Köfte Grill

Köfte — Turkish meatballs — are among the most widely distributed foods in the world. From the kofta of India and Pakistan to the kufteh of Iran, the köfte of Turkey, and the kefta of Morocco, the spiced minced meat ball appears across the entire stretch of the Islamic world from South Asia to the Atlantic. The word derives from the Persian "kōfta", meaning "beaten" or "pounded" — a reference to the technique of working the meat until it is smooth enough to hold together on a skewer or in a sauce.

Turkey has over 290 named köfte varieties — a number that reflects how deeply the form has been localised across regions. Some are fried, some are boiled in broth, some are made with bread crumbs, some are purely meat. The "İzmir köfte" is flattened and baked with tomatoes. The "Akçaabat köfte" from Trabzon is made without onion. The "İnegöl köfte" is made without egg. Each town's version is a point of local pride.

Our köfte grill presents six generously sized marinated Turkish meatballs charcoal-grilled and served with rice, salad, two dips, and pitta bread. The meat is seasoned with the classic combination of onion, parsley, cumin and black pepper that has defined köfte for centuries.