Rice Kofta - Egyptian Recipe

I am super excited to share my mother's rice kofta recipe with you, which I adore. Rice kofta is a popular Egyptian dish made with a beautiful blend of ground meat, cilantro, crushed rice, parsley, and dill and cooked in a smooth, flavourful, well-seasoned sauce. It is incredibly flavorful and perfect for family dinners.

Why We Love This Recipe

In Egypt, rice kofta is usually served with white rice, pasta or bread. It is an excellent addition to parties or any special occasion. The best part about this dish is that it uses simple ingredients. Also my youngest daughter LOVE it.

These deep-fried meatballs or koftas, which are made with rice and meat, go well with almost all sides.

This dish has many variations as you can use any meat of your choice and serve it with rice or pasta. It is very rich in flavour and is great for family dinners.

Rice Kofta Ingredients

Note: This is an overview of the ingredients. See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.

• Minced meat: Traditionally, this recipe calls for camel meat. However, you can make it with any available minced meat. I used an extra lean ground beef.
• Onion: Use one large red or white onion.
• Garlic: Make sure to use finely minced garlic.
• Rice: Use crushed rice for this recipe. Make sure to crush them, not powder them.
• Fresh herbs: I used fresh parsley, dill and cilantro.
• Seasonings: I used salt, black pepper, cumin and dry coriander.
• Vegetable oil: I used vegetable oil to fry the kofta. Feel free to use any oil you prefer.

For The Sauce:

• Tomato paste: It adds a rich flavour and help in thickening texture to this dish.
• Tomato sauce: Use added tomato sauce for extra taste and flavour.
• Garlic: Use minced garlic, giving the dish an added umami flavour.
• Broth cube: I used beef broth cubes. You may also substitute this with chicken or vegetable broth cubes.
• Water: Use the required amount of water for the right sauce consistency.
• Sugar: Added sugar for that extra amount of sweetness.
• Seasonings: Salt and ground black pepper.

How to make this Egyptian style Rice Kofta?

Make the rice kofta: Wash the rice well, then soak in the water for 30 minutes, drain, then put in the food processor and beat until crushed, add the meat and all other ingredients, beat until combined and have a soft mixture.

Pro Tip: Bind all the ingredients properly while making the koftas so they do not break while frying.

Fry the kofta: Now, use your hands to shape the kofta for medium-sized balls or fingers, and deep fry them until they become brown and crunchy. Strain well, then set aside.

Prepare the sauce: Heat the oil in a pot over medium heat, then add the minced garlic, saute for 20 seconds, after that add tomato sauce, salt, black pepper, tomato paste, stock cube, sugar and water. Bring the mixture to a boil, add the fried kofta to the tomato sauce mixture, and simmer together for 15-20 minutes.

Garnish with some chopped parsley and serve with white rice.

Top Tips

• The rice to meat ratio is very important; for every one kilo of meat, I use 1 cup of rice. Using the wrong ratio of both ingredients will loosen the kofta and make it tends to break.
• Using short-grain rice gives the perfect creamy texture, which also has high-starch content.
• Make sure to keep moving the koftas while frying so they are evenly brown on all sides.

Recipe Variations

• You may use other ground meat such as chicken or lamb.
• If you prefer the tomato sauce to be spicy, you can add ½ teaspoon chilli powder to the sauce. You can also add ½ teaspoon of curry powder for extra flavour.
• You can add 2 cardamom pods for extra added flavour to the dish.
• Feel free to use fresh tomato instead of tomato sauce if you like.
• You can add some potato cubes to the sauce.

Serving Suggestions

I serve this Egyptian rice kofta goes great with white rice, brown rice or pasta.

You can serve the rice kofta with some homemade naan or pita bread. Below are some more suggestions.

• Spicy roasted cauliflower
• Cheese pie
• Herb Roasted potatoes
• Easy Baba Ganoush recipe
• Mashed potato and onion pie

Recipe FAQ

What is the difference between kofta and kebabs?

Kebab is made on skewers and is served alongside naan, roti, onions and salad, while the kofta is cooked on the stovetop or baked in the oven and is served with tomato sauce, curry or masala sauce.

Can you make this rice kofta recipe vegetarian?

You can substitute the minced meat with paneer or tofu (grate the tofu and before using it in this recipe). For the broth, you can use vegetable broth.

What is the alternative to deep frying the koftas?

You can shallow fry the koftas in a non-stick pan. This helps reduce the usage of oil.

Can I freeze the rice kofta?

Yes, You can freeze rice kofta. I recommend freezing the sauce and the koftas separately and store them in an airtight container. They will last in the freezer for up to 2-3months.

How do you stop the koftas from breaking?

Make sure the oil in the wok is hot enough. This will prevent the kofta from breaking.

What to do to prevent the koftas from turning soggy?

Add the koftas to the sauce right before you serve. This helps the koftas from turning soggy.

More Kofta Recipes

• Chicken Kofta Recipe
• Egyptian Kofta Recipe (Kofta Kebab)

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