Lamb Koftas with Yoghurt Dressing

The smell of Middle Eastern spices while this is cooking is totally intoxicating!! Try this Lamb Kofta recipe once, and you'll be addicted for life! Traditionally cooked over charcoal, brilliant on the BBQ, but I usually cook these midweek on the stove. 

great recipe for gatherings, DIY spread, make ahead

Ingredients

Koftas

1 lb / 500 g lamb mince (ground lamb)

1/2 onion , grated

1/4 cup breadcrumbs , preferably panko

2 cloves garlic , crushed

2 tbsp chopped fresh coriander

Kofta Spices

2 tsp cumin

2 tsp coriander

2 tsp paprika

1.5 tsp ground cinnamon

3/4 tsp cayenne pepper (this is a bit spicy, reduce to taste or leave out)

1 tsp cooking / kosher salt

1/2 black pepper

Yoghurt Sauce

1 cup yogurt , Greek or other thick plain

1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

1 clove garlic , crushed

1 tsp cumin

1 tbsp lemon juice

1/4 tsp salt and pepper , each

To Serve

8 skewers (Note 1)

8 flatbreads (small) or 4 large, warmed (homemade or bought, Note 2)

Shredded Red Cabbage, Carrot and Mint Salad (Note 3)

OR shredded lettuce, tomato and onion slices (Note 3)

Instructions

Yogurt Sauce: Combine the yogurt sauce ingredients and leave in fridge for at least 20 mninutes for the flavor to develop (overnight even better!).

Koftas: Grate the onion into the bowl using a standard box grater. Add remaining Kofta ingredients and mix well with your hands.

With damp hands, divide the meat into 8 equal pieces and push and shape the meat onto 8 skewers. Make them smooth (looks nicer, pictured!) or a bit nubbly (more surface area to brown!).

Cooking:

Stove: Preheat 1/2 tbsp oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Cook in batches for 5 minutes in total, turning to brown evenly all over.

BBQ: BBQ on medium high for about 6 minutes, rotating to brown all over.

Broiler/oven grill: preheat and cook koftas 30cm/10" from heat source for 12 minutes, rotating as needed until lightly browned (you won't get as good a browning as stove/BBQ).

Serving:

Do a DIY spread - pile everything onto a platter a make everyone serve themselves.

Get a flatbread, smear with Yogurt Sauce, top with Red Cabbage Mint Salad (more options Note 3) then Kofta, drizzle over more Yoghurt Sauce. Devour and be happy!