Turkey Kofta Recipe - My Kitchen Love (2024)

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Juicy, lean, and inviting Turkey Kofta recipe. A healthy recipe that packs lean protein, savoury flavours, and satisfying wholesome ingredients the entire family will enjoy.

Turkey Kofta Recipe - My Kitchen Love (1)

This post is sponsored by Canadian Turkey as part of the BBQ Bootcamp Campaign. My Kitchen Love has been compensated monetarily, we only support brands we love and cook with at home.

Possibly the best way to grill and serve dinner – healthy flavourful grilled turkey kebabs with savoury yogurt, fresh vegetables, and grilled pita. My family and I officially loved it.

What made these turkey kebabs so good? It’s almost challenging to figure out where to start with so many good pieces. The main event of Turkey Kebabs was so crazy good. Lean, wholesome ground turkey with all the right herbs and spices that had s coming back time and time again.

Turkey Kofta Recipe - My Kitchen Love (2)

That being said, this turkey kofta recipe is perfect for families and kids because it doesn’t t have any spiciness to it and yet, are so juicy and mouthwatering.

We loved piling the pita high with grilled turkey, fresh veg, and lemon garlicky yogurt.

Turkey Kofta Recipe - My Kitchen Love (3)

What are kofta balls made out of?

Kofta balls are made from a meat protein (usually a combo of beef and lamb, but I used Canadian turkey here for a lean and reliable substitution), parsley, bread crumbs, and other spices like allspice, cinnamon, and cumin.

To make this kofta recipe gluten-free, simply sub the bread crumbs for one large egg. Both act as a binding agent and I used bread crumbs as a more traditional recipe. In addition, this recipe would be amazing with rice in lieu of the pita.

Turkey Kofta Recipe - My Kitchen Love (4)

To me, the best kofta recipe has all the right flavours and remains juicy. That’s what makes ground turkey meat the best partner for grilling. Turkey has great flavour everyone enjoys (kids especially!) and it’s perfect for pairing with other flavours like the savoury herbs and spices in this kofta recipe.

Top with kid-friendly savoury yogurt (condiments are always the answer for kids) and lots of fresh chopped vegetables and we have a winner that will take us through grilling season nicely.

Turkey Kofta Recipe - My Kitchen Love (5)

Why else choose turkey? It’s the perfect meat to buy in a pinch as turkey is usually good bang for your buck and it packs a nice nutritional punch too. I like subbing turkey for other meat proteins to make them, not only more kid approachable, but also to save a few dollars here and there.

Some of my favourite weeknight turkey meals include this Turkey and Lentils (slow cooker alert!) and this one pot Turkey Tetrazzini.

Turkey Kofta Recipe - My Kitchen Love (6)

Turkey recipes primed for the grill:

5 from 10 votes

Turkey Kofta Recipe - My Kitchen Love (7)

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Turkey Koftas

Prep Time

15 mins

Cook Time

15 mins

Total Time

30 mins

Juicy flavourful Turkey Koftas recipe with savoury yogurt, fresh vegetables, and pita.

Course:Main Course

Cuisine:Turkish

Keyword:easy koftas recipe, healthy koftas recipe, juicy turkey recipe, koftas recipe, turkey bbq, turkey grilling, turkey recipe, turky koftas

Servings: 5 servings

Calories: 512 kcal

Author: Samantha

Ingredients

Turkey Koftas:

  • 2lbsground turkey thigh*
  • 1mediumonion, finely chopped
  • 1/2cupfinely chopped parsley leaves
  • 2tbspfinely chopped mint leaves
  • 1tspsmoked paprika (sweet or hot)
  • 1/2tsp cumin
  • 1/4tspcinnamon
  • 1/4tspground allspice
  • 1/2cupbreadcrumbs
  • 1tspfine sea salt
  • 1/2tsp ground black pepper

Sides:

  • 1headRomaine lettuce, roughly chopped
  • 1pintcherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1English cucumber, quartered
  • 1/4mediumred onion, thinly sliced
  • 5pitas or naan bread

Garlic Lemon Yogurt:

  • 2cupsthick plain Greek yogurt
  • 1/2lemonzest and juice
  • 2tspfinely chopped mint leaves
  • 1garlic clove, finely grated

US CustomaryMetric

Instructions

Turkey Koftas:

  1. Soak 10 wooden skewers in water for at least 30 minutes.

  2. In a large bowl combine turkey, onion, parsley, mint, paprika, cumin, cinnamon, allspice, breadcrumbs, salt, and pepper. Mix** until all ingredients are well blended.

  3. Using a 1/3 cup measuring tool, make 10-12 oval shaped patties and pierce with a soaked toothpick through the middle. Place in fridge while grill preheats.

  4. Preheat grill to high heat. Add Turkey Koftas to the grill and reduce temperature down to medium. Cook for 15-20 minutes, flipping once after 8 minutes, or until meat has reached 165°.

