Turkish · main
Kofte (Turkish Meatballs)
Kofte (Turkish Meatballs) reads umami 7.3, richness 6.4 and allium 4.7 on Palate's 0–10 flavor X-ray — a Turkish main, about 1 hr 5 min. Measured from the recipe itself: ingredients and technique.
The flavor X-ray — six axes, 0–10
- Umami & Savory — 7.6 / 10
- Sweet & Fruity — 1.1 / 10
- Sour & Bright — 0.3 / 10
- Bitter & Earthy — 2.8 / 10
- Rich & Fat — 6.8 / 10
- Aromatic & Spice — 5.2 / 10
The measured notes (of 18)
Umami 7.3 · Richness 6.4 · Allium 4.7 · Salinity 2.9 · Herbaceous 2.9 · Earthy 2.5 · Warm Spice 2.3 · Bitterness 1.9 · Nutty 1.5 · Floral 1.1 · Sweetness 1.0 · Heat 0.9 · Smoke 0.6 · Fruity 0.5
What's in it (11)
- 1 1/2 lbs ground lamb
- 2 slices stale bread soaked in water, squeezed dry
- 1 onion, grated
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp dried mint
- 1 egg
- salt to taste
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 2 tbsp olive oil
Time & effort: about 1 hr 5 min (35 min active) · effort: medium
Nutrition (per 100 g, engine-estimated): 70.1 kcal, 3.2 g protein, 2.2 g fat, 9.8 g carbs
Dietary: Contains meat · Contains egg — engine-derived; double-check anything allergy-critical.
How it's cooked (4 steps)
- Knead meat with soaked bread, grated onion, spices, and egg until smooth.
- Shape into small cylinders or oval patties and refrigerate for 30 minutes to firm.
- Grill or pan-fry until nicely charred outside.
- Serve with tomato sauce, peppers, and flatbread.
Dishes with a similar flavor shape
- Kafta (Spiced Ground Meat Skewers) — Lebanese
- Keftedes — Greek
- Sambusa (Ethiopian Stuffed Pastry) — Ethiopian
- Greek-Style Beef Kofta Skewers — Greek
- Congrí (Moros y Cristianos) — Cuban
Keep reading: what umami, richness, allium mean in the flavor lexicon · the world's cuisines, by flavor.
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Every number above is Palate's engine-measured estimate, computed from this recipe's ingredients and techniques — not human-tasted ratings or reviews.