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Easy Turkish beef kofte recipe served with pasta

Juicy Turkish Beef Kofte

This easy Turkish beef kofte recipe is juicy, authentic, and packed with Mediterranean flavor. Made with ground beef, onion, herbs, and warm spices, these tender kofte patties are pan-fried until golden brown and served with pasta, Turkish flatbread, tahini sauce, and fresh Mediterranean salad for an easy family dinner.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Total Time 27 minutes
Servings: 4 people
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mediterranean, Turkish
Calories: 365

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb ground beef (80%)
  • 1 medium onion - grated
  • 1 jalapeño pepper - minced (optional)
  • 1/2 cup seasoned bread crumbs
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 1 tsp paprika
  • 1 tsp Middle Eastern 7 spices
  • 1/2 tsp ground coriander
  • Fresh parsley - chopped (for garnish)

Method
 

  1. In a large mixing bowl, add the ground beef.
  2. Add grated onion, jalapeño, bread crumbs, egg, salt, black pepper, paprika, 7 spices, and ground coriander.
    Ground beef, onion, breadcrumbs, egg, and spices in a bowl for Turkish beef kofte
  3. Mix everything together until well combined, but avoid overmixing to keep the kofte tender.
    Mixing ground beef and spices together for homemade Turkish beef kofte
  4. Shape the mixture into small oval or round patties, about 2 inches wide.
    Shaping Turkish beef kofte mixture into small oval patties
  5. Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Lightly grease the pan if needed.
    Heating a skillet on the stovetop for cooking Turkish beef kofte
  6. Cook the kofte patties for 5 minutes, or until browned on the outside.
    Turkish beef kofte patties browning in a skillet
  7. Flip the patties and cook until an internal temperature of 160°F.
    Flipping juicy Turkish beef kofte patties while cooking
  8. Transfer to a serving plate and garnish with fresh parsley.
    Cooked Turkish beef kofte garnished with fresh parsley
  9. Serve warm with pasta, or Turkish flatbread, tahini sauce, and Mediterranean salad.
    Authentic Turkish beef kofte served with parsley and pasta

Notes

  • For extra juicy kofte, avoid using lean ground beef.
  • Grating the onion helps keep the patties moist and tender.
  • You can refrigerate the kofte mixture for 30 minutes before cooking for even better flavor.
  • These kofte can also be grilled instead of pan-fried.