Koofteh Tabrizi: Cooking with Tradition

Koofteh Tabrizi is a well-known Iranian dish that comes from the city of Tabriz in the northwest part of Iran. This delightful meatball recipe is a true culinary treasure, blending the rich flavors of ground beef, fragrant herbs, and a mix of spices into a mouthwatering treat.

The meatballs themselves are a harmonious blend of ground beef, rice, split peas, onions, fresh herbs like parsley, cilantro, and thyme, as well as dried herbs such as mint and tarragon. This mixture is expertly seasoned with turmeric, salt, and black pepper, creating a depth of flavor that excites the taste buds.

The real magic happens with the stuffing, where plump prunes, crunchy walnuts, and crispy fried onions are tucked inside each meatball, adding a delightful contrast of textures and flavors with every bite.

Once formed, these juicy meatballs are gently simmered in a tangy tomato sauce, allowing the flavors to blend together beautifully. The sauce, made with sautéed onions, turmeric, tomato paste, and water, provides a rich and savory base that perfectly complements the meatballs.

Koofteh Tabrizi History

Picture this: a big meatball swimming in its own delicious juice. That’s Koofteh Tabrizi for you! It hails from Tabriz, a city in Iran’s Azerbaijan province. The name says it all: “Koofteh” means meatball, and “Tabrizi” shows it’s from Tabriz.

Kofta Tabrizi or Koofteh Tabrizi isn’t just any meatball. It’s special because of its juicy goodness and the spices that make it unique. This dish isn’t just about food – it’s a taste of tradition and history. It’s been around for ages, loved by families and friends who gather around the table to enjoy its flavors.

Each bite of this Persian dish tells a story of Iran history and culture and the love put into making it. It’s more than just a meal – it’s a reminder of the joy of sharing food with the ones we love.

Koofteh Tabrizi Ingredients

• 1 pound ground beef
• 3/4 cup split peas
• 3/4 cup rice
• 2 medium onions
• 2 tablespoons zereshk (dried barberries)
• 6 prunes
• 3 walnuts
• 3 tablespoons dried summer savory (herb)
• 1 tablespoon advieh (Persian spice mix)
• 1 teaspoon turmeric
• Oil for cooking
• Salt and pepper to taste

Necessary Notes:

Swap beef for lamb, veal, pork, or chicken.

Try adding chives, cilantro, savory, or tarragon instead of some parsley.

Use red lentils instead of yellow split peas.

For the sauce, use tomato puree or fresh chopped tomatoes with water.

Spice blend: turmeric, cinnamon, cardamom, coriander, black pepper, cumin, and mint powder.

Add barberries, cranberries, or other dried fruits for a sweet twist.

Koofteh Tabrizi Recipe

Let’s see what the Koofteh recipe is:

1. First, put the rice in water for at least one hour before using it. This makes the rice soft. Rinse the rice well to remove extra starch.

2. Next, boil the split peas for a little bit before adding them to the meatball mix. This helps the split peas cook faster and not stay too hard.

3. After mixing all the meatball ingredients, put the mixture in the fridge for one hour. This helps the meatballs keep their shape when cooking.

4. Wet your hands with water or oil before making the meatball shapes. This stops the meat from sticking to your hands.

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5. Be careful when putting the prune and walnut filling inside the meatballs. Push the filling in firmly but not too tight, or the meatballs may break open when cooking.

6. Use a big pot to cook the meatballs in the tomato sauce. This gives the meatballs room to cook evenly without sticking together.

7. Once cooked, let the meatballs sit in the sauce for 10-15 minutes before eating. This lets all the flavors blend together nicely.

Serving Koofteh Tabrizi

When it comes to Persian Koofteh, the mix of tasty meatballs and tangy tomato sauce is like a yummy dance in your mouth. As the meatballs cook in the sauce, they soak up all that yummy flavor, making them juicy and full of taste. It’s not just about eating; it’s about enjoying every single bite of this yummy Persian dish.

