Beef Koftes with Spiced Tomato Sauce & Bulgar Wheat | Abel & Cole
Beef Koftes with Spiced Tomato Sauce & Bulgar Wheat
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Prep: 20 mins
Cook: 20 mins
If you’ve only ever had koftes made with lamb, tonight you’re in for a treat. Succulent hunks of diced rump steak whizzed with cayenne, lemon zest, garlic and onion and pan fried till juicy. Served with a rich spiced tomato sauce and lemony bulgar wheat.
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725 kcal
(per portion)
Ingredients you'll need
  • 4 skewers
  • 300g diced rump steak
  • A pinch or two of cayenne
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • 1 red onion
  • 1 lemon
  • 1 tsp ground cumin
  • 400g tinned cherry tomatoes
  • 150g bulgar wheat
  • A handful of flat leaf parsley
  • 50g rocket
From your kitchen
  • Sea salt
  • Freshly ground pepper
  • 3 tbsp olive oil
  • 300ml boiling water
Step by step this way
  • 1.

    Put the wooden skewers in a bowl of cold water to soak and set aside. Place the diced rump steak in a food processor.

  • 2.

    Peel 1 clove of garlic and finely chop it. Peel the red onion and finely chop half. Roughly chop the parsley and finely grate the lemon zest.

  • 3.

    Add the chopped onion half, garlic, parsley and zest to the food processor along with a pinch of cayenne pepper (the cayenne is hot, so use as much or as little as you like), and a little salt and pepper. Blend till everything is finely chopped and well combined. (If you don’t have a processor, chop the steak as finely as you can and pop in a bowl, add the other chopped ingredients as above and mix till well combined – use your hands if you like, to really scrunch the ingredients together and get a good, even mixture.)

  • 4.

    Divide the mince mixture into 4 and squeeze into sausage-like shapes around the skewers. Set aside.

  • 5.

    Thinly slice the remaining onion half. Peel and crush or finely grate the remaining garlic clove. Pour 1 tbsp oil into a pan and bring to a medium heat. Slide in the onion and garlic. Stir in 1 tsp cumin, a pinch of cayenne and some salt and pepper. Fry for 5 mins, till softened. Tip in the tinned cherry tomatoes and stir well. Bring to the boil, then reduce to a simmer for 15 mins.

  • 6.

    Meanwhile, pour the bulgar wheat into a large bowl. Top up with 300ml boiling water and cover the bowl with a plate. Set aside for 15 mins. When cooked, squeeze in the lemon juice and 1 tbsp oil. Sprinkle in a little salt and pepper and stir.

  • 7.

    While the bulgar soaks, set a large, heavy frying or griddle pan on a high heat. When hot, pour in 1 tbsp oil and carefully lay in the beef koftes. Fry for 8 mins, turning every few mins, till golden and the edges are crisp.

  • 8.

    Spoon the lemony bulgar wheat onto plates and add dollops of the spiced tomato sauce. Top with the beef koftes and a scattering of rocket leaves.

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