Here is a wonderfully simple recipe that everyone will love! Köfte are Turkish-style spiced meatballs — endlessly versatile and easy to adapt. Try adding finely chopped fresh tomatoes or mint for an extra burst of flavour. Serve them with a fresh tabbouleh, rice or warm flatbread for a complete, satisfying meal.
Ingredients
- 500 g good-quality minced beef (preferably from your butcher)
- Stale bread or breadcrumbs (a couple of slices)
- 2 onions (white or red)
- Fresh flat-leaf parsley
- 1 pinch of ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp four-spice blend (you can buy ready-made, or mix 20 g cinnamon, 2 g ginger, 2 g nutmeg, 3 g crushed cloves)
- 1 egg (to bind)
- Sunflower oil for cooking
- Salt and pepper
Instructions
- Finely dice the onions. Wash the parsley, then place it in a glass and chop with scissors directly into the glass — it’s much easier!
- Combine all ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Mix well with your hands until evenly combined.
- Cover the bowl and refrigerate for about 45 minutes to allow the flavours to meld.
- Remove from the fridge and shape the mixture into small balls by rolling between your palms. Make them roughly the size of a large marble.
- Heat a little sunflower oil in a frying pan over medium heat. Add the meatballs and cook for several minutes, turning them continuously to ensure they brown evenly on all sides.
- Once cooked, drain on kitchen paper to absorb any excess oil.
- Serve hot with fresh tabbouleh, rice or warm pitta bread.
Afiyet olsun! 🇹🇷 (Bon appétit in Turkish)
Tip: Why not serve these köfte alongside our Lebanese Tabbouleh? It’s a match made in heaven!