But that’s not all! To make it even more exciting, we add fresh herbs like parsley, mint, and basil. These colorful greens not only make the dish look pretty but also add a fresh flavor that makes it even better. And let’s not forget the sides – a spoonful of plain yogurt or labneh gives a cool contrast to the warm meatballs, while torshi, a special Persian pickle, adds a tangy kick that completes the meal. With Persian Koofteh Tabrizi, it’s not just about food; it’s about creating a delicious experience that you’ll never forget.

Vegetarian Koofteh Tabrizi

By using extra chickpea flour instead of meat, this dish keeps the original flavor of Koofteh Tabrizi. The taste is so similar that you won’t even notice there’s no meat. Each Koofteh is filled with a tasty mix of barberries, fried onions, walnuts, and dried plums. This filling keeps the traditional taste and adds a nice texture.

Koofteh Tabrizi is usually eaten with warm pitta bread, tangy pickled vegetables (torshi), and creamy yogurt. These sides go well with the savory and slightly sweet flavors of the Persian Koofteh, making a balanced and satisfying meal. This vegan version lets you enjoy a traditional dish while sticking to a plant-based diet.

Vegetarian Koofteh Tabrizi Ingredients

• 1 cup rice
• 1 cup split peas
• 1 cup lentils
• 1/2 cup quinoa
• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 1 cup fresh coriander, chopped
• 1 cup fresh parsley, chopped
• 1/2 cup fresh mint, chopped
• 1/2 cup fresh dill, chopped
• 1 tbsp dried fenugreek
• 2 tbsp gram flour
• 1 handful walnuts, coarsely chopped
• 1 handful barberries (optional)
• 1 handful dried plums, chopped
• 1 tsp tomato paste
• 1 tbsp turmeric
• Salt and pepper to taste

Vegetarian Koofteh Tabrizi Recipe

1. Cook rice until halfway done, about 8 minutes.

2. Boil split peas until halfway cooked; they should be slightly firm.

3. Cook brown lentils and quinoa with rice until halfway cooked, about 10 minutes.

4. Chop fresh herbs finely and mix with half-cooked ingredients.

5. Add gram flour, salt, pepper, and turmeric. Mix well.

6. Blend half of the mixture until smooth, then mix back in for stickiness.

7. Fry onion with turmeric until golden, then split in half.

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8. Mix everything well with your hands.

9. Take a handful of the mixture, flatten, add fried onion, barberries, dried plum, and walnut, then roll into a ball.

10. Fry tomato paste with oil, add remaining fried onions, turmeric, salt, and pepper.

11. Add water, bring to boil, add dried fenugreek.

12. Gently add Koofteh, cook on high for 10 minutes, then simmer on low for 1 hour.

13. Enjoy every delicious bite!

FAQs about Koofteh Tabrizi

Last Words: Experience the Best of Koofteh Tabrizi with a Customized Tour

Koofteh Tabrizi is a yummy dish from Iran, specifically from Tabriz city. It’s made of special meatballs that have ground beef, herbs, and spices. These meatballs contain rice, split peas, onions, parsley, cilantro, thyme, mint, and tarragon. They’re flavored with turmeric, salt, and pepper. They’re filled with prunes, walnuts, and fried onions, giving them a mix of flavors and textures. The meatballs are cooked in a tomato sauce with onions, turmeric, tomato paste, and water, making them even tastier.

Customized tours are the way to go if you want to truly enjoy Iran and its tasty Koofteh Tabrizi. When it comes to planning your trip to Iran, To Iran Tour is a great choice. With Iran tours by ToIranTour, you can be sure you’ll get to try all the delicious food and see all the amazing sights. They’ll take you to local markets, where you can find the freshest ingredients for Koofteh Tabrizi, and to cozy restaurants where you can taste it just like the locals do.

So, if you’re dreaming of an adventure filled with tasty food and new experiences, let To Iran Tour be your guide. We are here to make sure you have the best time in Iran, one delicious bite at a time!