger, lime, and curry do the talking. You get all the drama of Thai flavors with the calm, nourishing rhythm of home cooking.

It’s the kind of meal that feels indulgent while secretly being very sensible. My favorite kind.

Ingredients (tweaked and balanced):

• 1 lb ground chicken (or ground turkey for a leaner option)

• 2 cloves garlic, minced

• 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated

• 2 green onions, finely sliced

• 1 egg (or a flax egg if you want it lighter/plant-based)

• 3 tablespoons rolled oats, lightly blitzed in a blender

• 2 teaspoons low-sodium soy sauce or coconut aminos

• 1 teaspoon fish sauce (optional – skip for lower sodium)

• 1 tablespoon red curry paste

• 1 can (13.5 oz) light coconut milk

• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

• 1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced

• A handful of spinach or kale

• Fresh basil, cilantro, or parsley

• Lime wedges

Method

1. Make the meatballs (baked, not fried):In a bowl, mix the chicken, garlic, ginger, green onions, egg, oats, soy sauce or coconut aminos, and fish sauce if using. Form small meatballs and place them on a parchment-lined baking tray. Bake at 200°C (400°F) for 12–15 minutes, until lightly golden and almost cooked through.

2. Build the curry: Heat the olive oil in a wide skillet. Add the curry paste and stir for about a minute to wake up the spices. Pour in the coconut milk and add the sliced red pepper. Let it simmer gently for around 5 minutes, until the peppers soften. Stir in a handful of spinach or kale at the end so it just wilts.

3. Bring it together: Add the baked meatballs to the sauce. Simmer for another 5–7 minutes so they soak up all that flavor and finish cooking.

4. Serve: Spoon over brown rice, quinoa, or bulgur. Finish with fresh herbs and a generous squeeze of lime.

This is the kind of dish that feels like a warm hug but still respects your body. Cozy, colorful, and quietly powerful—just how food should be.