Armenian Kufta Recipes

KOFTA KEBABS

Steps:

• Mash the garlic into a paste with the salt using a mortar and pestle or the flat side of a chef's knife on your cutting board. Mix the garlic into the lamb along with the onion, parsley, coriander, cumin, cinnamon, allspice, cayenne pepper, ginger, and pepper in a mixing bowl until well blended. Form the mixture into 28 balls. Form each ball around the tip of a skewer, flattening into a 2 inch oval; repeat with the remaining skewers. Place the kebabs onto a baking sheet, cover, and refrigerate at least 30 minutes, or up to 12 hours.
• Preheat an outdoor grill for medium heat, and lightly oil grate.
• Cook the skewers on the preheated grill, turning occasionally, until the lamb has cooked to your desired degree of doneness, about 6 minutes for medium.

ARMENIAN KUFTA

Steps:

• For the outside shell, mix 1-1/2 lbs. ground lamb, bulghur, onion, salt, pepper and parsley together with 1 cup of water. Knead until it becomes cohesive and dough like.
• Set aside and brown 1 lb lamb with large chopped onion until meat is cooked. Add parsley, salt and pepper and cool.
• In the meantime, roll outside shell mixture into balls the size of a small egg. Use a bowl of ice water to keep mixture from sticking to your hands. Shape into cups by inserting your thumb into ball and rotating in your opposite hand until you form a thin shell. Keep wetting your hands in the ice water to keep shell from cracking.
• Fill shell with cooked meat mixture, about 1 tablespoon, close shell, wetting hands with ice water, and seal opening.
• Set aside on a sheet pan, continue to roll balls. Place tray in refrigerator to chill.
• Boil 2 quarts of broth, add pasta and vegetables. Add meatballs and cook them 10 minutes or until they rise to the top.
• Sometimes served with yogurt on the side.

MOROCCAN KEFTA

Steps:

• In a large bowl using your hands or a large spoon, combine the beef, onion and the juices, parsley, cilantro, mint, sweet paprika, cumin, salt, black pepper and cayenne.
• Take about 1/2 teaspoon of the kefta mixture, cook it (in a pan or in the microwave) and taste it to check the seasoning. Add more salt to the kefta mixture if necessary.
• Take about 2 1/2 tablespoons of the kefta mixture (slightly larger than a golf ball) and mold it onto a skewer to form a log. (If using a long skewer, form two logs on each.) Repeat until you've used all the kefta mixture. Place the skewers on a plate, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to cook.
• Heat your grill or grill pan to medium-high and cook for 3 to 4 minutes on each side, until cooked through, using a thin spatula to help turn if the kefta sticks. Serve immediately with bread and a side of vegetables or a salad.

ARMENIAN CHE KUFTA (RAW LAMB PATTIES)

Steps:

• Lamb should be put through grinder three times.
• Mix in salt and pepper to taste, before adding bulgur and onions.
• Add salt to finely chopped green pepper, finely chopped green onions and finely chopped handful of parsley.
• Squeeze vegetables with hands to draw moisture and add to lamb.
• Also add cayenne pepper, if desired.
• Knead all together adding a little water until all ingredients stick together.
• Shape into patties and garnish with chopped parsley.
• Serve at once.