Lamb Koftas with Yoghurt Dressing
User Reviews
5
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Prep Time
15 mins
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Cook Time
15 mins
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Total Time
30 mins
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Servings
8 skewers
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Calories
305 kcal
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Course
Side Dish, Main Course
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Cuisine
Middle Eastern, Moroccan
Lamb Koftas with Yoghurt Dressing
Description
The recipe mixes lamb mince with grated onion, garlic, fresh coriander, and a blend of ground cumin, coriander, paprika, cinnamon, cayenne, salt, and pepper. The mixture is shaped onto skewers and cooked by pan frying, grilling, or broiling until browned and cooked through. This method creates a kofta with a flavorful crust and moist interior.
The accompanying yogurt dressing is made from Greek or thick plain yogurt combined with olive oil, crushed garlic, cumin, lemon juice, salt, and pepper, chilled to develop its flavor. Typical serving includes the koftas wrapped in warm flatbreads with the yogurt sauce, shredded red cabbage, carrot, mint, lettuce, tomato, and onion, allowing diners to create assembled wraps or plates.
This dish works well as a main course for gatherings or casual meals, offering a blend of spice and creamy coolness. Soaking wooden skewers before grilling prevents burning, and the recipe yields eight skewers from 500g of lamb mince. Variations in flatbread and salad options can complement the koftas.
Ingredients
Koftas
- 1 lb / 500 g lamb mince (ground lamb)
- 1/2 onion , grated
- 1/4 cup breadcrumbs , preferably panko
- 2 cloves garlic , crushed
- 2 tbsp Coriander chopped, fresh
Kofta Spices
- 2 tsp cumin
- 2 tsp Coriander
- 2 tsp paprika
- 1.5 tsp ground cinnamon
- 3/4 tsp cayenne pepper (this is a bit spicy, reduce to taste or leave out)
- 1 tsp kosher salt cooking salt
- 1/2 black pepper
Yoghurt Sauce
- 1 cup yogurt , Greek or other thick plain
- 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1 clove garlic , crushed
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1/4 tsp salt each
- 1/4 tsp black pepper each
To Serve
- 8 skewers (Note 1)
- 8 flatbread or 4 large, warmed (homemade or bought, Note 2, small
- red cabbage Note 3, shredded; for salad
- carrot
- mint
- lettuce Note 3, shredded or sliced
- tomato
- onion
Instructions
- Yogurt Sauce: Combine the yogurt sauce ingredients and leave in fridge for at least 20 mninutes for the flavor to develop (overnight even better!).
- Koftas: Grate the onion into the bowl using a standard box grater. Add remaining Kofta ingredients and mix well with your hands.
- With damp hands, divide the meat into 8 equal pieces and push and shape the meat onto 8 skewers. Make them smooth (looks nicer, pictured!) or a bit nubbly (more surface area to brown!).
Cooking:
- Stove: Preheat 1/2 tbsp oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Cook in batches for 5 minutes in total, turning to brown evenly all over.
- BBQ: BBQ on medium high for about 6 minutes, rotating to brown all over.
- Broiler/oven grill: preheat and cook koftas 30cm/10" from heat source for 12 minutes, rotating as needed until lightly browned (you won't get as good a browning as stove/BBQ).
Serving:
- Do a DIY spread - pile everything onto a platter a make everyone serve themselves.
- Get a flatbread, smear with Yogurt Sauce, top with Red Cabbage Mint Salad (more options Note 3) then Kofta, drizzle over more Yoghurt Sauce. Devour and be happy!
Notes
- The recipe yields 8 kofta skewers from 500g (1 lb) of lamb mince; scale quantities accordingly.
- Soak wooden or bamboo skewers for 30 minutes before grilling or broiling to prevent burning; metal skewers do not require soaking.
- Use any soft flatbreads to wrap the koftas; small pita breads can hold two koftas each, while large flatbreads can hold more.
- For salad, shredded red cabbage and fresh mint add freshness that pairs well with the lamb spices.
- Additional side dishes such as lentil rice pilaf or Middle Eastern chickpea salad complement the meal.
- Yogurt sauce refrigerated overnight develops better flavor.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 8skewers
Amount Per Serving
Calories 305 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 305cal | 15% |
| Carbohydrates | 23g | 8% |
| Protein | 15g | 30% |
| Fat | 17g | 26% |
| Saturated Fat | 7g | 35% |
| Cholesterol | 50mg | 17% |
| Sodium | 739mg | 31% |
| Potassium | 340mg | 7% |
| Fiber | 2g | 8% |
| Sugar | 2g | 4% |
| Vitamin A | 1838IU | 37% |
| Vitamin C | 3mg | 3% |
| Calcium | 102mg | 10% |
| Iron | 3mg | 17% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
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