There’s nothing like Friday evening with a festive, colorful, and flavorful main dish. This time with a perfect recipe for chicken and bean balls in an Asian sauce – a combination of ground chicken, protein-rich beans, and mild seasoning with a surprising Asian touch. The result is an excellent main dish for the whole family, upgrading the table effortlessly.

The chicken balls are baked in the oven until they get a golden color and juicy texture, then dipped in a sweet-salty sauce that coats them on all sides, making them especially appealing.

This is a dish that looks impressive but is actually simple and quick to prepare, so you can focus on hosting and other Friday cooking, while still serving a main dish that everyone will want more and more of.

Ingredients:

1 kg ground chicken

1 can beans of your choice, drained

1 large onion, grated and drained

½ cup chopped cilantro

½ cup breadcrumbs

1 tsp baharat

1 tsp salt

1 tsp ground black pepper

1 tsp paprika

1 tsp grated lemon zest

Cooking spray for roasting the patties

For the sauce, mix in a small bowl:

½ cup sweet chili sauce

3 tbsp soy sauce

2 tbsp sesame oil

1 tsp garlic powder

½ tsp salt

¼ cup water

2 tbsp sesame seeds

Chicken and bean balls in a sweet Asian sauce
Chicken and bean balls in a sweet Asian sauce (credit: DROR EINAV)

For serving: chopped cilantro

Preparation:

1. Preheat the oven to 200°C.

2. Mash the beans with a fork and transfer to a bowl.

3. Add the rest of the patty ingredients and knead the mixture well (recommended with a glove).

4. Form small balls and place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

5. Spray with cooking oil and bake for about 25 minutes or until golden.

6. Transfer the roasted patties to a wide pan over high heat.

7. Mix all the sauce ingredients in a small bowl and pour over, stirring until the sauce is absorbed.

8. Serve with chopped cilantro on top.


Ines Shilat Yanai, in collaboration with Sugat