Kifta Food

TURKISH MEATBALLS (KOFTA)

Steps:

• Make the bread crumbs by breaking up 2 slices of stale but not dried out whole wheat bread into the bowl of a food processor.
• Whizz until finely crumbed.
• Add the ground lamb and the egg, and process until blended.
• Add the spices, garlic and parsley.
• Process the meat well to achieve a fine texture.
• Roll the mixture into small meatballs (I use a melonballer) or finger shaped patties using dampened hands.
• You may cook them at once, or refrigerate the mixture for several hours.
• (If your meat is very fresh, you can divide it in half and wrap part well in plastic for the next day's meal.) Heat the oil in a heavy skillet, and fry the balls or patties until cooked through and evenly browned.
• The meatballs should be stirred several times, the patties turned once.
• Remove them with a slotted spoon to drain.
• Serve the meatballs hot or at room temperature as an appetizer.
• Lovely with a yogurt or tahini sauce, on a bed of rice or in a pita.

KOFTA KEBABS WITH TZATZIKI

Steps:

• Smash the garlic cloves, sprinkle with a generous pinch of salt, and, with the flat side of a large knife, mash and smear mixture to a coarse paste. Mix the paste and the remaining 1 tablespoon salt with the meat, onion, parsley, and spices.
• Line a pan with aluminum foil. Divide the meat mixture into 28 rough balls. Mold each piece around the pointed end of a skewer (if you use wooden ones, soak them in water for 15 minutes before threading them), making a 2-inch oval kebab that comes to a point just covering the tip of the skewer. Lay the skewers on the pan, cover, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes and up to 12 hours.
• Heat a grill pan over medium heat or prepare a grill. Brush the pan lightly with olive oil. Working in batches, grill the kebabs, turning occasionally, until brown all over and just cooked through, about 6 minutes. Transfer to a serving platter and serve with tzatziki and flat bread.
• If you're using plain whole milk yogurt, line a small sieve with a coffee filter. Put the yogurt in it, set it over a bowl, and refrigerate 12 hours. Discard the expressed liquid and put yogurt in the bowl.
• Grate the cucumber on the large holes of a box grater into another bowl. Sprinkle with the 2 teaspoons salt and rub into the cucumber with your hands. Set aside 20 minutes, then squeeze the cucumbers to express as much liquid as possible.
• Smash the garlic, sprinkle with a generous pinch of salt, and, with the flat side of a large knife, mash and smear the mixture to a coarse paste. Stir the cucumber, garlic, olive oil, lemon juice, and mint into the yogurt. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving.

KIFTA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Heat the oil in a large heavy skillet over medium-high heat. When the oil is hot, place potato slices in a thin layer, and fry just until golden. Remove with a slotted spoon, and set aside on paper towels.
• In a medium bowl, mix together the ground beef, minced onion, garlic, parsley, salt, pepper, allspice, nutmeg, and cumin. Press flat into a 7x11 inch baking dish. Arrange potato slices over the meat in an even layer. Place tomato slices over the potato. Top with slices of onion. Cover with aluminum foil.
• Bake for 45 minutes in the preheated oven. Remove the aluminum foil from the top, and continue to bake for another 15 minutes, or until browned.
• While the kifta is cooking, combine the rice and water in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 20 minutes or until rice is tender. When kifta is done, cut into squares and serve over rice.

MIDDLE EASTERN LAMB KOFTA

Steps:

• Place the nuts in the bowl of a food processor fitted with the steel blade. Pulse until finely chopped but not pasty. Transfer the nuts to a small dry skillet over medium heat; cook, stirring frequently, until the nuts are lightly browned and fragrant, 5 to 6 minutes. Pour the nuts into mixing bowl large enough to hold all of the ingredients, and set aside to cool. (Don't leave the nuts in the pan, as the residual heat may cause them to burn.)
• Place the onion, garlic, bell pepper, jalapeño pepper, and cilantro in the bowl of the food processor (no need to clean it first). Pulse until the vegetables are finely minced but not puréed. Set a fine sieve over a medium bowl. Transfer the minced vegetables to the sieve and use a rubber spatula to press out as much liquid as possible. Add the strained vegetable mixture to the bowl with the nuts.
• To the veggies and nuts, add the lamb, cumin, cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, salt, and white pepper. Using your hands, mash the mixture together until evenly combined.
• Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil. Form the mixture into patties about 2 inches in diameter and ½-inch thick (they will puff up on the grill to look like meatballs). Place on the baking sheet and cover with plastic wrap, then refrigerate until ready to cook.
• Preheat the grill to medium-high heat and oil the grates. Place the kofta on the grill and cook, covered, until browned, about 4 minutes per side or until cooked through. Serve with tzatziki and hummus.
• Note: If you like your kofta spicy, reserve some of the seeds from the jalapeño pepper and add them with the vegetables. Also, be sure to wash your hands well after handling hot peppers, and do not touch your eyes while working with them.
• Make-Ahead: The patties can be made and refrigerated up to two days ahead of time.
• Freezer-Friendly Instructions: The uncooked patties can be frozen for up to three months. (Freeze the patties on a baking sheet or plate so their shape sets, then transfer them to a sealable plastic bag for easy storage.) Defrost the burgers overnight in the refrigerator prior to serving and then cook as directed.

