koftas

Middle Eastern meatballs

Koftas are spiced ground meat—usually lamb or beef—shaped into balls, patties, or cylinders and grilled, fried, or simmered in sauce.

Common across Middle Eastern, South Asian, and Mediterranean cuisines, they appear in countless variations: lamb kofta kebabs, kofta curry.

Vegetarian versions substitute paneer or vegetables for meat.

cooking

frying

Cooking in shallow fat

baking · simmering · browning · oil · searing · skewered · tandoor · charcoal · crispy · golden

preparation

ground meat

Chopped flesh for cooking

  • mincedCut into tiny pieces
  • spicesAromatic food flavorings
  • onionsPungent layered cooking bulbs

garlic · ginger · cilantro · cumin · coriander · garam masala · shaping · rolling · binding · egg

regional

kofte

Spiced ground meat dish

Persian · Indian · Middle Eastern · Balkan · Pakistani · Afghan · Egyptian · Moroccan · tagine · Mediterranean

curry

gravy

Thickened meat drippings

yogurt · masala · simmering · rich · aromatic · cashew · coconut milk · turmeric · slow-cooked · thick

vegetarian

paneer

Unaged Indian cheese

banana blossom · jackfruit · beetroot · corn · cheese · stuffed · palak · aloo · yam · mashed

Opposites
meat preparation method

koftassteak

Thick beef slice

chops · filet · prime rib · rack of lamb · beef tenderloin

culinary tradition

koftashamburger

Ground beef sandwich

meatloaf · Salisbury steak · Swedish meatballs · sausage · hot dog

protein type

koftasfalafel

Fried spiced legume ball

veggie burgers · tofu · paneer · tempeh · seitan

Phrases
Family

kofta

Familiarity
Top 1,000,000
Profile
Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Positive · Everyday, not technical · Rated G