Turkish Chicken Köfte Recipe
A vibrant and aromatic Turkish-inspired chicken köfte recipe, perfect for a quick midweek meal. These flavorful chicken patties are complemented by a creamy, tangy homemade garlic sauce, offering a delightful 'fakeaway' experience.
Ingredients
- 500 g chicken thigh fillets blitzed in a food processor
- 1 red onion coarsely grated / finely chopped
- 1 large red romano / capia pepper / small red bell pepper
- 30 g flat leaf parsley finely chopped
- 4 garlic cloves finely grated
- 1 tsp pul biber
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp sea salt flakes
- 1 tsp dried mint
- 2 tbsp Turkish Sweet Red Pepper Paste
- 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tsp finely grated garlic
- 4 tbsp mayonnaise
- 120 ml runny natural yoghurt
- 1 tsp extra virgin olive oil
- 0.5 tsp finely chopped parsley
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- 0.25 tsp dried mint
- 0.25 tsp pul biber
- 0.5 tsp sea salt flakes
- 0.25 tsp coarse black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 210°C fan / 230°C conventional. Line a baking tray with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, combine the blitzed chicken thigh fillets, coarsely grated red onion, finely chopped red pepper, finely chopped flat leaf parsley, grated garlic, pul biber, paprika, black pepper, sea salt flakes, dried mint, Turkish Sweet Red Pepper Paste, and 3 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil. Mix thoroughly until all ingredients are well combined.
- Form the mixture into elongated köfte shapes, approximately 2-3 inches long and 1 inch thick. Place them on the prepared baking tray.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, or until cooked through and lightly golden.
- While the köfte are baking, prepare the garlic sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together the finely grated garlic, mayonnaise, runny natural yoghurt, 1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil, finely chopped parsley, lemon juice, dried mint, pul biber, sea salt flakes, and coarse black pepper until smooth.
- Serve the hot chicken köfte immediately, drizzled generously with the homemade garlic sauce.
Notes
For best results, ensure the chicken is finely blitzed for a smooth köfte texture. While this recipe uses chicken, you can easily substitute with lamb or beef mince. Serve these köfte hot with warm flatbreads, a fresh cucumber and tomato salad, or fluffy rice. The garlic sauce can be made ahead of time and stored in the fridge.