Köfte
This Turkish beef builds ground beef and lamb mix, fresh breadcrumbs and flat-leaf parsley into a comforting meal you can have ready in about 60 minutes. Below: the ingredients split into pantry staples and a quick shopping list, a built-in serving scaler, and the method in 6 steps.
You'll mainly reach for frying pan / skillet and pan. At medium difficulty across 6 steps, it's manageable with a little attention.
What you'll need
Shopping list (3)
Pantry staples (you likely have these)
🔁 Unit converter
How to make it
- Grate the onion and squeeze out the excess juice, then combine it in a bowl with the ground meat, crushed garlic, breadcrumbs, egg, chopped parsley, cumin, paprika and oregano.
- Season generously with salt and pepper and knead the mixture firmly with your hands for 3 to 4 minutes until it becomes sticky and uniform, which helps the köfte hold together.
- Cover and rest the mixture in the fridge for at least 30 minutes, then shape into small oval patties about 5 cm long, rolling each between damp palms.
- Heat the olive oil in a wide frying pan or griddle over medium-high heat until shimmering.
- Cook the köfte in batches for about 4 minutes per side, turning once, until deeply browned and cooked through to an internal temperature of 71°C with no pink remaining.
- Rest the meatballs for a couple of minutes, then serve hot with flatbread, sliced onion and a squeeze of lemon.
You'll use: Frying pan / skillet · Pan
What to serve with Köfte
- Corba Side
- Kumpir Side
- Turkish rice (vermicelli rice) Miscellaneous
- Imam bayildi with BBQ lamb & tzatziki Lamb
Tips & common questions
How long does Köfte take to make?
About 60 minutes from start to finish — an estimate based on the 6 steps and 11 ingredients. Times vary with your kitchen and how much prep you do ahead.
Can I scale this recipe up or down?
Yes — use the servings control above the ingredients and every quantity rescales automatically (fractions included). Cooking times stay roughly the same; very large batches may need a little longer.
How should I store leftovers?
Cool leftovers quickly, refrigerate in an airtight container, and eat within 3 days. Reheat until piping hot throughout.
Related recipes
Köfte is an original Turkish recipe developed in-house by Consomee. Photo: Sulu köfte (with bulgur).jpg by E4024, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons. We add the serving scaler, ingredient tools, timing and structure on top — how we source recipes.