Turkey Kofta Recipe - My Kitchen Love (2024)

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Juicy, lean, and inviting Turkey Kofta recipe. A healthy recipe that packs lean protein, savoury flavours, and satisfying wholesome ingredients the entire family will enjoy.

Turkey Kofta Recipe - My Kitchen Love (1)

This post is sponsored by Canadian Turkey as part of the BBQ Bootcamp Campaign. My Kitchen Love has been compensated monetarily, we only support brands we love and cook with at home.

Possibly the best way to grill and serve dinner – healthy flavourful grilled turkey kebabs with savoury yogurt, fresh vegetables, and grilled pita. My family and I officially loved it.

What made these turkey kebabs so good? It’s almost challenging to figure out where to start with so many good pieces. The main event of Turkey Kebabs was so crazy good. Lean, wholesome ground turkey with all the right herbs and spices that had s coming back time and time again.

Turkey Kofta Recipe - My Kitchen Love (2)

That being said, this turkey kofta recipe is perfect for families and kids because it doesn’t t have any spiciness to it and yet, are so juicy and mouthwatering.

We loved piling the pita high with grilled turkey, fresh veg, and lemon garlicky yogurt.

Turkey Kofta Recipe - My Kitchen Love (3)

What are kofta balls made out of?

Kofta balls are made from a meat protein (usually a combo of beef and lamb, but I used Canadian turkey here for a lean and reliable substitution), parsley, bread crumbs, and other spices like allspice, cinnamon, and cumin.

To make this kofta recipe gluten-free, simply sub the bread crumbs for one large egg. Both act as a binding agent and I used bread crumbs as a more traditional recipe. In addition, this recipe would be amazing with rice in lieu of the pita.

Turkey Kofta Recipe - My Kitchen Love (4)

To me, the best kofta recipe has all the right flavours and remains juicy. That’s what makes ground turkey meat the best partner for grilling. Turkey has great flavour everyone enjoys (kids especially!) and it’s perfect for pairing with other flavours like the savoury herbs and spices in this kofta recipe.

Top with kid-friendly savoury yogurt (condiments are always the answer for kids) and lots of fresh chopped vegetables and we have a winner that will take us through grilling season nicely.

Turkey Kofta Recipe - My Kitchen Love (5)

Why else choose turkey? It’s the perfect meat to buy in a pinch as turkey is usually good bang for your buck and it packs a nice nutritional punch too. I like subbing turkey for other meat proteins to make them, not only more kid approachable, but also to save a few dollars here and there.

Some of my favourite weeknight turkey meals include this Turkey and Lentils (slow cooker alert!) and this one pot Turkey Tetrazzini.

Turkey Kofta Recipe - My Kitchen Love (6)

Turkey recipes primed for the grill:

5 from 10 votes

Turkey Kofta Recipe - My Kitchen Love (7)

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Turkey Koftas

Prep Time

15 mins

Cook Time

15 mins

Total Time

30 mins

Juicy flavourful Turkey Koftas recipe with savoury yogurt, fresh vegetables, and pita.

Course:Main Course

Cuisine:Turkish

Keyword:easy koftas recipe, healthy koftas recipe, juicy turkey recipe, koftas recipe, turkey bbq, turkey grilling, turkey recipe, turky koftas

Servings: 5 servings

Calories: 512 kcal

Author: Samantha

Ingredients

Turkey Koftas:

  • 2lbsground turkey thigh*
  • 1mediumonion, finely chopped
  • 1/2cupfinely chopped parsley leaves
  • 2tbspfinely chopped mint leaves
  • 1tspsmoked paprika (sweet or hot)
  • 1/2tsp cumin
  • 1/4tspcinnamon
  • 1/4tspground allspice
  • 1/2cupbreadcrumbs
  • 1tspfine sea salt
  • 1/2tsp ground black pepper

Sides:

  • 1headRomaine lettuce, roughly chopped
  • 1pintcherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1English cucumber, quartered
  • 1/4mediumred onion, thinly sliced
  • 5pitas or naan bread

Garlic Lemon Yogurt:

  • 2cupsthick plain Greek yogurt
  • 1/2lemonzest and juice
  • 2tspfinely chopped mint leaves
  • 1garlic clove, finely grated

US CustomaryMetric

Instructions

Turkey Koftas:

  1. Soak 10 wooden skewers in water for at least 30 minutes.

  2. In a large bowl combine turkey, onion, parsley, mint, paprika, cumin, cinnamon, allspice, breadcrumbs, salt, and pepper. Mix** until all ingredients are well blended.

  3. Using a 1/3 cup measuring tool, make 10-12 oval shaped patties and pierce with a soaked toothpick through the middle. Place in fridge while grill preheats.

