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This Kofte recipe or Turkish meatballs is for an easy-to-make staple dish found in every Turkish home. It’s a delicious blend of ground beef, aromatic spices, and fresh herbs, creating savory meat patties perfect for any meal.
What is Kofte?
Köfte is a traditional Turkish dish that consists of seasoned ground meat, typically beef or lamb, shaped into meatballs or patties and cooked in various ways, such as grilling, frying, or baking.
The meat is typically seasoned with a mixture of spices, including black pepper, cumin, and red pepper flakes.
It also includes grated onion, chopped parsley, egg, and sometimes stale bread pieces to bind the mixture together.
Kofte in Turkish is also spelled kofta, kyufte, or qofte in many Middle Eastern, Central Asia, and Balkan countries.
This Kofte Turkish recipe is for the most popular homemade version. We are using ground beef and lightly frying the kofte in vegetable oil.
Origins of Turkish Meatballs Recipe
Köfte is a staple food found in every Turkish home. Across the country, there are many variations, up to 300 different types of kofte.
The word köfte means pounding, grinding, or mincing, and today is most closely associated with meatballs.
The origins of Turkish köfte date back to the Ottoman Empire where it was a favorite dish and consumed in many variations.
With the spread of the Ottoman Empire, Turkish meatballs spread, taking on new shapes, names, and seasoning mixtures.
For this recipe, we focus on Turkish köfte, which is bursting with flavors and simple to make at home.
It’s a timeless dish deeply rooted in Turkish tradition and celebrated for its simplicity and unbeatable taste.
AUTHENTIC FOOD QUEST TIP: If your travels take you to Istanbul, consider taking a cooking class and learning to make traditional Turkish foods. See our guide to the best Istanbul Cooking Class To Take
Discovering Kofte in Turkey
We first discovered variations of kofte on our culinary travels through the Balkans.
Later, once we got to Türkiye, we were surprised to find a wide variety of Kofte dishes. Turkish meatballs are extremely popular in the country and are eaten as street foods and as main dishes.
We enjoyed several kinds of kofte, such as grilled and even some that were meat-free and made with bulgar.
Kofte is a beloved Turkish food, and we’re excited to share this easy kofte recipe with you.
We can’t wait for you to dive into one of the tastiest Turkish dishes.
READ MORE: 17 Best Foods in Istanbul To Savor (With Desserts and Drinks)
Kofte Recipe – How To Make Turkish Meatballs at Home
Making this Turkish meatball kofte recipe at home generally requires very little work.
Other than grating the onion, finely chopping up the parsley and then mixing everything together.
When making the Turkish meatballs mixture, make sure the ground beef is well-seasoned and mixed thoroughly with the spices for maximum flavor.
For your homemade Turkish meatballs, you’ll need the following ingredients.
- Ground beef
- Black pepper
- Cumin
- Red pepper flakes
- Fresh parsley
- Onion
- Egg
- Stale bread
- Vegetable oil
- Salt
AUTHENTIC FOOD QUEST TIP: If you are looking to make a delicious Turkish spread, see our other easy recipes from Turkey
Kofte Recipe Tips
What Kind of Meat Is Used For Kofte?
For this traditional Kofte recipe, we’re using ground beef as it is the most classic option.
However, it is common to find Turkish meatballs also made with ground lamb or a mixture of both ground beef and lamb.
Don’t shy away from experimenting with lamb or use a tantalizing mix of both for an extra punch of flavor.
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What Spices Are Used For Kofte?
When it comes to traditional spices for kofte, the classics are black pepper, cumin, salt, and red pepper flakes.
If you want to play with the flavor profile, feel free to sprinkle in some paprika, garlic powder, allspice, or thyme according to your taste.
What to Serve With Kofte
Turkish köfte are incredibly versatile and pair beautifully with a myriad of sides.
Enjoy your homemade Turkish meatballs with fluffy rice, hearty bulgur pilaf, charred grilled, a crisp salad, or yogurt sauce.
In Turkey, one of the most popular ways to eat kofte is wrapped in a sandwich with warm bread. This version is known as Kofte Ekmek, and it’s a popular street food.
Make a sandwich with your homemade Turkish meatballs, and feel free to try our Bazlama bread recipe.
How to Store Kofte
The best way to store any leftover Turkish homemade koftes is in an airtight container. This will keep the meatballs fresh and moist for up to three days.
