Description
Middle Eastern Kufta Baked with Potatoes and Tahini Sauce - Onion, herbs, and warm Middle Eastern spices are mixed with ground beef, then topped with sliced potatoes and baked with a creamy tahini and yogurt sauce.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
- 1 1/2 lbs potatoes (680g)
For the Kufta:
- 1 lb ground beef (454g)
- 1 medium onion
- 4 cloves garlic, squeezed in a press or finely minced
- 1 long green pepper (optional) *see note
- 1 handful parsley (.8oz, 23g)
- 1 teaspoon Baharat *click for recipe*
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon salt, or to taste
For the sauce:
- 4 cloves garlic
- 1 1/2 cups yogurt (13.5oz, 383g)
- 1/2 cup tahini (4.8oz, 135g)
- 1/2 cup lemon juice (4.5oz, 127g)
- 1 cup water (8.6oz, 244g)
- 2 chicken bouillon cubes
- 1 teaspoon salt, or to taste
Instructions
For the potatoes:
- Peel, slice, and boil the potatoes until just tender but not falling apart. Drain and set aside.
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
For the Kufta:
- Combine all of the Kufta ingredients except the ground beef in a food processor and process until finely minced.
- Put the mixture into a 9 by 13 inch baking pan. Add the ground beef and mix by hand to combine but don't over-work.
- Press the Kufta into a flat, uniform layer in the baking pan. Poke holes into the Kufta with your fingers as shown in the photo above.
- Put the baking pan into the preheated oven for about 7 minutes while you make the sauce. This will allow the meat to set slightly. Do not leave it in longer or the meat will be overcooked in the end.
Make the sauce:
- In a blender combine the sauce ingredients and blend until smooth.
- Remove the pan from the oven. Top with sliced potatoes. Pour sauce over evenly to cover.
- Bake at 400 degrees F for about 40 minutes. The sauce will be bubbling.
- Remove from oven.
- There will be plenty of sauce to serve with rice.
Notes
*Kufta is often made without green pepper but I like to add a mildly spiced pepper for a more delicious flavor.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Category: main course
- Method: oven
- Cuisine: Middle Eastern
Nutrition
- Serving Size:
- Calories: 389
- Sugar: 6.3 g
- Sodium: 894 mg
- Fat: 16.9 g
- Carbohydrates: 32.1 g
- Protein: 29.6 g
- Cholesterol: 54.6 mg