KOFTA: SPICED GROUND BEEF KEBAB RECIPE

Steps:

• Finely chop the onion and parsley. Time-saving Tip: Use a food processor.
• Add the ground beef to a large bowl and stir in the onions and parsley.
• Season with salt and pepper.
• Form the beef mixture into small balls and place four or five balls onto a metal skewer.
• Shape the meat into a cigar shape on the skewer. Note: if you use wooden skewers, be sure to soak them in water for 30 minutes first to avoid them burning.
• Pre-heat the oven to 350 F.
• Bake the skewers for 45 minutes.
• Or if grilling, grill for 20 to 25 minutes or until done.
• Serve over a bed of white rice. Serving Suggestions: Kofta is often served on flatbread (without skewers) or pita bread . It is also common to see it served on a hot dog bun.

LAUKI KOFTA CURRY RECIPE

Steps:

• Peel and grate lauki. Squeeze out the water completely and keep that water for making gravy.
• Take squeezed grated lauki in a large bowl. Add gram flour, rice flour, turmeric powder, ginger-garlic paste, finely chopped green chilli, finely chopped onion and salt.
• Mix all ingredients well. Mixture should have a thick consistency to make round shaped balls. If it is watery then add 1-2 teaspoons gram flour and mix. Do not keep this mixture idle for long time since lauki releases water over time and it will make mixture soggy and you will not be able to make kofta balls.
• Grease your palms with oil and divide mixture into 10 to 12 portions. Take each portion and turn it into round shaped balls.
• Heat oil in a frying pan over medium flame for deep frying. When oil is medium hot, add 3-4 balls at a time. Stir occasionally and deep-fry until they turn light golden brown and crisp. Take them out using slotted spoon, drain excess oil and place them over kitchen tissue in a plate.
• Heat 2-tablespoons oil in saucepan over medium flame. Add cumin seeds and cook until they sizzle, 7-10 seconds. Add ginger-garlic paste and stir-fry for 30-40 seconds. Add chopped onion and stir-fry until it turns light pink in color.
• Add tomato-cashew puree and mix well. Stir-fry for 3-4 minutes.
• Add red chilli powder, coriander powder, garam masala powder, turmeric powder and salt (add for gravy). Mix well and stir-fry for a minute.
• Add thick curd and mix.
• Stir-fry for a minute.
• Add lauki water (kept in step-2) and 1/2-cup water and cook over medium flame for 3-4 minutes. Stir in between occasionally.
• Add fried kofta balls to the gravy.
• Cook for 5-6 minutes and turn off flame. Transfer it to a serving bowl and garnish with coriander leaves.

KAFTA (BBQ)

Steps:

• Preheat an outdoor grill for high heat. If using wooden skewers, soak in water.
• In a large bowl, mix together the ground beef, onion, parsley, cayenne, allspice, salt and pepper until evenly blended. Divide into 6 portions, and press around one end of the skewers to form a log shape approximately 1 inch thick and 6 inches long.
• Grill for 10 to 15 minutes, turning occasionally, until meat is no longer pink.

MIDDLE EASTERN MEATBALLS (KOFTA KEBABS)

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.
• Add all the ingredients except the beef into a bowl and stir well.
• Add in the beef and stir until just combined.
• Form into 1/4 cup meatballs (I use an ice cream scoop) onto your cast iron skillet or sheet pan.
• Cook for 15-18 minutes or until cooked through.

KAFTA RECIPE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400ºF (200ºC) or grill.
• Soak wooden skewers for at least twenty minutes so they don't catch fire in the oven.
• Mix all the ingredients in a large bowl.
• Using your hand make fist sized balls.
• Shape the kaftas as you put the meat on skewers.
• Place on a tray if going in the oven otherwise put the skewers directly on your grill.
• It will take roughly 20 minutes turning once. Maybe a bit quicker on the grill.

