Rice Kofta - Egyptian Recipe

Rice kofta is a delicious and popular dish in Egypt. It is made with a beautiful blend of minced meat, cilantro, crushed rice, parsley, dill and cooked in a smooth, flavourful, well-seasoned sauce. Rice kofta is usually served with white rice, pasta or bread. It is an excellent addition to BBQ’s parties or any special occasion. The best part about this dish is that it uses simple ingredients and has endless variations.

Why this recipe works?

This recipe is high in carbohydrates and fits perfectly for a carb-rich diet. 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 if you want to have a delicious meal.

Rice Kofta Ingredients:

• Minced meat: Traditionally, this recipe calls for camel meat. However, you can make it with any available minced meat. I used a minced lean lamp.
• Onion: Use one large red or white onion.
• Garlic: Make sure to use finely minced garlic.
• Rice: (crushed into granules, not powder.) Use crushed rice for this recipe. Make sure to crush them, not powder them.
• Parsley: Garnish chopped parsley for a great flavour.
• Dill: Fresh dill helps elevate the flavour of the dish.
• Cilantro: Use fresh cilantro for better taste.
• Seasonings: Salt, black pepper, cumin and dry coriander.

The sauce:

• Tomato paste: It is a good source of anti-oxidants and adds a rich flavour and adds a thickening texture to this dish.
• Tomato juice: Use added tomato juice for extra taste and flavour.
• Garlic: Use minced garlic, giving the dish an added umami flavour.
• Broth cube: This recipe uses 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.
• Vegetable oil: You may use regular vegetable oil for this recipe.
• Seasonings: Salt and ground black pepper.

How to make this Egyptian style Rice Kofta?

Making 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.

Frying 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.

Preparing 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 meat should be fat-free as lean meat is a good source of protein with lower fat content.
• 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.
• You may garnish with some chopped coriander or parsley before serving.
• Feel free to use any oil you prefer to fry the koftas.
• Using short-grain rice gives the perfect creamy texture, which also has high-starch content.
• Fry the koftas on medium-high heat to achieve the perfect fried rice koftas.
• Use fresh parsley, dill and cilantro for a great flavour.
• Bind all the ingredients properly while making the koftas so they do not break while frying.
• Make sure to keep moving the koftas while frying so they are evenly brown on all sides.

Recipe Variations

• This recipe is traditionally made using camel meat. You may also use other minced meat like chicken, lamb or beef.
• You may use ghee, olive oil for frying instead of vegetable oil.
• If you feel your tomato sauce are not sweet and fresh, you may add some sugar as a light sweetener.
• 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

This Egyptian rice kofta goes great with white rice, brown rice or pasta.
You can serve the rice kofta with some homemade roti or naan. You may also serve it with yellow rice or pita bread and can be topped with tahini or Tzatziki sauce. Below are some suggestions.

• Spicy roasted cauliflower
• Cheese pie
• Garlic parmesan baked 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.

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