Turkish Ladies Night

As Turkish ladies in Jacksonville we try to have Turkish ladies night every couple of months. We had such a great time this past month. We played different types of games like musical chairs, karaoke, needle in a haystack and apple eating contest. We have small prizes for the contestant's. This months theme was "cig kofte night". Cig kofte is a traditional Turkish meatball that is not cooked literally but actually beaten by hand for some time until it becomes "cooked". While it can be made 3 different ways using potato, egg, or beef; I prefer potatoes. It is considered a veggie dish but we still call it a kofte (meatball). Below I have provided the recipe.

Ingredients:

3 big Potatoes (Boiled, chilled then grated or crushed)

1 package Extra Fine Grain Bulgur Wheat

2 Garlic Cloves (Crushed)

1 Medium Onion (Grated)

1/2 cup Red Pepper Paste

Cig Kofte Tray

1/2 cup Tablespoon Tomato Paste

Juice of 2 Lemons

1/4 cup of Red Pepper Flakes (or to taste )

2 cups of isot ( roasted red pepper ) ( main spice for the cig kofte )

Bunch of Flat Leaf Parsley (Finely Chopped)

1 cup finely chopped scallion

1/2 cup corn or vegetable oil

Directions;

1- In a medium cup mix the spices with the hot water.

2-Then in a cig kofte tray ( if you don't have use large mixing bowl )add bulgur, spices, lemon, pastes and with clean hands, knead the mixture hard with the palms of your hands for around 40 minutes (this may seem a long time but it will soften the bulgur and ensure all the tastes and ingredients are blended).

3- Add the potatoes, scallions,oil, and chopped parsley and continue to mix for another 10 minutes. Taste a little and if the bulgur isn’t grainy and the mixture resembles a thick paste.

4-Take a small piece, form into a rough small sausage shape and press three fingers down on the top to make indentations. Arrange on a serving plate then serve with the trimmings on the side.

Serve with a few flat breads/ lavas or flour tortillas, wedges of lemon, some iceberg lettuce leaves and some sprigs of parsley and yogurt drink..

Afiyet Olsun!

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