KIFTAH (PALESTINE, MIDDLE EAST)

Steps:

• Place hamburger meat in a bowl, and add salt, and some Mixed spices. If you don't have mixed spices, there are a couple recipes on this website for mixed spices. Or, you can add salt, all season, cumin, black pepper, and adobo.
• Using a food processer or blender, chop 1 onion and 1 cup of fresh parsley. If you dont have fresh parsley, dry parsley will work, just make sure its chopped finely. Add both the onion and the parsley to the hamburger meat, and mix well.
• Next, you can either make good sized meatballs with the hamburger meat, or make them longer, short of like fat stubby fingers. Do this until you have used up all the hamburger meat, and put these on the bottom of a baking pan with at least a 1 inch edge to it.
• Peel the onions and the potatoes, and core the green peppers. Cut them each into four pieces, and place in the pan with the hamburger meat. Also cut the tomatoe into four pieces and add as well.
• In a blender, add 1 heaping tablespoon of tahina, squeeze one lemon into the blender, and add a teaspoon of salt. Then fill the blender half way with water, and mix well.
• Poor the blender mixture on top of the meat and vegetables, and bake in the oven at 350 degrees for about 45 minutes.
• This is normally serves over rice, or can be eaten with pita bread. Enjoy!

KOFTA KEBAB

Steps:

• Soak the bun in water until soft.
• In a large bowl, mix all other ingredients together.
• Squeeze water out of the bun and add to the meat mixture.
• Mix everything until well incorporated.
• If you are making meatballs, roll into little balls or else wrap the meat around wooden skewers.*
• Place kofta kebabs on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or aluminum foil. Cover the kofta with aluminum foil and cook in a 350F oven for 10-15 minutes.
• While the kofta are in the oven, fire up your grill on high and grease the racks well.
• Place the kofta fingers on the grill for 5 minutes or less to take the grilling marks and be browned.
• Enjoy with your choice of side dishes and dips like toomeya, taktouka and tahini sauce.

BEEF KAFTA

Steps:

• Place the parsley in the bowl of a food processor and pulse until finely chopped, remove and set aside.
• In the same food processor bowl used to chop the parsley, place the quartered onion and pulse until finely chopped. Drain the onions slightly to release excess moisture.
• Return the parsley back to the bowl of the food processor with the onions. Add the ground beef to the food processor in addition to all the spices. Run the food processor on pulse once or twice until ingredients are well combined and form a pasty meat mixture.
• Transfer the mixture from the food processor to a large bowl and form the Kafta into an oblong shape about 1 inch in thickness. You can form them on a wooden skewer or without.
• Grease the grates of a gas grill or indoor grill pan, and preheat it to medium high heat. When heated through, transfer the kafta to the grill. Grill for 4-5 minutes per side, depending on your preferred level of doneness.
• Serve hot off the grill with your choice of side.

KOFTA KABOBS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, put the ground meat, flattened in the bowl, add all the ingredients. Knead for at least 5 minutes until all is well mixed. Let the kofta rest for 20 to 30 minutes in a cool place to marinate.
• Wet your hand with water. Take the kofta and make a big cigar. Put on a long skewer, in the center. Repeat skewering until done. Cook over a charcoal grill. Serve hot.

ARMENIAN STYLE KUFTA WITH POTATOES AND TOMATOES RECIPE

Steps:

• Turn on the broiler. Soak the bread in milk until all milk is absorbed, then mash it into a paste
• Process the parsley in a food processor and add to a large bowl with ground lamb and set aside.
• Process onion and garlic until very finely chopped. Add to bowl with bread and lamb mixture.
• Add the salt, cumin, sumac, cayenne pepper, allspice, pepper and mace and mix gently until the ingredients are well-combined.
• Put the mixture into a casserole dish and place under the broiler until browned, about 15 minutes.
• Remove from oven and reduce heat to 375 F.
• Slice the potato and tomato into pieces about 1/4-inch thick and add to the meat mixture, first a layer of potatoes and then of tomatoes.
• Cover the casserole with aluminum foil or a lid and cook on the middle rack of the oven for 40 minutes.

KOFTA KEBAB

Steps:

• Place all the ingredients into a large bowl, and knead well for 10 minutes.
• Cover the bowl with cling film and place in the refrigerator for 6 hours, kneading the mixture for 3 minutes every hour.
• Divide the meat into 12 equal portions and roll them up.
• Then form into 12 uniform sausage shapes.
• Skewer each, and shape tightly by squeezing the meat along the length of the skewer (leaving roughly 6" / 15 cm for a "handle").
• Cover the skewers with cling film and refrigerate for 2 hours before grilling.
• Grill the koftas on the barbecue, in the oven or on a preheated griddle on all sides for about 5 minutes or until the desired doneness is achieved.
• Sprinkle with parsley and serve immediately, accompanied by pita, arayes bread, tahini sauce, hummus, raw salad, and / or baba ganoush.

LAMB KOFTAS

Steps:

• Mix together all the ingredients until well blended. Divide into eight balls, then roll each ball on a board with a cupped hand to turn them into ovals. Thread onto four metal skewers and brush with oil.
• To cook on a griddle: heat the pan until you can feel a good heat rising and cook for 3-4 mins each side. Don't turn until they are well sealed or the meat will stick to the grill or pan.
• Season if you want, and set aside. Serve the koftas with yogurt and spiced flat breads.