Beef, Date Night couple cookin’, Daye Night Couple Cookin’, Traditions

Curry meatballs and jasmine rice- date nite cooking

Curry Meatballs oven baked either beef or lamb or combo of both

Jason and I really have grown to enjoy cooking together. We share a nice glass of wine, turn up the tunes to match the cuisine, and get going with who does which job. Jason is my savior for kneading dough, mixing, and making meatballs! This was a taste of Mediterranean with cool greek yogurt, homemade Naan , and spicy curry. Naan recipe here. Our pictured was with lean hamburger but I think if you like lamb it would enhance the flavors. Lean pork with beef would be nice as well. Browning meatballs in a skillet first would enhance the color. Its your date- have fun with it! Easy and delicious!

  • 1 pound ground beef, lamb, or pork
  • 2 green onions
  • 2 garlic cloves finely chopped
  • 1 inch peeled and grated ginger
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 2 Tbs yellow curry
  • 1 tsp parika powder
  • Salt and pepper
  • 2 cup chopped zucchini
  • 1 cup diced red bell pepper
  • 1 med yellow onion diced
  • 1/2 cup greek yogurt plain
  • 1 can coconut cream
  • Chopped cilantro and or mint approx 1/4 Cup
  • Rice cooker jasmine rice- cooked.
  • 2 Tbs olive oil

Meatballs. Preheat 400 degree oven. In a mixing bowl. Combine ground meat, chopped green onion (reserving 1/4 cup for garnish) , garlic powder, greek yogurt, 1 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp pepper. 1 Tbs chopped cilantro and mint. Combine well with your hands. Then form into 1 inch meatballs using a scoop or table spoon. Bake on foil lined baking sheet for 20-25 min. While you prepare your sauce. ( have your jasmine rice cooking)

Assembling meatballs for the oven

While Jason works on the meatballs I prep veggies and seasonings. small bowl combine curry, paprika, tsp garlic powder, tsp turmeric,1/2 tsp pepper. Separate bowl chopped garlic and grated ginger.

Large sauté pan, add 2 Tbs olive oil and heat to a shimmer. Add veggies and cook until fragrant, salt and pepper lightly. Add garlic and ginger. Cook two min til fragrant. Add seasonings stirring thru. Slowly add coconut cream and 1/4 c water. Blend. Taste and salt and pepper to taste as well as mint and cilantro. ( optionalIf you prefer your curry more gravy heavy, add a Tbs corn starch to the water and incorporate. )

Golden yumminess!

Add your cooked meatballs to the curry and simmer low for 2-3 min and allow sauce to reduce slightly.

Serve over you fresh jasmine rice, wedge of lime, Naan bread on side, then I enjoy hummus is small vessels and fresh cucumber tzatziki sauce. sprinkle with chopped green herb, lime wedge, paprika for color.

This is a recipe that leftovers are amazing!! Make fresh hero with the naan, rice, meatballs, fresh lettuce, tomato and tzatziki sauce. Yum! Enjoy!

Breads, Date Night couple cookin’, High Protein

Naan (part of date nite cooking)

Naan. So fun to say, so fun to eat. Oh, so easy to make. With this being a small process it takes a bit of pre- planning but a great addition to date night help. Jason was a great help rolling out the dough as I black skillet baked the Naan. Easy ingredients.

Warm Naan
  • 2.5 c flour
  • 1 packet yeast
  • 1/2 c warm water
  • 2 T olive oil
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/2 c plain greek yogurt
  • 1 tsp sugar

Mix warm water , sugar , and yeast, let stand for 10 minutes to activate the yeast.

Separate bowl mix dry ingredients and mound on a work area , creating a center well.

Mix by hand working wet into dry

Add your wet ingredients and work into a smooth dough. Here is where I struggled and improvised. I cant kneed dough anymore after an injury so I depend on my kitchen aide. Tried the board method and it was a countertop disaster! Solution!

Dumped all into the mixer. Dough hook to the rescue! Mixed well to a smooth dough. About 2 minutes. Lightly oil dough and cover with towel. Cover and place in a warm area to rest and rise 1 hour. After 1 hour cut into 8 even pieces. Roll out to 1/4 inch thickness or so rounds while skillet warms to med heat. Lightly oil pan with olive oil and bake dough one at a time flipping as they cook. About 2-3 min each side.

Stack loaves and after all are done place back in plate covered skillet, off the heat, to stay warm for dinner. Even better next day.

Be creative. Add garlic powder or herbs to enhance your dough. serve with hummus or use for hero wraps. Small pizza crusts with lots of toppings is another option. Enjoy.