  4. Preheat grill to high heat. Add Turkey Koftas to the grill and reduce temperature down to medium. Cook for 15-20 minutes, flipping once after 8 minutes, or until meat has reached 165°.

Sides:

  1. Place all sliced/chopped fresh vegetables on a plate.

Yogurt:

  1. Mix all ingredients in a small bowl.

Pita:

  1. Grill for 1-2 minutes per side or serve with cooked rice if preferred.

Recipe Notes

* I find that ground turkey thigh is juicer and holds up to grilling, but extra lean ground turkey breast meat will also work here.

** I find that using my hands to mix all the ingredients together works the best for making any form of patty.

Nutrition Facts

Turkey Koftas

Amount Per Serving

Calories 512Calories from Fat 54

% Daily Value*

Fat 6g9%

Saturated Fat 1g6%

Cholesterol 104mg35%

Sodium 993mg43%

Potassium 1423mg41%

Carbohydrates 56g19%

Fiber 6g25%

Sugar 9g10%

Protein 61g122%

Vitamin A 12205IU244%

Vitamin C 39mg47%

Calcium 236mg24%

Iron 5.4mg30%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Enjoy! xo

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Turkey Kofta Recipe - My Kitchen Love (2024)

FAQs

Are Koftas Greek or Turkish? ›

No one country can declare themselves to be the creator of lamb koftas! But they're typically associated with the Middle East and Mediterranean countries like Turkey, especially because they're made with lamb which is a common protein associated with the food of that region.

How do you keep koftas from drying out? ›

Covering the pan with foil brushed with some olive oil and letting them cook in the oven helps kofta stays tender and juicy and not to dry so fast also it prevents sticking to the grill racks. Then you just put them on the grill to get those grilling marks and to brown a little more.

What is kofta good for? ›

Aside from the bold, rich spices that make kofta patties so uniquely flavorful, we particularly love Kofta for its versatility. Serve them up as an appetizer, as a wrap for a hearty lunch, or as a simple weeknight dinner alongside warm pita, rice and veggies.

What is kofta seasoning made of? ›

The Kofta spices

Lamb Koftas are considered a Middle Eastern dish and there are many variations out there. Most recipes call for a blend of cumin, coriander and cinnamon, to give that iconic Kofta flavour.

Is kofta Turkish or Arabic? ›

Try my new Turkish meatballs recipe if you are looking for a tasty main dish meal.

Why do my koftas break? ›

Make sure the oil in the kadai/wok is hot enough. If not, the koftas can break when dropped into oil. They can also stick to the bottom of the pan while frying. So, make sure the oil is hot before you drop the koftas in oil.

How do you know when kofta is cooked? ›

Cook the koftas, turning every 5 minutes. You want to colour them but not dry them out. They're cooked once they reach 63°C but you might like to take them to 70°C.

What is the difference between kofta and Kafta? ›

Both kafta and kofta are the same thing: a meatball made with ground meat and mixed with herbs, Middle Eastern spices and onions. In Lebanon it is known as kafta and in other Middle Eastern countries and India it is widely known as Kofta.

What is kofta called in English? ›

Kofta is a family of meatball or meatloaf dishes found in Balkan, Middle Eastern, North African, South Caucasian, South Asian and Central Asian cuisines.

What are the side effects of kofta? ›

Side Effects of Kofta are Diarrhea, Nausea, Vomiting, Fever, Hypersensitivity, Injection site inflammation, Inflammation of vein, Abdominal pain.

What is the difference between kebab and kofta? ›

Traditional kebabs are usually made with cubed meat. Kofta kebabs, on the other hand, are made with ground meat. They're typically made with beef, lamb or a combination of the two. The meat is mixed with fresh herbs, onion, garlic, and warm spices like coriander and cumin.

Are kebabs Greek or Turkish? ›

Kebap, is Arabian origin food that integrated into Turkish and Greek cuisine. Iskender Kebab, however Turkish original meal found in Bursa. Durum (Doner kebab, wrap) is also Turkish original. The reason is simple, Turks like their food.

What nationality is kofta? ›

Koftas are found in the traditional cuisines of Armenia, Afghanistan, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Georgia, Lebanon, Egypt, Greece, India, Iran, Morocco, Pakistan, Romania, Serbia, North Macedonia, and Turkey. Kofta is also a popular dish among Assyrian people.

What is the difference between Turkish and Greek kebabs? ›

Kebab is a generic name for a very broad range of meat dishes, mainly of middle-eastern origins. I think the main essential difference is in the meat being involved: The meat used in Turkish kebabs is mainly lamb, whereas pork is widely used in Greek kebabs.

What nationality is Kufta? ›

Kufta, kofta, and kafta slightly different spellings for the same dish: Middle Eastern meatball or meatloaf-style dishes with many variations. This version, Armenian in origin, is layered with potatoes and tomatoes and is a meatball-style casserole.

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