Turkish Pumpkin Köfte with Yogurt Mint Sauce

Name: Turkish Pumpkin Köfte with Yogurt Mint Sauce
Prep time: 1 h
Cook time: 1 h
Total time: 1 h
Yield: 4
Cuisine: Main Course
Ingredients: 500g pumpkin; 100g bulgur; 1 onion; 2 cloves garlic; 1 tsp cumin; 1 tsp paprika; ½ tsp cinnamon; Salt and pepper; 2 tbsp olive oil; 1 cup breadcrumbs; 2 tbsp parsley; 1 cup plain yogurt; 2 tbsp fresh mint; 1 tbsp lemon juice; 1 garlic clove; Salt

Flavor-packed vegetarian köfte with a refreshing yogurt mint sauce

These delicious pumpkin köfte are a perfect blend of spices and sweetness, served with a cooling yogurt mint sauce to complement the flavors.

1 h 45 min
4
Intermediate

Ingredients

For the Pumpkin Köfte

500g pumpkin

peeled and grated

100g bulgur

fine grain

1 onion

finely chopped

2 cloves garlic

minced

1 tsp cumin

ground

1 tsp paprika

½ tsp cinnamon

ground

Salt and pepper

to taste

2 tbsp olive oil

1 cup breadcrumbs

2 tbsp parsley

finely chopped

For the Yogurt Mint Sauce

1 cup plain yogurt

2 tbsp fresh mint

finely chopped

1 tbsp lemon juice

1 garlic clove

minced

Salt

to taste

Preparation

Prepping the Pumpkin

Grate the pumpkin

Grate the peeled pumpkin using a coarse grater.

Salt and rest

Place grated pumpkin in a sieve, sprinkle with salt, and let it sit for 15 min to draw out moisture.

Remove excess liquid

Squeeze the pumpkin to remove excess liquid.

Important: Make sure to thoroughly squeeze out the pumpkin to prevent soggy köfte.

Assembling the Köfte

Combine ingredients

In a large bowl, combine pumpkin, bulgur, onion, garlic, spices, and olive oil.

Add breadcrumbs and parsley

Add breadcrumbs and parsley; mix well until the mixture holds its shape.

Form the köfte

Form the mixture into small oval shapes (approximately 2 tbsp per köfte).

Pro Tip: Let the mixture rest for 10 minutes for flavors to meld and bulgur to absorb moisture.

Cooking Process

Preheat the oven

Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F).

Arrange köfte

Place formed köfte on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

Bake

Bake for 25-30 minutes until golden brown, flipping halfway through to ensure even cooking.

Plating & Serving