Kofta Ground Beef Meatballs is the Middle Eastern cuisine version of meatballs or meatloaf— using ground beef, cinnamon, chili powder, and different spices. The aromatic spices will take your taste buds on an adventure.
Kofta Ground Beef Meatballs
Kofta Ground Beef Meatballs is a Middle Eastern dish made from ground lamb or beef. The kofta meatballs is best served with a tahini dip or sauce.
Ingredients
FOR THE KOFTA:
2 small white onion- 13 ounces ground beef (minced beef) - 20% fats
- 13 ounces ground lamb (minced lamb)
- 1 ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 ½ teaspoon ground allspice (also called pimento or Jamaican Pepper)
- ½ teaspoon nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon chili powder (chilli powder in British English)
- 1 ½ teaspoons salt
- 1 medium bunch parsley - flat-leaf, finely chopped
- 1 medium bunch mint - leaves discarded and finely chopped
- ⅓ cup pine nuts - toasted
- ⅓ cup dried currants
- 1 splash olive oil - for browning
FOR THE TAHINI SAUCE:
- ¾ cup tahini
- 2 medium lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons champagne vinegar
- 4 large cloves garlic - minced
- 1 tablespoon pomegranate molasses
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 ½ teaspoons salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 3 tablespoons honey
- 3 tablespoons water
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Then, line a baking sheet with aluminum foil.
- For the kofta, grate the onions, then squeeze and drain the juices. Transfer squeezed onions to a big bowl and add the remaining ingredients and mix using your hands.
- Roll 20 equal-sized meatballs, into an oval shape. Then, arrange the kofta on a baking tray in a single layer. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour.
- Heat the olive oil in a big skillet over medium-high heat and sear the kofta on all sides, about 4 minutes, or until golden brown. Work in batches, so they don’t get crowded in the pan.
- Rearrange the kofta on the baking tray and bake in a preheated oven for 8 to 10 minutes.
- Meanwhile, whisk the entire ingredients for the tahini sauce in a bowl. Season with salt, and if you want it to be skinny, add a small amount of water.
- Serve the kofta with both the sauce drizzled or served on the side for dipping.
Notes
Cooked kofta may be frozen and reheated as desired for an exquisite snack or simple dinner.
Nutrition
Calories: 185kcalCarbohydrates: 9gProtein: 9gFat: 13gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 25mgSodium: 379mgPotassium: 212mgFiber: 1gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 266IUVitamin C: 6mgCalcium: 31mgIron: 2mg
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