Çiğ köfte
Çiğ köfte: Urfa-style meatless bulgur köfte kneaded with isot, pepper paste and herbs, wrapped in lettuce
Şanlıurfa is the home of çiğ köfte, and the version sold today from shops all over Turkey is entirely meatless: fine bulgur kneaded for a long time with isot (Urfa's dark, smoky chilli), pepper paste, onion, garlic and pomegranate molasses until it turns soft and dough-like. Squeezed into finger shapes, it is wrapped in lettuce or lavaş with a squeeze of lemon and plenty of parsley, and in Urfa it is often made by a group of friends on a winter evening. Don't add all the water at once; the bulgur should be just moist, never wet. Chef's tip: the kneading is the cooking, so knead for at least 20 minutes until the mixture is glossy and holds a fingerprint.
- Total time
- 45 min
- Difficulty
- medium
- Serves
- 6
Ingredients
For the köfte
To serve
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Method
0/6 doneStep 1: Put 10 ½ oz extra-fine bulgur (çiğ köftelik), 3 tbsp isot (Urfa chilli flakes), 2 tbsp Turkish hot red pepper paste, 1 tbsp tomato paste, 1 onion, 3 cloves garlic, 1 tsp ground cumin, 1 tsp black pepper and 1 ½ tsp salt in a large bowl.
Step 2: Add half of ½ cup hot water and start kneading with your knuckles, pressing and folding (gloves help with the chilli).
Step 3: Keep kneading for 20–25 minutes, adding the rest of ½ cup hot water a splash at a time, until the bulgur softens completely and the mixture is smooth, glossy and holds a fingerprint. Common mistake: adding all the water at once, which turns it to mush.
25 minStep 4: Knead in 2 tbsp pomegranate molasses and 3 tbsp olive oil, then work in 4 spring onions and 1 ⅜ oz flat-leaf parsley.
Step 5: Take walnut-sized pieces and squeeze each in your fist to make a ridged finger shape. Arrange on a platter.
Step 6: Serve with 1 head cos lettuce leaves leaves, 2 lemons and ⅓ oz fresh mint for wrapping. It keeps covered in the fridge for 2 days.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 270 kcal
- Protein
- 7 g
- Carbs
- 46 g
- Fat
- 8 g
- Fibre
- 10 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does çiğ köfte take?
- About 45 minutes in total.
- How many people does it serve?
- 6 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- Is it very spicy?
- It has some heat. Use less chilli for a milder version, or more if you like it hot.
- Can I make it ahead?
- Yes. It keeps well, so you can cook it earlier in the day or the day before and reheat it.
- What can I use instead of onion?
- 2 shallots per onion.
- What can I use instead of garlic?
- ½ tsp garlic paste or ⅛ tsp garlic powder per clove.
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