Description
This Chicken Kofta with Garlic Yogurt Sauce is a flavorful Middle Eastern dish featuring spiced ground chicken meatballs cooked to perfection on a grill pan or skillet. The koftas are tender and aromatic with a blend of fresh herbs and warm spices, paired beautifully with a creamy, tangy garlic yogurt sauce. Perfect as a healthy main course served with pita bread or fresh salads.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Kofta
- 1 pound ground chicken
- 1 small onion, finely grated
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh mint
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon ground coriander
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons breadcrumbs
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
For the Garlic Yogurt Sauce
- 1 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 1 large garlic clove, minced
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill or parsley
Instructions
- Prepare the Kofta Mixture: In a large bowl, combine the ground chicken, grated onion, minced garlic, chopped parsley, chopped mint, ground cumin, ground coriander, ground cinnamon, smoked paprika, salt, black pepper, breadcrumbs, and olive oil. Mix everything thoroughly until well incorporated.
- Shape the Koftas: Divide the mixture into 8 equal portions. Shape each portion into an oval or cylindrical kofta form, ensuring they hold together well.
- Cook the Koftas: Preheat a grill pan or skillet over medium heat and lightly oil the surface. Place the koftas on the pan and cook for 10–12 minutes, turning occasionally to brown evenly on all sides. Ensure the internal temperature reaches 165°F to confirm they are fully cooked.
- Prepare the Garlic Yogurt Sauce: While the koftas are cooking, whisk together the Greek yogurt, minced garlic, lemon juice, olive oil, salt, and chopped dill or parsley in a small bowl until smooth and creamy.
- Serve: Serve the warm chicken koftas drizzled with the garlic yogurt sauce or offer the sauce on the side as a dip. Enjoy alongside pita bread, fresh salads, or rice if desired.
Notes
- You can bake the koftas at 400°F for 18–20 minutes as an alternative to grilling.
- For extra flavor, serve with warm pita bread, fresh cucumber-tomato salad, or over rice.
- Turkey can be substituted for chicken if preferred.
- Use gluten-free breadcrumbs to make this recipe gluten-free.
