Kofta with tahini combines meat and onion with a rich sauce adjusted using lemon and water. A common problem is making sauce too thick before it thickens further in the oven. Start slightly thinner than the serving consistency and add it once the kofta has set.
Ingredients for four
Prepare 600 g mince, one small grated, drained onion, three tablespoons parsley, spices, salt and pepper. For sauce, use half a cup tahini, three tablespoons lemon juice, roughly one cup warm water added gradually, and an optional crushed garlic clove.
Partly cooked potatoes can be added, but thick raw slices may not cook in the same time as kofta. Tahini contains sesame; inform guests with relevant allergies.
Prepare the kofta first
Combine mince, onion, parsley and seasoning. Shape even fingers or patties on a lightly greased tray. Bake at 200°C for about 12–18 minutes to set and begin browning. This is an initial stage, not proof of final doneness.
Mix tahini and lemon in a bowl. It may thicken initially; whisk in water gradually until smooth. Taste for acidity and salt, adding garlic if desired. Thinner tahini may not need all the water.
Combining sauce and meat
Reduce the oven to about 180°C and pour sauce between kofta pieces. Bake until the meat centre reaches 71°C. If sauce thickens too much, add a little hot water and gently stir the edges. Prolonged bubbling merely to darken the sauce may separate it and make it oily.
Serve with bread or rice and green salad. Add final parsley after baking and offer lemon wedges alongside for individual adjustment.
Can vinegar replace lemon?
Vinegar changes the flavour noticeably, so avoid a large direct substitution. Use lemon here or test a little sauce separately before changing the whole tray. Balance matters more than extra acidity.
Related products from ALRAQI MEATS
Beef Mince - 1 kg, or Local Naimi Lamb Mince - 1 kg. Check the product page for weight, ingredients and cutting options before ordering. Choose a cut suited to the cooking method; a boneless or mixed-meat label alone does not guarantee suitability for quick cooking.
Further guidance
Safe minimum cooking temperatures, Refrigerated food storage.