Kofta Pocket with Tzatziki Sauce Recipe on Food52 (2024)

Grill/Barbecue

by: Food Blogga

March22,2010

7 Ratings

Kofta Pocket with Tzatziki Sauce Recipe on Food52 (1)

Serves 4

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Author Notes

In this speedy version of kofta I substitute a pine nut meal for longer cooking bulger. Grilling the kofta infuses the lamb with a slightly charred flavor that is tempered with a cool and tangy tzatziki sauce. Don't worry if you don't have a grill; I have included alternative cooking methods. —Food Blogga

Test Kitchen Notes

WHO: Food Blogga is a cookbook author and freelance food writer who lives in San Diego.
WHAT: Nutty, vibrant lamb meatballs and creamy-cool tzatziki -- eaten side by side or tucked into a pocket.
HOW: Mix ground lamb with onion, garlic, spices, and pine nuts, shape into balls, and grill. Load into pitas. Dollop with tzatziki.
WHY WE LOVE IT: These kofta -- which are bound with ground, toasted pine nuts -- have spice, heat, and texture. The tzatziki tames all that fiestiness. And when eaten smooshed into a pocket, with lettuce, carrots, and onions, you've got yourself an ideal lunch. —The Editors

Test Kitchen-Approved

What You'll Need

Ingredients

Tzatziki Sauce
1 cup plain Greek style yogurt, or regular yogurt, strained until thick
½ cup diced peeled and seeded cucumber
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon salt
¹/₄ teaspoonsugar
¹/₄ teaspooncayenne pepper
3 tablespoonsminced fresh mint

Kofta
1 poundground lamb
2 teaspoonssalt
¹/₄ cupminced yellow onion
2 garlic cloves, peeled and smashed
¹/₄ cupminced fresh parsley
2 teaspoonsground coriander
1 teaspoonground cumin
¹/₂ teaspooncinnamon
¹/₄ teaspoonnutmeg
¹/₄ teaspooncayenne pepper
½ cup toasted pine nuts, ground into a meal in a food processor
4 pitas, sliced in half and warmed (for a total of 8)
optional garnishes include thinly sliced red onions, shredded carrots, and baby lettuce leaves

Directions

Tzatziki Sauce
Combine all ingredients in a small bowl. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.

Kofta
In a medium bowl combine all ingredients from lamb through pine nuts. Using your hands, mix well until smooth. Refrigerate at least 15 minutes or up to overnight.
When ready to cook, form lamb mixture into 1 ½ - 2-inch balls. Makes about 14-16 balls.
Directions for grilling: Preheat grill to medium heat. If using wooden skewers, soak in water for 30 minutes prior to using. Place 4 balls on each skewer. Grill for 8-10 minutes, rotating skewers, or until the lamb is evenly browned and cooked through.
Slide meat off skewers. Place 2 balls inside each half pocket; top with a dollop of cucumber yogurt sauce and any garnishes you desire. Eat immediately.
If you don't have a grill, then you can broil, bake, or pan fry the kofta. Broil for 8-10 minutes, rotating skewers, or until the lamb is evenly browned and cooked through. Bake on 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes, flipping once, or until the lamb is evenly browned and cooked through. To pan fry, place 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook kofta 7-10 minutes, flipping, until the lamb is evenly browned and cooked through.

Tags:

Sandwich
Sauce
Lamb
Pine Nut
Grill/Barbecue
Pan-Fry
Entree

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22 Reviews

Corinne May 30, 2023

Is there a secret to opening a pita? I always manage to tear it.

Corinne August 13, 2020

Delicious as is 😋

Anne August 17, 2019

We enjoyed this recipe! I used ground chicken and used ground almonds. Also used dill instead of mint. Delicious!

hotsauce April 7, 2016

We adored the recipe, as written. Fantastic, amazing. We had some leftover ground pine nuts (still warm from oven- this is key) and put them on ice cream. Oh my god. That is all.

Molly March 30, 2016

These were so flavorful, and so easy to make! I used a combo of pine nuts and walnuts because I didn't have enough pine nuts, and it worked like a charm.

Dima H. July 2, 2013

You made me look at kefta from a different perspective, I will make your recipe very soon, thank you for sharing it :)

adele93 February 21, 2013

would ground slivered almonds work in place of pine nuts as i feel when bead crumbs are used that is all i can taste?

Dima H. July 2, 2013

Actually you don't need to use pine nuts or breadcrumbs, you can make kefta or kofta with minced onions, lamb, parsley, and bharat spice mix (same spices mentioned in the recipe)I made a post about it recently (http://procrastinatorcook.wordpress.com/2013/06/22/kefta-burgers-middle-eastern-juicy-burgers/) however I must say that adding pine nuts to kefta sounds delicious and decadent! I will be making this recipe soon.