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5.0 from 21 votes

Grilled Lamb Kofta - Izgara Kofte

Grilled Lamb Kofta (Izgara Kofte in Turkish) is one of the most popular street food in Turkey made with minced lamb and aromatic spices.

Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Total Time
25 mins
Servings: 4 people
Calories: 456 kcal
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mediterranean , Middle Eastern , Turkish

Ingredients

For the Yoghurt Dressing
  • 1 cup natural yoghurt
  • 1 clove garlic
  • ½ teaspoon dried mint
For the Lamb Koftas
  • 500 g Minced lamb (minimum of 20% fat content)
  • 1 large onion (grated)
  • 2 cloves garlic (minced)
  • 1 medium egg
  • 30 g breadcrumbs
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • ½ teaspoon paprika
  • ½ teaspoon flaked chilli (pul biber)
  • ½ teaspoon coriander powder
  • 2 tablespoon chopped parsley

Instructions

Preparing the Yoghurt Dressing
    Cup of Yum
  1. Turn the garlic into a paste using a pestle and mortar or grate it using a Microplane.
  2. Place the yogurt in a bowl and add the garlic paste.
  3. Add the dried mint and mix well. Set aside and keep refrigerated until you need it.
Preparing the Lamb Koftas
  1. If cooking the koftas on a BBQ, preheat your BBQ to medium-high, if cooking them in the oven-grill, preheat the oven grill to medium-high, or if using a skillet, preheat your skillet over medium-high heat.
  2. To prepare the kofte mixture, put all kofte ingredients in a large bowl and then mix well for at least 5 minutes or until it has a nice and soft texture slightly sticking to your hand.
  3. Shape them into 10-12 equally sized patties using the palm of your hands. Wet your palm with a bit of water to avoid the meatballs sticking to your hand.
  4. Cook the koftas on BBQ for 6 to 8 minutes, until all sides are nicely browned. It would take 10 to 12 minutes in oven-grill and 5 to 7 minutes on the skillet to cook the koftas.
  5. Serve them immediately on a bed of Turkish Rice Pilaf or Homemade Pita Bread with a dollop of yogurt dressing.

Notes

  • The lamb mince should have %20 fat for soft and delicious koftas. Using lean minced meat will make them dry and tough.
  • Let your kofte mixture rest for a minimum of 2 hours, ideally overnight for the flavors to meld.
  • Use your hands to mix up the meat, herbs, and spices to make sure everything is mixed well.
  • You can shape the lamb kofta on skewers and serve them as lamb kofte kebabs for your BBQ parties.
  • For meal prep, you can store the kofta mixture refrigerated in an airtight container for a couple of days.

Nutrition Information

Calories 456kcal (23%) Carbohydrates 13g (4%) Protein 26g (52%) Fat 33g (51%) Saturated Fat 14g (70%) Polyunsaturated Fat 3g Monounsaturated Fat 13g Trans Fat 1g Cholesterol 140mg (47%) Sodium 757mg (32%) Potassium 486mg (14%) Fiber 1g (4%) Sugar 5g (10%) Vitamin A 317IU (6%) Vitamin C 7mg (8%) Calcium 134mg (13%) Iron 3mg (17%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 4people

Amount Per Serving

Calories 456

% Daily Value*

Calories 456kcal 23%
Carbohydrates 13g 4%
Protein 26g 52%
Fat 33g 51%
Saturated Fat 14g 70%
Polyunsaturated Fat 3g 18%
Monounsaturated Fat 13g 65%
Trans Fat 1g 50%
Cholesterol 140mg 47%
Sodium 757mg 32%
Potassium 486mg 10%
Fiber 1g 4%
Sugar 5g 10%
Vitamin A 317IU 6%
Vitamin C 7mg 8%
Calcium 134mg 13%
Iron 3mg 17%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.