Çiğ Köfte recipe: Easy version with stand mixer

There are some dishes you eat once and never forget. For me, çiğ köfte is one of them. When I tasted it in Türkiye, it was handed to me in a crispyyy lettuce leaf. It was SO spicy, I got tears in my eyes, but the taste was so good. I knew this would be one of my favourite snacks (or even meals) to eat.

Çiğ köfte is a Turkish bulgur dish made by kneading fine bulgur with tomato paste, pepper paste, spices, oil & aromatics until it transforms into a thick mixture. Traditionally it was made with raw meat, but the modern version is almost always vegan.

Ingredients

For the base

✿ 2 cups fine bulgur (çiğ köftelik bulgur)

✿ Hot water (enough to cover)

Fresh ingredients

✿ 1 onion, grated

✿ 1 tomato, grated

✿ 2 cloves garlic, grated (optional)

Oils

✿ ¼ cup vegetable oil

✿ ¼ cup olive oil

✿ 3 tbsp tomato paste

✿ 1 tbsp red pepper paste

✿ 1 tbsp pomegranate molasses

✿ Juice of ½ lemon

Spices

✿ ½ cup isot pepper

✿ or substitute with 3 tbsp smoked paprika

✿ 1 tbsp Turkish chili flakes (pul biber) or red pepper powder

✿ 1 tsp paprika powder

✿ 1 tsp smoked paprika (optional)

✿ 1 tsp black pepper

✿ 1 tsp salt

Instructions

1. Add the fine bulgur to a large bowl. Pour over water until just cover, then cover the bowl and let it sit for about 5 minutes until the water is fully absorbed and the bulgur is soft

2. Grate the onion, tomato & garlic (optional). Add them to the bulgur along with the vegetable oil and olive oil. Mix to combine.

3. Add the tomato paste, red pepper paste, pomegranate molasses, lemon juice, isot pepper (or smoked paprika), chili flakes, paprika powder black pepper & salt.

4. Knead the mixture until it becomes thick, sticky & smooth. Traditionally this is done by hand and can take a long time, but I use a stand mixer and let it knead for about 10-15 minutes. You'll see the texture transform.

5. Take a small portion in your palm and squeeze it through your fingers while pressing your hand closed to create the classic ridged shape.

6. Serve in crisp lettuce leaves, finish with extra lemon juice and pomegranate molasses & eat immediately.

Afiyet olsun!!