Today, kofta kebabs are popular all around the world. In general, there are hundreds of other versions of köfte, with origins in the Middle East and South Asia.
However, siş köfte or Shish kofte is a kebab or köfte variant in the Turkish cuisine. It is made up of minced lamb, beef, veal, or mutton, or a mixture of some of these meats with species and herbs, often including mint and parsley. The food is most popular in Turkey. There are many turkish kebab recipes but, this is the authentic recipe, which will take you around 45 minutes to prepare it plus 6 minutes to cook. Here is the recipe for kofta kebab:
Ingredients:
- 1-pound ground lamb
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 4 tablespoons grated onion
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon ground coriander
- 3 tablespoons chopped parsley
- 1 ½ teaspoon dry mint leaves, finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon allspice
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- ½ teaspoon paprika
Instructions:
- Using a mortar and pestle or the flat side of a knife on the cutting board, mash the garlic into a paste along with the salt. Then, in a mixing bowl, mix the garlic into the lamb together with the other spices until well incorporated – you can use your hands to do it.
- Next, form the mixture into small balls. Using your hands, shape each ball to create a kebab. Apply the kebabs onto a baking sheet, cover, and place in the fridge at least 30 minutes (or make them a day ahead – they can stay in the fridge up to 12 hours).
- If you are making them outdoors – preheat an outdoor grill for medium heat; or indoor – place a frying pot on a medium heat, apply some vegetable oil in it, and add the kebabs.
- Cook, turning occasionally until the meat has cooked as you desire, around 6-7 minutes for medium.
- Serve them immediately with pita bread, ayran (a yogurt drink), or tahini.
Enjoy!
