Kofta
kofta is a dish of meatballs or meatloaf found in the Indian subcontinent, South Caucasian, Middle Eastern, Balkan, and Central Asian cuisines.
In the Indian subcontinent and the Middle East, kofta is usually made from lamb, beef, mutton or chicken, and served cooked in a spicy curry sauce or gravy .It is eaten with boiled rice or a variety of Indian breads. In India also kofta can be vegetarian or non-vegetarian.
In Greek, Cypriot, and Balkan kofta may be cooked with pork, beef, lamb, or a mixture of the three.
In Cyprus, kofta is known as keftedes and is usually served fried and eaten with yogurt.
In Syria Kofta is a very popular dish.The meat is often mixed with other ingredients, such as rice, bulgur, vegetables, or eggs to form a smooth paste. It can be grilled, fried, steamed, poached, baked, or marinated, and may be served with a rich spicy sauce. Koftas are sometimes made from fish or vegetables rather than red meat.
The word kofta comes from Classical Persian (kōfta), meaning “rissole”, from the verb (kōftan), “to pound” or “to grind”, reflecting the ground meat used for the meatballs.
Ingredients
1kg ground beef
2 medium onions finely grated
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 Tablespoon ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons salt to taste
Preparation
1- Soak the bun in water until soft.
2- Mix all other ingredients together.
3- Squeeze water out of the bun and add to the meat mixture.
4- Mix everything until well incorporated.
5- If you are making meatballs, roll it into little balls or else wrap the meat around skewers.
6- Cover the kofta with aluminum foil and cook in a 350F oven for 10-15 minutes.
7- While the kofta are in the oven, fire up your grill on high and grease the racks well.
8- Place the kofta fingers on the grill for 5 minutes or less to take the grilling marks and be browned.
9- Enjoy with your choice of side dishes as tahini sauce, yogurt, or salad
– As for the barbecue method put the meat skewers on the grill over a medium heat for about 3-4 mins each side.
Hamsa.Zughieb