Sides:

  1. Place all sliced/chopped fresh vegetables on a plate.

Yogurt:

  1. Mix all ingredients in a small bowl.

Pita:

  1. Grill for 1-2 minutes per side or serve with cooked rice if preferred.

Recipe Notes

* I find that ground turkey thigh is juicer and holds up to grilling, but extra lean ground turkey breast meat will also work here.

** I find that using my hands to mix all the ingredients together works the best for making any form of patty.

Nutrition Facts

Turkey Koftas

Amount Per Serving

Calories 512Calories from Fat 54

% Daily Value*

Fat 6g9%

Saturated Fat 1g6%

Cholesterol 104mg35%

Sodium 993mg43%

Potassium 1423mg41%

Carbohydrates 56g19%

Fiber 6g25%

Sugar 9g10%

Protein 61g122%

Vitamin A 12205IU244%

Vitamin C 39mg47%

Calcium 236mg24%

Iron 5.4mg30%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Enjoy! xo

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Turkey Kofta Recipe - My Kitchen Love (2024)

FAQs

Is kofta Greek or Turkish? ›

Köfte is the Turkish variant of meatballs made from minced meat, breadcrumbs, eggs, onions and a variety of spices. Of course, each establishment and even each family has their own take, but the main ingredients usually don't differ greatly.

Does kofta have meat? ›

Kofta is traditionally made with ground beef or lamb, although chicken, fish, or vegetarian versions made with beans or vegetables are becoming increasingly popular. Kofta is commonly served in a sauce or stew, and it is often paired with rice or flatbread.

Why are my koftas dry? ›

However, we would suggest not using very lean beef as it can become a little dry when cooked, particularly if the kofta are grilled over a barbecue. We would suggest looking for minced beef with a fat content of around 10-15%, which should give a good balance of moisture and flavour.

Why is my kofta falling apart? ›

You need to make sure the oil is properly hot before you add the kofta to it, otherwise they can cool the oil down too much and fall apart to a horrid mess. In the same vein, don't try to fry the kofta from fridge cold if you've pre-prepared them. Bring them up to room temperature before frying.

What is difference between kafta and kofta? ›

Both kafta and kofta are the same thing: a meatball made with ground meat and mixed with herbs, Middle Eastern spices and onions. In Lebanon it is known as kafta and in other Middle Eastern countries and India it is widely known as Kofta.

Is kofta healthy? ›

Malai Kofta is a good source of protein and fats, with the vegetarian ball rich in fibre content. The veggies used also have various nutrients, and therefore, this malai kofta recipe has many health benefits. They are: Paneer malai kofta dish lowers the blood pressure levels in the body.

What is the difference between kebab and kofta? ›

Kofta can be served as meatballs or it can be formed onto skewers as kebabs and cooked over an open flame. Traditional kebabs are usually made with cubed meat. Kofta kebabs, on the other hand, are made with ground meat. They're typically made with beef, lamb or a combination of the two.

What is the name of the Turkish kofta dish? ›

A succulent culinary delight, Turkish köfte, also known as kofta or meatballs, blends the tantalizing flavours of minced beef, breadcrumbs, and a mix of herbs and spices. Grilled, baked, or fried, Turkish köfte offers a mouthwatering variety of flavours and textures!

What is the main Turkish dish? ›

Turkey may be famous for its kebabs, but the popular dish is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Turkish cuisine. Covering over 300,000 square miles, the European destination's rich and diverse food is largely thanks to its landscape.

What do Turkish people eat and drink? ›

Turkish cuisine has a wide variety of foods, including cereals, pastries, vegetables, and self-growing herbs mixed with meat. There are also many soups and other traditional Turkish foods that incorporate butter, sunflower oil, and olive oil as an ingredient.

How to keep kebabs juicy? ›

The secret ingredient to making these kebabs always delicious, nearly foolproof is sweet onion. Specifically, grated sweet onion. Grating a small sweet onion gives the kebabs so much wonderful flavor and keep the meat very moist.

How do you moisten dry kebabs? ›

How do you keep kebabs moist? Give them a coat of seasoned oil(s) prior to grilling. If they are still getting to dry you are cooking them too long. Alternately you can baste them periodically with olive oil.

How do you keep kebab meat moist? ›

Once the doner kebab is cooked to your liking, let them rest for about 10 minutes before slicing as it will help keep the meat juicy and flavourful. Cooking doner kebab at home can be a rewarding experience, with the juicy, flavourful result making it a great alternative to take out.

What do I do if my kebab mixture is too wet? ›

Lots of water will evaporate naturally. In case the kebab mixture is still wet then add 1-2 tablespoons of bread crumbs. If the Shami kebab mixture is hard and dry, add an extra mashed potato or/and 1 egg for softer kebabs.

References

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