Köfte
Köfte has roots stretching across the entire Ottoman Empire, with so many regional variations that nearly every Turkish city is said to have its own style, from İnegöl to Adana. The simple bread-and-onion version relies on Ottoman techniques for stretching expensive meat with humble ingredients, turning a small amount of meat into a satisfying meal for an entire family. Despite regional variations, the core principles remain constant: long kneading, cold resting and a hot, fast grill. Köfte are served today in every kind of setting, from simple street stalls to specialized restaurants called köfteci, often alongside grilled peppers and tomatoes.
Soaked bread, not dry crumbs
Stale bread soaked in water is worked into the meat, giving the patties a tender texture instead of a dense one.
Finely grated onion, not chopped
Grated onion releases its juice directly into the meat, flavoring the mix without leaving large pieces.
Long hand-kneading
The mixture is kneaded for several minutes until sticky, an essential step for patties that hold together on the grill.
Grilled directly over flame
Köfte cook quickly over a hot grill, developing a browned crust while staying juicy inside.
Ingredients 4 servings
- 500g ground beef or lamb
- 1 slice stale bread, soaked
- 1 onion, finely grated
- 2 garlic cloves, crushed
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp sweet paprika
- Chopped parsley
- Salt and black pepper
How to make it
- 1Soak the slice of bread in water, then squeeze out the excess liquid.
- 2Mix the bread with the ground meat, grated onion, garlic, egg and spices in a large bowl.
- 3Knead the mixture by hand for a few minutes, until it becomes uniform and slightly sticky.
- 4Rest the mixture in the fridge for thirty minutes so the flavors combine.
- 5Shape into elongated patties, pressing gently with your palm to flatten them slightly.
- 6Place them on a well-heated grill and cook for three to four minutes per side, turning only once.
- 7Serve immediately, hot, alongside flatbread and salad.
Nutritional info
per serving (~350 g)
Estimated nutritional values.
Pairs perfectly with
