Description
Warm, herb-scented chicken kofta meets a bright, garlicky yogurt sauce in this simple yet impressive dish that’s perfect for weeknights or entertaining.
Ingredients
Scale
- 500 grams (about 1 pound) ground chicken
- 1 medium onion, finely grated or minced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced (divided for kofta and sauce)
- 1 inch fresh ginger, grated
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, finely chopped
- 1/2 cup fresh cilantro, finely chopped
- 1/2 cup plain breadcrumbs (Panko or standard)
- 1 large egg, lightly beaten
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon ground coriander
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
- 1 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper (or to taste)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil (for cooking kofta)
- 1 cup plain full-fat Greek yogurt
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon fresh mint, finely chopped
- Fresh mint leaves or chopped parsley (for garnish, optional)
- A sprinkle of sumac (for garnish, optional)
- Extra drizzle of olive oil (for garnish, optional)
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, combine ground chicken, grated onion, minced garlic, grated ginger, chopped parsley, chopped cilantro, breadcrumbs, beaten egg, cumin, coriander, smoked paprika, cayenne (if using), salt, and black pepper. Mix with clean hands until evenly combined but do not overwork.
- Cover the mixture with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
- Shape the kofta by rolling about 2 tablespoons of the mixture into ovals or cylinders, about 2-3 inches long.
- Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Cook the kofta in batches, searing each side for about 3-5 minutes until golden brown and cooked through.
- For the garlic yogurt sauce, mince remaining garlic and mix it with yogurt, lemon juice, chopped mint, salt, and black pepper in a bowl. Chill for 15-20 minutes.
- Serve the kofta warm with the garlic yogurt sauce on the side or drizzled on top, garnished with fresh herbs and a drizzle of olive oil.
Notes
Use full-fat Greek yogurt for the creamiest sauce. You can make the kofta mixture ahead of time and refrigerate it, or shape and freeze it for longer storage.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Middle Eastern
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 500mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 90mg
Keywords: chicken kofta, garlic yogurt sauce, Middle Eastern recipe, easy dinner, healthy meal