Koftas are a type of meatball found throughout Europe and Asia that come in myriad varieties with fillings as various as the countries they come from. Some koftas are simmered in sauce, while others are skewered and grilled. This recipe is similar to Turkish kofta, which are packed with a variety of vibrant spices and served with a creamy yogurt sauce. You can use ground pork, beef, or lamb for this recipe.
Turkish-Style Koftas with Spicy Yogurt
Ingredients
Koftas
- ½ cup finely chopped shallots
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tsp olive oil
- 2 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp ground coriander
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- ½ tsp ground cinnamon
- 2 large eggs, beaten
- 1 tsp lemon zest
- 24 oz ground lamb, beef, pork, or a mix
- 8 pieces pita bread, to serve
Yogurt Sauce
- 1 cup greek yogurt
- 2 tsp lemon juice
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- ½ cup minced fresh parsley
- 2 tbsp harissa paste or chili paste
Directions
1) In a Suvie pan, combine ½ cup shallots, 2 garlic cloves, 2 tsp olive oil, 2 tsp cumin, 1 tsp coriander, 1 tsp paprika, ½ tsp cinnamon, and ½ tsp ground black pepper. Place pan in the bottom zone of Suvie and broil for 12 minutes, stirring halfway through. Remove from Suvie and allow to cool slightly.
2) In a large bowl, stir together 2 eggs, 1 tsp lemon zest, 1 ½ tsp salt, and shallot mixture. Add 24 oz ground meat and mix until well combined.
3) Roll mixture into tablespoon-sized portions and divide between two Suvie pans (you should have about 30 kofta). Place pans in Suvie, input settings and cook now, rotating pans halfway through.
Suvie Cook Settings
Bottom Zone: Roast at 450°F for 15 minutes
Top Zone: Roast at 450°F for 15 minutes
4) While the kofta cook, stir together yogurt, lemon juice, olive oil, parsley, and ½ tsp salt. Swirl harissa into the yogurt.
5) Divide koftas, yogurt sauce, and pita between plates, and serve.
Nutrition
Nutritional Information per serving (6 servings per recipe) Calories 430, Total Fat 35g, Total Carbohydrates 4g, Total Sodium 680mg, Total Protein 24g.