Entree: Turkey – Black Sea Turkey – Akçaabat Köfte (Charred long meatballs from Akçaabat in the Turkish Black Sea region)

Serving Size: 6

Approximate Time

Prep 25 min

Cook 10 min

Additional 45 min

Total 1 hr 20 min

Ingredients

- 1.5 lb (680 g) ground beef
- 0.5 lb (225 g) ground lamb
- 1 small onion, finely grated, approx. 4 oz (115 g)
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup (15 g) fresh parsley, finely chopped
- 1/2 cup (60 g) stale white bread crumbs or 2 slices stale white bread, torn and processed
- 1/4 cup (60 ml) milk
- 1 tsp (5 g) baking soda
- 2 tsp (10 g) fine sea salt
- 1 tsp (2 g) freshly ground black pepper
- 1/2 tsp (1 g) ground cumin
- 2 tbsp (30 ml) olive oil, plus more for grilling or brushing
- Wooden or metal skewers (if using wooden, soak in water)

Instructions

1. Combine the bread crumbs (or torn bread) and milk in a small bowl and let sit until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in the baking soda and set aside.
2. In a large bowl mix the ground beef and ground lamb with the grated onion, minced garlic, chopped parsley, soaked breadcrumbs, salt, pepper and cumin. Add 2 tbsp (30 ml) olive oil and mix by hand until the mixture is uniform but not overworked, about 2–3 minutes.
3. Cover and refrigerate the mixture for 30–60 minutes to let flavors meld and to firm up for shaping.
4. Divide the mixture into 12 equal portions (about 2.75 oz / 75 g each). With wet hands, shape each portion into a long, slightly flattened sausage about 4–5 inches (10–13 cm) long and 1 inch (2.5 cm) thick. Thread onto skewers if grilling.
5. Preheat a charcoal grill, gas grill, or heavy skillet to medium-high heat and brush grates or pan with a little oil. Grill or pan-sear the köfte, turning occasionally, until deeply browned and cooked through, about 8–10 minutes total (internal temperature 160°F / 71°C). If using a charcoal grill, aim for a bit of charring for authentic flavor.
6. Remove from heat and rest for 5 minutes. Serve hot with crusty bread or pide, sliced tomatoes, raw onion with sumac, and a squeeze of lemon if desired.