Spiced Lamb Koftas Braised In Tomato Sauce Recipes

SPICY MINCED LAMB KOFTA KEBAB RECIPE (GIAOURTLOU)

Steps:

• To prepare this minced lamb kofta kebab recipe, heat a saucepan over medium high heat, add the olive oil, the chopped onion and garlic and sauté, until tender. In the meantime, add in a large bowl the minced meat, the spices and the tomato puree. Season well with salt and pepper and mix the mixture well, squeezing the ingredients with your hands (or a food processor). Add the chopped parsley and the sautéed onions and garlic. Using your hands mix all the ingredients together until combined.
• Place the mixture for the lamb kofta kebabs in a bowl, cover with plastic wrap and leave in the fridge to rest for 1 hour. (If you have the time it's best to leave the kebabs in the fridge overnight).
• To assemble the kofta kebabs, cut the wooden skewers to fit your griddle pan and soak them in water. (This will prevent them from burning). Gently squeeze the meat around the skewers to form log-shaped kebabs, each about 10-12cm long. Make sure the meat is spread to an even thickness. Refrigerate the kebabs until you are ready to grill. If you have time, it is best to chill 30 minutes to let flavours mingle and firm up meat. (The ingredients for this lamb kebab recipe are enough for 6 skewers).
• Preheat a grill or griddle pan on a high heat. Brush the kofta kebabs with live oil and cook for about 8 to 10 minutes, turning occasionally, until nicely coloured on all sides and cooked through.
• While your lamb kofta kebabs are cooking, prepare the pita breads. Preheat the oven to 250C. Use a cooking brush to lightly oil the pita breads on both sides and season with salt and oregano. Place a large oven tray at the bottom of the oven and place the pita breads on top of the tray. Bake for 2-3 minutes.
• you can serve the kofta kebabs with tomato sauce and Greek yogurt (kebab giaourtlou).
• To prepare the tomato sauce for the lamb kebabs melt the butter in a sauce pan, add the chopped tomatoes, the garlic and seasoning and simmer for 5-10 minutes.
• Layer a pita bread on a plate, top with the lamb kebabs, add two full spoons of the tomato sauce, 1 tbsp yogurt and garnish with sliced red onions.

SPICED LAMB KOFTAS BRAISED IN TOMATO SAUCE

Steps:

• First of all, you need to dry-roast the coriander and cumin seeds to draw out their flavour: place them in a small frying pan over a medium heat and toss them around for 2 minutes until they begin to jump and pop, then crush them as finely as possible with a pestle and mortar. Next, place the lamb in a large mixing bowl. Put the onions in a food processor, along with the mint and coriander leaves, then pulse everything until the onion is finely chopped. Transfer all this to join the meat in the bowl, add the spices and a good seasoning of salt and freshly milled black pepper, then mix everything thoroughly and evenly together with your hands (easiest) or a large fork (takes longer). Then take small amounts of the mixture and roll them with your palms into little rounds slightly larger than a walnut. Now heat about a tablespoon of the oil in a large frying pan over a medium to high heat and when it's hot, begin to brown the koftas, about six at a time, turning them to get brown on all sides. As they cook, transfer them to a plate and add more oil when needed as you continue browning all the others. Meanwhile, skin the tomatoes for the sauce. Place them in a heatproof bowl and pour boiling water on to them. After exactly a minute (or, if the tomatoes are small, 15-30 seconds), remove them from the water; slip off their skins (protecting your hands with a cloth if they are hot) and chop them into small pieces. You can also watch how to Skin Tomatoes in our Cookery School Video on this page. After that, place the casserole over a high heat, add another tablespoon of oil and when it's hot, soften the onions, stirring them around now and then and keeping the heat highish so they turn golden brown, which should take about 6 minutes. Next, add the garlic to the onions and cook for about a minute more. Now add the tomatoes and cinnamon, stir well, then add the koftas, stir once more, turn the heat down to low and let them simmer slowly for about 30 minutes with the lid on. Then remove the lid to allow the sauce to reduce, continuing to simmer for a further 30 minutes before serving.

MOROCCAN KOFTE WITH SPICY TOMATO SAUCE

Steps:

• Soak eight wooden skewers in water for 20 minutes, to stop them burning.
• Using your hands, mix the meat in a bowl with the onion, coriander, mint and plenty of seasoning. Shape into 8 sausages, about 10cm long, then thread a bamboo skewer through the centre of each.
• To make the sauce, heat the oil in a pan, add the garlic and briefly fry. Add tomatoes, harissa, sugar and seasoning. Simmer, uncovered, for 15-20 mins until sauce has thickened.
• Grill the kofte for 6-8 mins, turning until they are nicely browned (be careful not to burn the skewers). Spoon the sauce over a warm platter, drizzle over the yogurt and put the kofte on top. Scatter with pine nuts and serve with pittas or couscous (recipe, below).

SPICED KOFTAS WITH HONEY & CHICKPEAS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Using a pestle and morter, crush the fennel seeds. In a large bowl, combine the crushed seeds, lamb, ras el hanout and pine nuts, and season well. Divide the mixture into eight equal egg-shaped koftas.
• Tip the chickpeas into an ovenproof dish, season to taste and put in the oven while you fry the koftas. Heat 1 tbsp of the oil in a frying pan over a medium heat. Add the koftas and gently fry for 5 mins, turning from time to time, until evenly browned. Remove from the pan with a slotted spoon and set aside on a plate.
• Remove the chickpeas from the oven, add the koftas to the dish, then pour over the rest of the oil and the honey, and return to the oven for 15 mins.
• In a bowl, combine the yogurt, tahini and lemon juice with 70-100ml water and season well. Serve the koftas and chickpeas topped with parsley and a good drizzle of the creamy dressing, with the lemon wedges on the side.

SPICED LAMB KOFTAS WITH MINT & TOMATO SALAD

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the lamb mince, preserved lemon, olives, parsley, ras el hanout and some seasoning - don't be too generous with the salt, as the preserved lemon and olives are both quite salty. Divide the mixture into 4 and shape each piece around a long skewer. Chill for 30 mins.
• Combine the ingredients for the salad with some seasoning and set aside. Heat the grill to high. Rub the oil over the koftas and wrap a little foil around the bottom of each skewer if you're using wooden ones. Place on a baking tray and grill for about 7 mins each side until nicely browned, checking the meat is cooked through to the centre. Serve with the tomato salad, a dollop of yogurt and some couscous or in wraps, if you like.

LAMB & ROSEMARY KOFTAS

Steps:

• Heat the grill to high. In a large bowl, mix together the mince, allspice and garlic. Season and shape into 8 koftas, each wrapped around a rosemary sprig, with the stalk sticking out at one end. Repeat until all the mince is used up. Brush the koftas with a little oil and place on a baking tray. Grill for 10 mins or until cooked through, turning once.
• Eat the koftas from the rosemary stalks or pull out the stalks before serving. Serve with the pitta, yogurt, lemon wedges, radishes, cucumber and pickled chillies, if using.