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Lamb Kofte With Garlic Yogurt Sauce

4.2

(8)

Three lamb kofta meatballs in lettuce wraps on a platter.
Photo by Stephanie Foley
Cooks' note:

Köfte can be broiled on a baking sheet 5 inches from heat, turning over once.

Recipe information

  • Total Time

    1 hr

  • Yield

    Makes 4 to 6 servings

Ingredients

For sauce

1 cup plain yogurt (preferably whole-milk)
1 tsp. minced garlic

For köfte

2 slices firm white sandwich bread, torn into pieces
1 lb ground lamb
1 small red onion, minced or grated
⅓ cup finely chopped fresh parsley
1 Tbsp. baharat
1½ tsp. Maras red pepper flakes
1½ tsp. Urfa pepper or crushed red pepper flakes
2 tsp. Diamond Crystal or 1¼ tsp. Morton kosher salt
Accompaniment: 16 soft lettuce leaves for wrapping (optional)

Special Equipment

16 (10-inch) wooden skewers

Preparation

  1. Make sauce:

    Step 1

    Stir yogurt with garlic and salt to taste.

  2. Make köfte:

    Step 2

    Cover bread with water in a bowl and soak 30 minutes, then squeeze bread to remove as much moisture as possible.

    Step 3

    Prepare grill while bread soaks.

    Step 4

    Transfer squeezed bread to a large bowl and add remaining köfte ingredients, then mix well with your hands until thoroughly blended. Divide lamb mixture into 16 portions and form each into a ball. Roll each ball into a 7- to 8-inch-long "cigar," rolling first between your hands and then on a work surface (be sure the köfte are thin enough for even cooking). Slide a skewer lengthwise through center of each köfte.

    Step 5

    Grill on oiled grill rack, turning over once, until golden and just cooked through, 4 to 6 minutes. Serve warm with yogurt sauce.

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