Cig köfte, spicy vegan bulgur balls

Name: Cig köfte, spicy vegan bulgur balls
Prep time: 20 min
Total time: 20 min
Yield: 4 portions
Ingredients: 250 g bulgur; 3 tablespoons tomato paste; 1 pc onion; 4 pcs spring onion; 3 tablespoons parsley; 1 handful mint; 1 pc lemon; 3 tablespoons olive oil; 2 teaspoons sweet paprika; 1 teaspoon chili flake; 1 teaspoon ground caraway; salt

Eduard LáskaSpicyTurkish Cuisine x se líbilo

Cig köfte are spicy vegan balls of fine bulgur that is soaked in hot water and then kneaded with tomato paste, onion and spices. The original Turkish version was made from raw ground meat, but today this meat-free bulgur variety is by far the most common. The mixture is worked by hand like a dough, seasoned with chili, cumin and fresh herbs and shaped into small ovals. It is served cold on lettuce leaves, drizzled with lemon, with pita bread as a starter or a healthy snack.

Příprava: 20min

Vaření: 0min

CELKOVÝ ČAS: 20min

Step by step process

Preparing the bulgur

1
Cig köfte starts with the bulgur: pour it into a large bowl and add 200 ml of hot (not boiling) water. Mix well, cover with a towel and leave for 10 minutes to swell, until the bulgur has fully absorbed the water and softened into a cohesive mass.

Seasoning and working the dough

2
Add tomato paste, olive oil, finely grated onion, ground paprika, chilli flakes, ground cumin and salt to the swollen bulgur. Work the mixture with your hands for 5-7 minutes like dough, which releases the starches from the bulgur and helps the balls hold their shape. Finally mix in the chopped spring onions, parsley and fresh mint. Knead the mixture patiently, only long kneading gives it the right stickiness to hold together.

Shaping and serving

3
With damp hands, shape the mixture into little ovals or balls the size of a walnut. Before serving, drizzle with freshly squeezed lemon juice. Serve on lettuce leaves or wrapped in a lettuce leaf, with pita bread on the side.