Beef Kofta Meatballs ( Paleo, Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free)
GLUTEN FREE II DAIRY FREE II NUT FREE II PALEO II SESAME FREE II SHELLFISH FREE II FISH FREE II SOY FREE
This beef kofta meatballs recipe is packed with spice and bold aromas that will leave your taste buds craving more. It’s a vibrant combination of flavours, colours, and textures that come together beautifully.
Spicy and flavorful beef koftas are versatile enough to enjoy in different ways. Wrap them in flatbread, toss them over a salad, or shape them into spicy burgers by dividing the recipe into four portions. I’ve used this recipe for private dinners and events, and it’s always a crowd-pleaser. I hope this beef kofta recipe becomes a favourite for you as well
Notes on Ingredients For Beef Koftas
Mint
If you do not have fresh mint, feel free to swap for a few tablespoons of mint sauce instead. Ensure that it is gluten-free always check the labels.
Meat
I have used organic grass-fed beef for these beef koftas, which are far better quality than factory-farmed beef and have a much better flavour. While I do recommend organic and or grass-fed meat, please purchase what you can afford in your budget. Feel free to swap the beef for minced lamb, turkey or chicken.
NB: For individuals with a soy allergy, meat from animals fed soy is not suitable. In that case, always choose grass-fed or grass-finished meat, as most livestock are typically fed soy, which is often genetically modified. If you are in the UK, take a look at the ethical butcher; they do not use soy to feed their livestock.
Rice
I used short-grain brown rice; other varieties you could use are white, black, red, and wild, to name a few. To make this paleo, replace the rice with cauliflower rice. Other great gluten-free substitutes for the rice in this recipe:
Amaranth - Buy online or in health food stores
Black/red/wild rice - Buy in some supermarkets, online or health food stores
Quinoa - Buy in most supermarkets
Gluten-free pasta - I like brown rice or buckwheat pasta buy in the supermarkets
Buckwheat groats - buy either in supermarkets, online or in health food stores
Millet - Buy online or in health food stores
Salad
I haven't included measurements or ingredients for the salad in this recipe because I wanted to show you how to serve these beef koftas. SErve with any salad or vegetable ingredients of your choice.
Ingredients
Tips & FAQ’s
Why is the beef koftas breaking while frying?
You need to make sure the oil is properly hot before you add the beef kofta to it. Otherwise, they can cool the oil down too much and fall apart into a horrid mess. In the same vein, don't try to fry the kofta from fridge cold if you've pre-prepared them. Bring them up to room temperature before frying.
How long can you keep beef koftas in the fridge?
You can refrigerate this beef kofta mixture before cooking and also freeze it. I would recommend rolling them into balls and freeze in a container lined with parchment or greaseproof paper. If you want to store the remaining cooked beef koftas after cooking place in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
Why is my kofta falling apart?
After all the ingredients are mixed together, the beef kofta should hold together. Try adding a little more egg to bind it together.
What to eat with beef koftas?
I love to serve beef kofta with:
Lots of Hummus. You can make it yourself or buy it. Try my recipe for spiced hummus with pomegranate salsa, which would be perfect to accompany this recipe.
A simple salad of onion, tomatoes, cucumbers, avocado and olive oil.
A large chunk of fresh feta, crumbled. Source dairy-free feta if you cannot tolerate dairy.
Olives
Some falafel try my amazing recipe for gluten-free and dairy-free Falafel here. You could create a mezze plate with everything I mentioned in these recommendations.
Pita bread! Just warm it in the oven before serving. Ensure its gluten-free, or try my gluten-free, dairy-free naan recipe here
Tzatziki Sauce - use dairy-free yoghurt if you cannot tolerate dairy.
I love making these meatballs and serving them with gluten-free pasta and cheese.
Serve these beef koftas with my vegan pilau rice recipe and some tzatziki.
Instead of using this recipe for beef kofta meatballs, use the mixture to make burgers. Serve with mango chutney, salad, and potato wedges. Try these Harrissa spiced sweet potato wedges.
Are koftas healthy?
Beef Koftas can be pretty healthy, especially when grilled or baked! They're packed with protein, and you can boost the nutrition by adding lots of herbs and spices . Just watch the portion sizes and sides.
What is kofta made of?
In the simplest form, koftas consist of balls of minced meat—usually beef, chicken, pork, lamb or mutton, or a mixture—mixed with spices and sometimes other ingredients. The earliest known recipes are found in early Arab cookbooks and call for ground lamb.
Can you air-fry beef koftas?
YES you can. I don't own an air fryer and prefer using traditional saucepans etc, so I'm unable to recommend the heat setting or cooking time for an air fryer. If you successfully use an air fryer, please leave a comment and let me know how the recipe turns out!
Can you cook beef koftas in the oven?
Yes, you can roll them into balls and place them on a baking tray. Cook them in the oven for 15 minutes at 180 degrees Celsius. However, I prefer to pan-fry them first, as this gives them a more flavorful, crispy chargrilled taste.
Makes 4 portions - 45 minutes cooking & prep time
Step by step
Recipe
400 g organic minced beef/lamb
1 medium red onion
30 g coriander chopped
5 cloves garlic chopped
1 medium egg
2 tbsp masala ( I use this one)
3 tbsp mint chopped
salt and pepper
3 green chilli chopped ( optional use more if you're a badass!)
5 tablespoons olive oil
Method
Place all the ingredients into a bowl and mix well.
Cook off one kofta in a frying pan to test for seasoning before you cook the whole batch. (only to realise it needs more salt etc)
Once you have checked for seasoning, roll the rest of the mixture into even-sized balls.
Cook them first by sealing in a hot frying pan with a tbsp of oil. Once sealed and coloured, pop them in a hot oven for 5 minutes or simply place a lid on the frying pan for 5 minutes and lower the heat.
Once cooked served with salad and rice.
Food shopping tips
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