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Koofteh Tabrizi (Giant Stuffed Meatballs)

Name: Koofteh Tabrizi (Giant Stuffed Meatballs)
Prep time: 45 min
Total time: 45 min
Cuisine: Persian
Ingredients: 1.5 lbs ground lamb; 1/2 cup split peas; 1/2 cup rice; 1 onion; 2 tbsp tarragon; 2 tbsp dill; 2 tbsp parsley; 1 tsp turmeric; 2 tbsp dried barberries; 4 prunes; 1/4 cup walnuts; 2 eggs; 2 tbsp tomato paste; 1/4 tsp saffron

Koofteh Tabrizi (Giant Stuffed Meatballs) reads sweetness 5.6, umami 5.2 and fruity 5.1 on Palate's 0–10 flavor X-ray — a Persian main, about 45 min. Measured from the recipe itself: ingredients and technique.

The flavor X-ray — six axes, 0–10

Umami & Savory — 5.3 / 10
Sweet & Fruity — 7.2 / 10
Sour & Bright — 2.5 / 10
Bitter & Earthy — 3.2 / 10
Rich & Fat — 6.3 / 10
Aromatic & Spice — 4.1 / 10

The measured notes (of 18)

Sweetness 5.6 · Umami 5.2 · Fruity 5.1 · Richness 5.1 · Nutty 4.0 · Herbaceous 3.7 · Allium 3.0 · Earthy 3.0 · Sourness 2.2 · Floral 2.2 · Bitterness 1.7 · Salinity 1.0 · Citrus 0.9

What's in it (14)

1.5 lbs ground lamb
1/2 cup split peas
1/2 cup rice
1 onion
2 tbsp tarragon
2 tbsp dill
2 tbsp parsley
1 tsp turmeric
2 tbsp dried barberries
4 prunes
1/4 cup walnuts
2 eggs
2 tbsp tomato paste
1/4 tsp saffron

Time & effort: about 45 min · effort: medium

Nutrition (per 100 g, engine-estimated): 148.6 kcal, 3.8 g protein, 3.9 g fat, 26.9 g carbs

Dietary: Contains meat · Contains egg — engine-derived; double-check anything allergy-critical.

How it's cooked (3 steps)

Cook split peas and rice until just done, then mix with ground lamb, herbs, eggs, and spices to form a malleable mixture.
Stuff each large meatball with a combination of barberries, prunes, and walnuts before sealing.
Simmer in a saffron-tomato broth for about one hour until fully cooked.

Dishes with a similar flavor shape

Chiles en Nogada Poblanos — Mexican · Puebla
Kebab Karaz (Lamb Meatballs in Sour Cherry Sauce) — Syrian
Greek-stuffed Tomatoes — Greek
Fesenjan (Pomegranate Walnut Stew) — Persian
Chiles en Nogada — Mexican

Keep reading: what sweetness, umami, fruity 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.