Can Kofte Be Frozen?
Köfte can be frozen for longer storage. Place uncooked köfte patties in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze until solid.
Then, transfer them to a freezer-safe bag or container and store them in the freezer for up to 3 months.
When you are ready to eat your Turkish meatballs, simply thaw the frozen köfte in the refrigerator before cooking.
What If I Don’t Have Stale Bread?
If you’re short on time or don’t have stale bread on hand, feel free to use ready-made breadcrumbs instead. They work just as well and provide a convenient alternative.
Kofte Recipe Step by Step Instructions
Prepare Turkish Meatballs Kofte Mixture
Combine the ground beef with the spices, chopped fresh parsley, bread crumbsblack pepper, cumin, salt, red pepper flakes, chopped parsley, grated onion, bread crumbs, and egg in a mixing bowl.
Knead the ingredients together and mix until everything is evenly combined. Let the köfte mixture rest in the refrigerator for about an hour, ideally two, to enhance the flavors.
Shape The Turkish Meat Balls
After removing the kofte meatballs from the refrigerator, start making the shapes. Cut off a small portion of the meatball mixture and shape them into small oval or round patties with your hands. Slightly press the patties with your fingers to get a wavy pattern.
Cook The Kofte Meatballs
Using a slotted spoon, place the köfte patties in a skillet and cook for 3-4 minutes on each side or until brown and cooked through. Once the Turkish kofte is cooked, remove from the skillet and place them on a plate lined with paper towels to absorb any excess oil.
Kofte Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- ¼ tsp cumin
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp red pepper flakes
- ½ bunch parsley
- 1 medium onion
- 1 medium egg
- 3 oz stale bread without crust, optionally slightly toasted
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 cup vegetable oil for cooking
Instructions
- Grate the onion, finely chop the parsley, and tear the stale bread into small pieces.
- Combine the ground beef, black pepper, cumin, salt, red pepper flakes, finely chopped parsley, grated onion, bread crumbs, and egg in a mixing bowl. Knead the ingredients together until well combined.
- Let the köfte mixture rest in the refrigerator for about an hour, ideally two. This will help enhance the flavors.
- Take a small portion of the Kofte mixture and shape it into small oval or round patties with your hands. Slightly press the patties with your fingers to get a wavy pattern.
- Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
- Place the köfte patties in the skillet and cook for 3-4 minutes on each side or until brown and cooked through.
- To check if the köfte is well cooked, take one meatball out of the skillet and cut it open to check if the meat is no longer pink in the center. Adjust cooking time if needed, depending on the thickness of the patties.
- Once cooked, remove the köfte from the skillet and place them on a plate lined with paper towels to absorb any excess oil.
- Enjoy the köfte hot served with grilled vegetables, rice, or your favorite side dishes.
- Relish the flavors of one of Türkiye’s most beloved foods.
Notes
- For your kofte recipe, you can use any neutral-flavored oil, such as canola or sunflower oil. If you prefer a richer flavor, you can also use olive oil.
Nutrition
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Claire is co-founder of Authentic Food Quest and a lover of simple and exquisite cuisine. Since 2015, with her partner, Rosemary, she has been traveling the world as a digital nomad, creating content about local food experiences.
Her advice from visiting 45 countries and more than 240 food cities has been featured in Lonely Planet, Business Insider, Honest Cooking, Food Insider, and Huffington Post. She has also co-authored three books, including one in collaboration with Costa Brava Tourism.
An ex-mechanical engineer, Claire is responsible for SEO, keeping the website running, and the fun food & travel videos on YouTube.
When Claire is not eating, she can be found running or cycling. Find out more about Authentic Food Quest
Fabulous flavor and so easy to make! Everyone loved these, I’ll be making them again for sure, thank you!
So glad to hear, Heather. They are simple to make and always a winner. Thanks for sharing!
The spices in these meatballs are amazing. Can’t wait to make again.
Indeed, the secret is in the spice mix. So glad you enjoyed them. Cheers
I do love kofte, and these have a lovely balance of flavors – yum!
Great to hear, Caroline. The flavors do really work well together indeed!! Cheers
The flavors were so authentic and the meatballs were incredibly juicy. The recipe was really easy to follow and the end result was absolutely delicious. I highly recommend trying it out!
So wonderful to hear, Gianne. These Kofte meatballs are a true winner and great to have on a weekly rotation. Thanks