Crab and Chicken Meatballs with a Honey, Soy and Garlic Sauce with Chilli and Lime

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These delectable, soft, sweet crab and chicken meatballs are wrapped in a sticky honey sauce, with salty soy, tangy lime and a kick of chilli. Serve with some sticky rice, or noodles, to absorb all that deliciousness and dress it up with some chopped spring onions and sesame seeds. Nobody would guess that this luscious tasting and looking supper took you only 30 minutes to pull together.

I used white crab in these meatballs. Its sweet taste and aroma pair perfectly with the sauce and the fact it is low in fat and has a high protein content, makes it a healthy addition to your diet. However, it can be expensive and it is not always easy to find; the good news is that these meatballs are delicious made using just chicken (or turkey or pork).

This is the same sauce I use with my Honey Garlic Salmon Fillets with Soy, Chilli and Lime. It is incredibly quick to make – literally 5 minutes – yet it is bursting with flavour. Both my girls used to make a huge jar of this to take back to university. It will keep in the fridge for a few weeks so why not make a double batch and try it out with the salmon as well?

How to make Crab and Chicken Meatballs with a Honey, Soy and Garlic Sauce with Chilli and Lime

Collect all your ingredients together:

For the meatballs:

• cloves of garlic, peeled and crushed
• fresh ginger, trimmed and finely chopped
• spring onions, trimmed and roughly chopped
• coriander (some stalk is OK)
• minced chicken (or pork or turkey)
• white crab meat
• fine salt
• freshly ground white pepper

To cook:

• coconut oil, ground nut or vegetable oil

For the Honey, Soy and Garlic Sauce with Chilli and Lime:

• runny honey
• soy sauce (I use Kikkoman reduced salt)
• lime juice (or lemon)
• roasted sesame oil
• garlic powder
• chilli flakes

To garnish:

• chopped spring onions
• chopped coriander
• sesame seeds

To serve:

• cooked rice – ideally sticky rice, OR
• noodles
• your choice of green vegetables e.g. tender stem broccoli, snow peas, mange tout or a green salad

How to make this dish:

First, make the Crab and Chicken meatballs –

1. Turn the oven on and put your pan inside to heat up. Ideally use a pan you can use in the oven and also on the hob. I use a cast-iron skillet or a frying pan. Alternatively you can use a baking tray in the oven and then transfer to a saucepan or frying pan on the hob.
2. Peel and roughly chop the ginger and garlic.
3. Put into a food processor with the trimmed and roughly chopped spring onions and coriander. Blitz until finely chopped. Alternatively, finely chop by hand.
4. Put the crab in a mixing bowl and using your fingers, have a good feel to make sure there are no bits of shell in the mixture. Add the chicken (or turkey or pork), the chopped ginger, garlic, onion and coriander mix as well as the salt and pepper.
5. Mix thoroughly – I find the easiest way is to use my hands.
6. Use a small ice cream scoop or a tablespoon measure to divide into the meatballs – this mixture should make around 17 – 18.
7. Roll them gently with your hands to give you a neat and smooth shape.
8. Take your pan out of the oven – be careful it will be very hot – and add the oil. Brush it around to make sure it covers the base of the pan.
9. Add the meatballs, and using a spoon, make sure each meatball is covered in the oil.
10. Put in the oven and cook for 10 minutes.
11. Whilst the meatballs are cooking, put your rice on to cook and make the sauce.

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Now, make the Honey, Soy and Garlic Sauce with Chilli and Lime –

1. Measure all the ingredients into a jam jar, screw on the lid firmly and shake well.
2. Alternatively, measure into a small bowl and mix with a balloon whisk. All done and ready to cook.

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Bring it all together:

1. Remove your meatballs from the oven after 10 minutes and add the Honey, Soy and Garlic Sauce with Chilli and Lime.
2. Cook on the hob over a moderate heat for 3 – 4 minutes to reduce and thicken the sauce. Baste the meatballs as the sauce cooks.
3. Add done – garnish and serve with rice or noodles and your choice of green vegetables

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Made this recipe?

If you make this recipe, do please tag me on instagram @daffodil_kitchen. You could also leave a comment in the box directly below the recipe.