In a recent issue of Bon Appétit, meatballs made the list of favorite foods in 2009. I seemed to miss that trend on menus and magazines but nonetheless was inspired by the ethnic versions in the issue.
Kofta, in simplest terms, is a Middle Eastern meatball. The Bon Appétit recipe called for lamb but the beef roast in my freezer was begging to be used. So after a few whirls in the food processor my lean beef was meatball worthy. I saved myself some time and threw the onions in for a few spins. If you have lean beef the onions are key to keep the beef moist.
This yogurt sauce was also begging for something – my new favorite fiery ingredient – harissa. The paste of chili peppers, garlic, coriander and caraway took this sauce from blah to bold.
Servings: 6
INGREDIENTS
- 2 pounds ground beef
- 1/2 cup minced fresh mint
- 1/4 cup coarsely grated onion
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 3 tablespoons paprika
- 1/2 tablespoon coriander
- 1/2 tablespoon cumin
- 1 1/2 teaspoons coarse kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 6 Whole Wheat pitas (warmed in oven or microwave)
- 2 large onions, halved through core, cut crosswise into 1/4- to 1/3-inch slices
Yogurt Sauce:
- 1 cup Greek Yogurt
- 1 tablespoon prepared Harissa
- 1/2 Lemon, juiced
- Kosher salt
DIRECTIONS
For the Harissa Yogurt Sauce:
Stir all ingredients in medium bowl to blend. Cover and chill.
For the Beef Kofta:
Preheat oven to 350°F.
Heat 1 tablespoon oil in non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. Add onions; sprinkle lightly with salt and pepper. Sauté until golden brown, about 15 minutes. Transfer onions to a bowl and set aside.
Gently mix beef and next 9 ingredients in large bowl. Using 2 tablespoonfuls for each, roll meat mixture into 1 1/2-inch meatballs (24 total).
Add 1 tablespoon oil to same skillet used to cook onions; heat over medium-high heat. Sauté half of meatballs until just cooked through, 7 to 8 minutes. Transfer to baking sheet in oven. Repeat with remaining meatballs.
Top warm pita with yogurt sauce, onions and meatballs.
How long did you put them in the oven for?