Turkish Kofte
Turkish spiced grilled meatballs
Ingredients
- 600 g Ground lamb
- 1 Onion
- 3 cloves Garlic
- 1 tsp Ground cumin
- 1 tsp Aleppo pepper
- 1 Red onion
- 1 tsp Sumac
- 1 tsp Salt
- 4 tbsp Parsley (optional)
Method
- Grate the onion and garlic and chop the parsley, then mix into the ground lamb with the cumin, Aleppo pepper, and salt until well combined.
- Shape the mixture into oval patties.
- Toss the sliced red onion with the sumac for the garnish.
- Grill the köfte over high heat, turning once, until charred outside and cooked through, about 10 minutes.
- Serve the köfte with the sumac onions and flatbread.
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About Turkish Kofte
Turkish köfte are spiced minced-meat patties found in countless forms across Turkey and the eastern Mediterranean, and this version keeps to the grilled, hand-shaped style rather than the saucy or skewered ones. Made with ground lamb worked together with grated onion, garlic, cumin, and Aleppo pepper, they're defined as much by texture as flavor: kneading the mix well and grating the onion so its juice works into the meat gives köfte their characteristic dense, springy bite. Aleppo pepper brings a fruity, mild warmth that's distinct from ordinary chile heat, and the lamb's richness is what carries all of it.
Grilled hard over high heat, the patties char on the outside while staying juicy within, picking up the smoky edge that defines good köfte. The classic partner is a pile of sumac onions, red onion tossed with tart, ruby-colored sumac that cuts the fattiness of the lamb and refreshes each bite, exactly the kind of acidic foil the dish is built around. Traditionally you'd eat them wrapped in or scooped up with warm flatbread, often alongside grilled peppers, yogurt, or a chopped salad. Naturally low in carbs, they suit a keto plate just as easily as a mezze spread.
Turkish Kofte: frequently asked questions
How many calories are in Turkish Kofte?
A serving has about 467 calories — 26.5g protein, 8.8g carbs, 35.9g fat, 2.5g fiber. Figures are estimated from the ingredient amounts and will shift with your portions and brands.
Is it high in protein?
Each serving has about 26.5g of protein, roughly 23% of its calories.
Is Turkish Kofte gluten-free?
Based on its ingredients, Turkish Kofte has no gluten-containing components, so it's naturally gluten-free — as always, check that any packaged ingredients you use are certified gluten-free to be safe.
Do I need every ingredient to make Turkish Kofte?
The core ingredients are essential, but you can leave out parsley — it's optional and mainly there for extra flavor or finish.
How many servings does Turkish Kofte make?
This recipe makes 4 servings. In the app you can scale it up or down and the ingredient amounts adjust automatically.