Thai Red Curry Turkey Meatball Soup

Are you looking for a comforting, flavorful, and easy-to-make Thai-inspired soup? This Thai Red Curry Turkey Meatball Soup is just what you need. It’s packed with aromatic spices, tender turkey meatballs, and fresh veggies, all swimming in a creamy coconut broth.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Healthy & Nourishing: With lean ground turkey, fresh vegetables, and gluten-free rice noodles, this soup is both filling and nutritious.
• Gluten-Free & Dairy-Free: Easily swap standard soy sauce for a gluten-free version to make this totally gluten-free. And the coconut milk adds all the creaminess you need – no dairy required.
• Quick & Easy: While the ingredient list is on the longer side, you can have this meal on the table in under an hour, with most of the time spent letting the flavors simmer.
• Bold Thai Flavors: Red curry paste, coconut milk, fish sauce, and fresh lime come together for a flavor profile that’s irresistible.

Ingredients for Thai Red Curry Turkey Meatball Soup

To make this delicious soup, here’s what you’ll need:

For the Meatballs:

• 1 lb ground turkey
• 1 tsp ground ginger
• 1 tsp ground coriander
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1.5 tsp soy sauce (gluten-free if needed)
• 1 tbsp fresh chopped basil
• 1 tbsp fresh chopped cilantro
• 1 tsp Thai red curry paste
• 2-3 green onions, finely chopped

For the Soup:

• 2 tsp coconut oil
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2-3 shallots finely sliced
• 1 small zucchini (about 1 cup), chopped
• 3 tbsp Thai red curry paste
• 1 can (14 oz) full-fat coconut milk
• 4 cups low-sodium chicken stock
• 2 tsp to 1 tbsp fish sauce (to taste)
• 1 tsp soy sauce (gluten-free if needed)
• 1 tsp coconut sugar
• Juice of 1/2 a lime
• a big handful of spinach
• 6-8 oz rice noodles, cooked according to package directions

Optional For Garnish:

• Chopped cilantro
• Chopped green onions
• Additional lime wedges
• Chili oil and/or sriracha

How to Make Thai Red Curry Turkey Meatball Soup

Step 1: Prepare the Meatballs Preheat your oven to 425°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

In a large bowl, mix the ground turkey, ground ginger, ground coriander, minced garlic, soy sauce, basil, cilantro, Thai red curry paste, and chopped green onions. Form the mixture into 1-inch meatballs and place them on the baking sheet. Bake for 12-15 minutes or until fully cooked and lightly browned.

Step 2: Make the Soup Base While the meatballs are baking, heat coconut oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and shallots. Sauté for 1-2 minutes until the shallots soften and become translucent.

Add the Thai red curry paste and cook for another 1-2 minutes until fragrant. Then, pour in the coconut milk, chicken stock, fish sauce, soy sauce, and coconut sugar. Stir to combine.

Next, add the chopped zucchini and bring the soup to a gentle boil. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 5 minutes to let the flavors meld and the zucchini soften.

Step 3: Combine Meatballs and Soup Once the meatballs are done, gently add them to the soup. Let them simmer in the broth for another 2 minutes. Stir in the spinach and cook for 1-2 minutes until wilted.

Step 4: Finish and Serve Add the cooked rice noodles to the soup just before serving. Ladle the soup into bowls and garnish with chopped cilantro, green onions, and a squeeze of fresh lime juice.

Serve with additional lime wedges for an extra burst of flavor!

Tips for the Best Thai Red Curry Turkey Meatball Soup

• Zucchini Tip: Add the zucchini later in the process to avoid it becoming too soft.
• Fish Sauce: If you’re new to fish sauce, start with 2 teaspoons and adjust to taste.
• Noodles: You might be tempted to throw your rice noodles to cook right in the soup base but don’t do it. They will absorb up all the liquid. Cook them separately and add them at the last minute.

FAQs

Can I make this soup ahead of time?
Yes! You can make everything ahead of time, just store the noodles and the soup with the meatballs separately. When you’re ready to eat, heat up the soup and pour it over your noodles.

What can I substitute for fish sauce?
If you don’t have fish sauce or prefer not to use it, you can substitute with a little extra soy sauce or tamari.

Let me know how you liked it by leaving a review and comment!