Spiced bulgur balls over garlic yoghurt with spinach - Arap Koftesi and more
 
 
This is a wonderful, regional vegetarian recipe from southern Turkey, perfect for buffets and entertaining and you can also make the bulgur balls ahead of time and keep in the freezer.
Author:
Recipe type: Vegetarian
Cuisine: Turkish cuisine
Serves: 8 people
Ingredients
  • For the bulgur balls:
  • 340gr/2cups fine bulgur
  • 11fl oz/325 ml hot water
  • 2 eggs
  • 45ml/3 tbsp plain flour
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1 tablespoon cumin
  • ½ tablespoon red pepper flakes
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • For the yoghurt and greens sauce:
  • 500gr lambs lettuce or spinach leaves, washed and roughly chopped
  • 500gr/1 ¼ lb strained whole milk yoghurt
  • 2 small garlic cloves, finely chopped
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • For the red pepper flakes and dried mint sauce:
  • • 30 gr butter
  • • 1 tablespoon red pepper flakes (please use ½ tablespoon if you like it less spicy, adjust to your taste)
  • • 1 tablespoon dried mint
Instructions
  1. Rinse the bulgur and press and get rid of the excess moisture, then place in a large mixing bowl. Pour in 10 fl oz / 295ml hot water over first, stir and let the bulgur absorb the water. If bulgur (there could be different versions of fine bulgur) still looks raw, pour in about 1fl oz / 30ml more hot water and combine well. Let the bulgur absorb all the water and let it cool.
  2. Then stir in the eggs, flour, tomato paste, salt, pepper, cumin and red pepper flakes. Have a bowl of cold water near you, wet your hands and knead the mixture well until all combined, elastic and smooth.
  3. Sprinkle some flour on a tray where we will put our bulgur balls (this will help the bulgur balls not to stick together).
  4. Form the bulgur balls as big as a large cherry and place on the tray with flour. Roll the bulgur balls over the flour and make sure they are coated well with the flour.
  5. Have boiling water in a large pot, stir in a pinch of salt. Gently drop the bulgur balls in to the pan and let it cook, uncovered, on a medium heat, for 8 minutes or so; once cooked, you will see the bulgur balls rise to the top of the pan. Take out the cooked bulgur balls with a slotted spoon and place on a large plate.
  6. For the yoghurt and greens sauce; mix the garlic with the yoghurt. In a large bowl, combine the garlicy yoghurt with the chopped greens. Season with salt and pepper.
  7. For the red pepper flakes and dried mint sauce; melt the butter in a sauce pan and stir in the red pepper flakes and dried mint (please adjust the spice level to your taste). Gently stir in the bulgur balls and combine well with this sauce.
  8. Serve the sautéed bulgur balls over the garlicy yoghurt with greens, immediately.
  9. Afiyet Olsun.
Recipe by Ozlem's Turkish Table at https://ozlemsturkishtable.com/2019/05/spiced-bulgur-balls-over-garlic-yoghurt-with-spinach-arap-koftesi-and-more/