Grilled Köfte

Preparation

1. 01

   Preparation

   Grate the onion using a fine grater and squeeze out the excess liquid with your hands. Soak the breadcrumbs in 2 tablespoons of water until softened.

2. 02

   Combining

   In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground beef, grated onion, soaked breadcrumbs, chopped parsley, cumin, black pepper, crushed red pepper flakes, salt, and baking soda.

3. 03

   Kneading

   Knead all the ingredients together by hand for 8–10 minutes until thoroughly combined. The mixture should be uniform in consistency and should not stick to your hands.

4. 04

   Resting

   Cover the kneaded mixture with plastic wrap and let it rest in the refrigerator for at least 15 minutes.

5. 05

   Shaping

   Remove the rested mixture from the refrigerator. Lightly wet your hands, tear off walnut-sized portions, and shape them into oval cylinders in your palms. You should get approximately 12–14 meatballs.

6. 06

   Grilling

   Preheat a grill grate or cast-iron skillet over high heat. Place the meatballs on the grill and cook for 3–4 minutes per side, turning frequently, for a total of 8–10 minutes, until browned on the outside.

7. 07

   serving

   Serve the meatballs hot with charred tomatoes, peppers, and lavash bread.