It has been raining in Singapore for the past few days. Raining, as in actual rains!!…not pouring. The rains in SG bring with it a temporary relief from the heat but leaves behind a host of diseases and illnesses. Most of DD’s classmates and my friends’ kids are down with fever, cough or sore throat. When it is rainy and wet and cool outside, one would really want something warm and comforting. On such rainy days and gloomy weathers, the most welcoming dish would be a warm hearty soup or a stew.
DD loves soup – any soup will do for her as long as it is warm, simple and delicious. When it comes to stews she is a total admirer and appreciates it well. The best part of stews is that you can incorporate as many veggies as you would like and nothing beats a good stew with meat and veggies. It becomes a balanced meal packed with proteins, vitamins and other vital nutrients.
This recipe is easy and authentic. For meatballs you can use either beef or lamb meat. I have used lamb meat. I have also added veggies like potatoes and carrots which makes it more wholesome. The stew is slow-cooked on a low flame with garlic, onions, tomatoes, cayenne pepper and cumin powder until the meatballs and veggies are light and fork-tender. I did not have fresh herbs. So I rather chose to use a mix of dried herbs like thyme, basil, rosemary, sage and oregano which gives this stew a robust flavor. It is important to mix in the dried herbs during cooking so that there is enough time for the herbs to infuse flavor into the dish.
Meatballs stew is a perfect treat on a cold rainy day. It is aromatic, deliciously fragrant, wholesome and substantial. I served the stew with buttered herb rice. A happy meal is equal to a happy tummy and happy faces!!
Ingredients:
Minced meat – 1 kg (beef / lamb)
For the meatballs you will need:
Cayenne pepper / Red chilli powder – 1 tbsp
Cumin powder – 1 tbsp
Coriander leaves – finely chopped
Salt – as per taste
For the Stew you will need:
Bay leaf – 1-2
Onion – 1 large finely chopped
Garlic – 7-8 cloves finely chopped / crushed
Tomatoes – 2 large finely chopped
Hunt’s tomato paste – 1-2 tbsp
Red chilli powder / Cayenne pepper powder – 1 tbsp
Cumin powder – 1 tbsp
Potatoes – 1 large cubed
Carrots – 1 (cut into chunks)
Mixed dried herbs – mix of rosemary, thyme, basil, oregano and sage (1 tbsp)
Black pepper powder – 1 tsp
Salt – as per taste
Recipe:
- Prepare the meatballs. Take the minced meat. Add cayenne pepper, cumin powder, salt and chopped coriander leaves. Mix and knead well.
Wet your hands and make meatballs out of the mix.
2. Take some oil in a pan. Fry and sear the meatballs until they get a dark brown colour on the surface.
3. For the stew, take the same pan in which the meatballs were seared. Add 1 bay leaf.
Add the crushed garlic and saute for about a min.
4. Add the chopped onions and saute until they turn translucent.
5. Once the onions are translucent, add the diced potatoes and carrots. Saute for 2-3 mins.
6. Then add the chopped tomatoes. Mix well. Also add the Hunt’s tomato paste. Add the cayenne pepper and cumin powder. Mix well.
Cover with a lid and cook until the tomatoes turn mushy and everything is incorporated well.
7. Add water or stock (one-and-half cups). Add salt, black pepper powder and mixed dried herbs. Let this come to a boil.
Once it starts boiling, add in the meatballs.
8. Cover with a lid and put the flame on low. Slow cook until the meatballs are cooked through and the potatoes carrots are fork-tender. It took me around 20-25 mins.
Serve warm and healthy meatballs stew with herb and butter rice. Enjoy!!
This is perfect! I have been looking for a meatball recipe with cumin.
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Thanks!! My family loved it. Please try and let me know your version 🙂 the essence of cumin is the heart and soul of this recipe:)
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I am looking forward to making it!
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So colorful and appetizing 🙂 Yummmm!
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Thanks Leyla!!:)
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Looks awesome. Thank you for sharing.
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Thanks sudhir!! You have some fantastic stuff on your blog…good work 🙂
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Hey Lisa… Are you on instagram ?
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Nope 😦
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Alright. Try and be there. Many of the Indian food wordpress bloggers are on Instagram. You will surely get more visitors to your blog from Instagram.
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Okay.. On my way to open an account on Instagram 🙂
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Great…I shall send you a list of wordpress food bloggers…follow them and they will surely follow you back. Many are Indians. 🙂
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It’s been how long you have started your blog? I feel you have done a great job 🙂
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Hey..Thanks Lisa..That made my day. I started late on wordpress. I used to write on Quora. I was active from October last year. It’s been a bad 3-4 years for me after my return from UK.
May will be a busy month on my blog. I hope you find my posts informative – that is my purpose.
Food is a popular category. Once you start following people, you can build a community. I am sure you will have great success here.
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Thanks sudhir..that was a great tip indeed…will do as you said…thanks for the advice :)…are you doing full time blogging?
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I do research for my start up which is a photo based. I need to blog for that start up. So I see a lot of potential to share educational stuff from my experience in the corporate world, that I am trying to blog full time.
Let’s see where this takes me.
I am glad I connected with you. Please do keep in touch.
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Sure I am glad to have known a wonderful person like you!! Wish you all the best! 🙂
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You too Lisa. It must be very late for you. I am assuming you are still in Singapore.
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Yes it’s 12 midnight here.
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After I launch my startup, I am exploring opportunities in Aus, Can, Singapore. I shall surely be in touch with you, Lisa.
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Sure no worries… Just let me know 🙂 Stay in touch:)/
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Of course I will…you too.
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I will need your support and encouragement in finishing this blog. Do stay in touch, Lisa.
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Don’t worry sudhir…I will be there to support you till the end 🙂
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I couldn’t have asked for a better start to the day, Lisa. Bless you. You have my gratitude for life.
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When is your birthday, Lisa.?
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15th October 🙂
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Wow ! Libra…:)
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As promised, I shall send you the list of food bloggers later in the day. Have a nice day !
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Thank you!! 🙂
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The stew looks delicious. I usually have it with chunks of beef, but meatballs are a good idea.
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Thanks rini. I absolutely loved it when I tasted meatballs stew for the first time at a Turkish restaurant. Have been making it since then. Do try. I am sure you will love it! 🙂
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Your recipe looks delish! And thank you so much for your kind comments on my blog posts and recipes. I see that you found my new site http://www.christinanifong@gmail.com. That is where I have my biggest directory of recipes. And there you should be able to comment on each recipe. Thanks for that suggestion. My old website will be taken down soon.
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Thank you Christina :). Yes just after going through your old website I discovered your new blog. You are doing a wonderful job and your posts are a delight to read. Please keep up the good work 🙂
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Thank you!! So happy to have you as a reader.
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I was happily nudged over here from Carol’s blog and so gold for it.. Your pictures alone are worth a thousand words each 👍
Looking forward to exploring the world of food thru your eyes and experience 😊
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Thanks so much! Appreciate it! Glad to have discovered your blog too….it’s lovely 🙂
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Thank you, I haven’t kept up with it recently but hope you find some interesting things to read from my sister and I.. 😊
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It’s really nice to have met you on the internet….you are such a nice person 🙂 ❤
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Thank you 😊 I’d like to believe I’m nice, but know myself too well 😄
I’m terribly behind on comments but glad I caught up to this one.. 💛
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Hahaha gold should have been glad.. 😁 my keyboard changes my words all the time..
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