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Chicken Kofta with Yogurt Sauce Recipe

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3.9 from 4 reviews

Delicious and aromatic Chicken Kofta served with a tangy yogurt sauce, perfect for a quick and flavorful meal. This Middle Eastern-inspired dish features spiced ground chicken meatballs seared to perfection and complemented by a refreshing yogurt and cumin dipping sauce. Ideal for serving with pita bread, fresh tomatoes, and red onions.

Ingredients

Chicken Kofta

  • 2 lbs Ground Chicken
  • 1 tsp Kosher Salt
  • 3/4 cups Pine Nuts
  • 1 small Yellow Onion
  • 3 cloves Garlic
  • 1/4 tsp Cardamom
  • 1/4 tsp Cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp Ground Cloves
  • 1/2 tsp Sumac
  • 1/4 tsp Nutmeg
  • 1/2 tsp Paprika
  • 3/4 tsp Cumin
  • 1/4 cup Parsley, minced
  • 1 tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Yogurt Sauce

  • 1 cup Plain Yogurt
  • 1 clove Garlic, minced
  • 1 1/2 tsp Cumin
  • 1 Lemon, juiced
  • 1/4 tsp Kosher Salt
  • 1 tsp Parsley, minced

To Serve

  • Pitas
  • Red Onion, thinly sliced
  • Tomato, cut into wedges

Instructions

  1. Toast Pine Nuts and Prepare Mixture: Toast the pine nuts in a dry pan over medium heat until fragrant, about 5 minutes. Then, place the toasted pine nuts, yellow onion, garlic cloves, and parsley in a food processor and blitz until finely combined.
  2. Combine Kofta Ingredients: In a large bowl, mix the processed pine nut mixture with the ground chicken, kosher salt, cardamom, cinnamon, ground cloves, sumac, nutmeg, paprika, cumin, and minced parsley. Mix thoroughly to ensure all ingredients are well incorporated.
  3. Form Kofta Balls: Using a 3-tablespoon measure, scoop out the kofta mixture and shape into uniform meatballs. Set them aside ready for cooking.
  4. Sear Kofta: Heat the extra virgin olive oil in a heavy-bottomed pan over medium-high heat. Add the kofta meatballs and cook until a crust forms and they release easily from the pan, about 5 minutes. Turn each kofta to sear all sides, which takes about 10 more minutes. If they begin to crisp too much, reduce heat to medium to prevent burning.
  5. Prepare Yogurt Sauce: While the kofta cooks, combine the yogurt, minced garlic, cumin, lemon juice, kosher salt, and minced parsley in a bowl. Mix well and refrigerate until ready to serve.
  6. Serve: Plate the cooked chicken kofta and drizzle with the prepared yogurt sauce. Serve alongside warm pita bread, thinly sliced red onions, and tomato wedges for a complete meal.

Notes

  • You can substitute ground turkey for ground chicken if preferred.
  • Be careful not to overcook the kofta to keep them moist and tender.
  • To make the kofta mixture easier to handle, chill it for 15 minutes before shaping.
  • Sumac adds a distinctive tangy flavor but can be omitted if unavailable.
  • The yogurt sauce can be prepared a day ahead for enhanced flavor.

Find it online: https://bitezly.com/chicken-kofta-with-yogurt-sauce-recipe/