Delicious İçli Köfte

İçli köfte, a beloved dish in Turkish cuisine, combines a crispy bulgur shell with a savory meat filling. It’s often served at special gatherings and celebrations, impressing guests with its intricate preparation and rich flavors. While the process may seem complex, the results are worth the effort. Here’s how you can make this delicious dish at home:

Ingredients:

For the Dough:

• 5 cups fine bulgur
• 1.5 cups semolina
• 1 teacup of flour
• 4.5 cups boiling water (add the last 1.5 cups slowly while kneading)
• 1 egg
• 1 tablespoon pepper paste
• 1 teaspoon ground red pepper
• 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 2 teaspoons salt

For the Filling:

• 1 kg ground meat
• 1 kg onions
• 1 teaspoon pepper paste
• 1 teaspoon tomato paste
• 1.5 teaspoons salt
• 1 teaspoon ground red pepper
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• A handful of parsley
• 3-4 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 100 grams butter
• 1 cup finely chopped walnuts

Instructions:

1. Prepare the Filling:

• In a large pan, sauté the ground meat. Add the ingredients one by one in the order listed, stirring well.
• Once cooked, let the mixture cool. Then, add the chopped walnuts and mix.

1. Prepare the Dough:

• Pour boiling water over the bulgur and semolina. Let it sit for 15-20 minutes to allow the bulgur to swell.
• Add the rest of the dough ingredients to the swollen bulgur and knead well by hand or with a machine.
• Cover the dough with a plastic bag to prevent it from drying out.

1. Shape the Köfte:

• Take a piece of dough slightly larger than a walnut. Open a hole in the middle and fill it with the meat mixture.
• Close the opening by shaping the dough around the filling. Repeat the process for all the dough and filling.

1. Cook:

• Fry the stuffed meatballs in plenty of oil until golden brown.

Note:

• You can store a portion of the stuffed meatballs in the freezer for later use.
• The water absorption of bulgur can vary. If the dough does not swell enough, you may need to add a little more water.
• This recipe yields approximately 50 pieces of içli köfte.

For detailed video instructions, please refer to the shared video content.