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5.0 from 21 votes

Vegan kofta and tzatziki sauce

This plant-based kofta recipe is made even more delightful with the cool, tangy super fast to make tzatziki.  You are going to wish you wore a hat with a feather in it, because your name from here on out is gonna be “the goose man” and everyone is going to play the trumpet when you make dinner.  Sorry.  That’s just how it is. 

Prep Time
20 mins
Cook Time
20 mins
Total Time
44 mins
Servings: 12 koftas
Calories: 180 kcal
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Middle Eastern

Ingredients

Koftas
  • 1 lb. seitan
  • ⅓ cup diced onion
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 3 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • ⅓ cup all-purpose flour
  • 4 teaspoons minced fresh mint
  • ½ teaspoon toasted cumin seeds
  • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon ground coriander
  • 1 teaspoon oregano
  • ½ teaspoon cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 12 Wooden skewers soaked
  • ½ cup olive oil
Tzatziki Sauce
  • ¾ cup unsweetened vegan yogurt
  • 1 clove garlic minced
  • 2 Persian cucumbers grated or finely minced
  • 1 tablespoon minced fresh dill
  • 4 teaspoons minced fresh mint
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
Serving Suggestions
  • pita
  • hummus
  • harissa
  • arugula
  • tomatoes
  • Thinly sliced red onion or pickled onion
  • Pickled vegetables or olives
  • Fresh mint and dill
  • zaatar

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. If you are using wooden or bamboo skewers, soak them in water for 15 minutes while you prepare the kofta mixture.
  2. Grind the seitan onion and garlic in a food processor for 60 seconds.
  3. Add in the tomato paste, olive oil, flour, fresh mint, ground cumin, ground black pepper, ground coriander, oregano, cinnamon, crushed red pepper flakes, and salt. Continue to grind in the food processor for 90 seconds until all the ingredients are evenly combined.
  4. Preheat the oven to 350°F (177°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  5. Take a handful of the kofta mixture and form it into a cylindrical shape around one of the soaked wooden skewers, pressing the mixture firmly onto the skewer. Repeat with the remaining kofta mixture and skewers.
  6. Arrange the skewers on the prepared baking sheet. Brush them with olive oil.
  7. Bake the kofta in the preheated oven for 12 minutes, carefully flip them with a metal spatula and bake for another 12 minutes or until browned and cooked through.
  8. While the kofta is cooking, make the tzatziki sauce. In a mixing bowl, combine the vegan yogurt, minced garlic, grated or finely minced cucumbers, fresh dill, fresh mint, lemon juice, olive oil, salt, and black pepper. Mix well to combine.
  9. When finished baking, brush the hot kofta again with extra virgin olive oil. Serve the kofta hot with the tzatziki sauce.
  10. If you want to enjoy the kofta as a sandwich, serve it on hot freshly grilled pita with hummus, harissa, arugula, tomatoes, thinly sliced red onion or pickled onion, pickled vegetables or olives, fresh mint and dill, or za'atar. Enjoy!

Notes

  • You can freeze the kofta after it has cooled to store for up to a few months.  But don't even think about freezing the tzatziki.  It will be terrible once thawed!
  • If you don't have skewers, don't sweat it! You can totally just form the seitan mixture into the kofta shape and simply bake them without the skewer at all!

Nutrition Information

Calories 180kcal (9%) Carbohydrates 7g (2%) Protein 9g (18%) Fat 13g (20%) Saturated Fat 2g (10%) Polyunsaturated Fat 1g Monounsaturated Fat 9g Sodium 397mg (17%) Potassium 70mg (2%) Fiber 1g (4%) Sugar 1g (2%) Vitamin A 76IU (2%) Vitamin C 4mg (4%) Calcium 30mg (3%) Iron 1mg (6%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 12koftas

Amount Per Serving

Calories 180

% Daily Value*

Calories 180kcal 9%
Carbohydrates 7g 2%
Protein 9g 18%
Fat 13g 20%
Saturated Fat 2g 10%
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g 6%
Monounsaturated Fat 9g 45%
Sodium 397mg 17%
Potassium 70mg 1%
Fiber 1g 4%
Sugar 1g 2%
Vitamin A 76IU 2%
Vitamin C 4mg 4%
Calcium 30mg 3%
Iron 1mg 6%

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