Turkish Kofte (Meatballs) Recipe You Can Make At Home

Kofta or “Kofte” is a popular meatball type of dish in Turkey and the middle east. We have many kofta recipes and kebabs in Turkish cuisine.

Here is an excellent Kofte recipe the way we make it at home, easily using a food processor. The great thing is you can freeze and cook whenever you want to have a ready meal. Even though I use only beef for making the koftas, you can use a mix of beef and lamb which can give an extra flavor.

Ingredients For Turkish Kofta Recipe:

• 500gr. ground meat (you can use 30% lamb if you like and preferably at least 20% fat)
• 2 medium-size onions
• 4 tbsp ground stale bread/bread crumbs
• a big handful of parsley (optional)
• 1 tsp each black pepper, salt, paprika
• 1/4 tsp baking soda (optional) – you can add 3-4 drops of lemon juice over the baking soda before you add it.
• To serve: 1-2 big firm tomatoes
• 6-8 green sweet peppers
• olive oil to brush the griddle or pan

Utensils: I use a cast iron griddle to cook the koftas but you can also use, preferably non-stick frying pan

How To Make Turkish Kofta / Kofte:

Making Kofte Mixture:

Traditionally we make the kofte mixture by hand by grating the onions, chopping fresh herbs if used, and mixing the other ingredients in a bowl well. But you can easily do these steps in a food processor. If your food processor isn’t so big you can only chop the onion and parsley and continue mixing in a bowl

1. In a food processor add onion cut in four, parsley. If you are using stale bread soak it in water to soften then squeeze out excess water and add to the onion parsley mixture. Process until they have fine pieces, avoid over-processing, and don’t make it like a puré.
   
2. Add the ground meat, spices, and baking soda if using. Drop 3-4 drops of lemon juice over the baking soda and mix everything by pulsing until is it evenly incorporated.
   
3. Dip your hand into the water from time to time and get smaller than mandarine size mixture and first shape into a ball and press it to make a disk. It comes together when cooks and becomes thicker so consider that while shaping.
4. 

5. Cooking The Koftes:

   

   Heat the cast iron griddle or non-stick frying pan or grill. Brush it with vegetable oil. Add kofte pieces leaving space between them and cook on medium heat until both sides and inside are fully cooked.

   

   Meanwhile cut the tomatoes in big wedges and cook on the griddle or grill with green peppers.

   

   Serve the koftes with pilav and grilled veggies. You can also make Turkish coban salad, or cacik (yogurt-cucumber sauce) to serve.

   For more delicious Turkish Recipes click here.