5 March 2009

Kofta


Break out the barbecue ladies and gents. Val is having a "hankering" for some Middle Eastern foods. She also needed to use up some of the ingredients she has in the refrigerator and freezer and create something delicious. I decided upon some beef kofta to satisfy my cravings. This would also be delicious with lamb. The texture of the kofta comes from grinding the meat into a paste-like consistency and mixing it with herbs and spices of your choice. And as long as the sun is shining ...throw it on the bar-bee-cue. I served it up with an accompaniment of Tabbouleh as well as a dip made of beans and arugula with naan bread and za'atar.
Do you think my craving was satisfied...oh YES!!!! Now lets move on to the next craving....Carrot Cake!!!!!
** Kofta**

1/2 cup loosely packed fresh parsley
1/2 cup loosely packed fresh coriander ( I used arugula instead since I already had it)
1 onion, quartered
500g lean ground beef or lamb
1 tsp ground coriander
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp ground mild paprika
1/2 tsp ground allspice
Salt & freshly ground black pepper
10 saffron threads
1 T milk, heated
200ml container natural yogurt
2 T chopped fresh coriander, extra
2 tsp olive oil
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Line a large baking tray with foil. Place parsley, fresh coriander and onion in the bowl of a food processor. Process until finely chopped. Add mince, ground coriander, cumin, paprika, allspice and season with salt and pepper. Process until well combined and paste-like.

Preheat tour barbecue grill to medium-high. Mould a heaping tablespoon of meat mixture around a wooden or metal skewer into a sausage shape. Repeat with remaining beef mixture and skewers. Cover and set aside.

Place the saffron and hot milk in a small bowl and set aside. Combine the yogurt, coriander (or in my case arugula), salt and pepper in a small bowl and set aside.

Brush the kofta with a little of the oil and cook on the barbecue grill, turning carefully once and brushing with the oil, for 5-8 minutes or until browned and just cooked through.

Add saffron mixture to yogurt mixture and mix well. Serve kofta with saffron yogurt.
NOTE: If using bamboo skewers make sure to soak them for at least an hour immersed in water before using. This prevents the skewers from burning and catching fire on the barbie!!!!
Serves 8
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37 comments:

  1. Val you're killing me here -- that looks and sounds amazingly good but we've just started Lent and I am going to have to wait a while to enjoy something like it!

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  2. Your enthusiasm for the warmer months is very funny! The kofta look very delicious and have "sunshine" written all over them!

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  3. I love this recipe, I have a ground lamb that I didn't know what to make with and now I do!

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  4. Kofta and carrot cake? You're speakin' my language, hunny.

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  5. Seriously good koftas. Love the saffron yogurt that goes with it!

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  6. I love Middle Eastern food. This flavorful dish looks fantastic! Just like at the restaurant...

    Cheers and have a nice weekend,

    Rosa

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  7. Dear, dear, Val you are just pumping out these delicious recipes like a machine!! A feast, that is what I see in front of me!!!

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  8. Val that meal looks soooo good! You are making me hungry at 7.30am!!

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  9. Oh. My. GOSH! I don't even know where to begin! I didn't know about grinding the meat just so to make kofta; boy they look great. And lordy you must share the beans and arugula dip recipe.

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  10. I can almost smell how good that is from over here!!

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  11. I would love to try kafta. There's nothing better than meat on a stick.

    But I also really like your sides. It looks like quite the Middle Eastern meal!

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  12. I love this recipe Val and can't wait to try it. For some reason I have no coriander but it is now on my list!!!

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  13. I want summer too! Actually, we are in the 40's here today already...I just hope it stays that way! (Probably won't though!)

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  14. Sounds utterly delish - bookmarking this for when I can eat outside

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  15. I love kofta and these look so yummy delicious.

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  16. That's a seriously beautiful plate!

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  17. what a tempting spread - evedrything looks delicious with a definite mediterranean look

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  18. What Emily said! Meat on a stick = yum! Very tasty dish and it does make one think of sunny Mediterranean climes just when I can't stand another day of winter.

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  19. This Middle Eastern spread looks fabulous! I love your idea for saffron yogurt. What a nice complement to the meal.

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  20. What a beautiful plate. I could not resist. Talking about carrot cake, I love it.

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  21. WOW - you really are tempting me here!! I was only looking at beef kofta's in a book today thinking they would be lovely for this weekend!! Your beef kofta's look fabulous Val!

    Rosie x

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  22. What a coincidence. I was just searching for kofte recipes this morning. Perfect timing, Val. Thanks!

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  23. Oh how I wish I was there. Very, very nice...wowzer.

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  24. How come I was not invited to this fantastic Mediterranean feast? :)

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  25. Yes please, Val! I BBQ-ed today, but it was freezing and I almost wiped out on the icy deck. Better wait a month or so.

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  26. Tambouleh is one of my favourite salads and you are very brave to barbecue in such a cold weather.

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  27. You never cease to amaze me with your willingness to try so many international foods. This is no exception. YUM!

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  28. Mmmm. Kofta. I have them so rarely, and for me, they're very much associated with summer. Anyway, these look delish. Loving the idea of saffron yogurt to have with them.

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  29. i love meat on the stick, but you never should've mentioned carrot cake. now i'm ruined for the day. :)

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  30. Yummy, I love kofta Val, but haven't made it in a long time, I really should bet on it....or maybe better, I should just come to your house for dinner! :)

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  31. I'm a little late to this party but I wanted to say 'good job'. The flavors of the mideast are one of my favorites.

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  32. It's still to cold here in Vancouver Canada to pull out the BBQ, but I can't wait. I have been printing all kinds of BBQ recipes ... it's going to be a great summer lol.

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  33. mmm...I love Middle Eastern food. Well done!

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  34. One more week of nice weather and bbqing could be more than just a dream. This dish looks delicious.

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  35. I have skewers just like yours! You kicked off BBQ season with a fitting meal, fit for the Sultan!

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  36. Kofta is one of my absolute FAVORITE things on the planet. I admit I've never made it myself (grew up with a best friend who was Lebanese and got a little spoiled, I suspect :) but you are definitely making me want to make it for the first time. Your version sounds delicious!

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Welcome to my home. Thank you for choosing to stay a while and for sharing our lives through food. I appreciate all your support, comments, suggestions, and daily encouragement.

Val

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