Turkish Köfte (Meatballs)

Köfte is ground meat (usually lamb or mutton) mixed with crumbled bread, minced onions and spices, shaped into little cylinders and cooked.

The most common form of the dish is Izgara Köfte, grilled köfte, usually garnished with sliced onions, chopped parsley and a sprinkle of paprika, and served with yogurt and a pile of fresh Turkish sourdough bread.

A good drink to sip while eating izgara köfte is ayran (yogurt blended with water and a pinch of salt).

Shish köfte is a variant in which the köfte is pressed onto a flat skewer (shish) and grilled. Same stuff, different shape.

Salçali köfte is köfte simmered in a savory sauce (usually tomato).

Izmirli köfte is a vegetable stew with köfte-style meatballs.

Peynirli köfte is a variant in which cheese is added to the köfte mix, enhancing the flavor.

Inegöl, a town east of Bursa, is famous for its super-succulent köfte. The succulence comes from an abundance of fat, which tastes great but is not so good for your arteries.

Turkish Kebaps

Döner Kebap

Iskender Kebap

Çöp Shish

Turkish Food & Drink

Travel Details

Shish köfte as served at Hamdi, a restaurant specializing in meat dishes, near the Egyptian (Spice) Bazaar in Eminönü, Istanbul. It's dressed with bulgur wheat, crudités, tomatoes, peppers, onions and parsley.