Harput-Style Meatballs (Harput Köfte)

A specialty of the Harput region, these boiled meatballs feature a bulgur shell filled with a savory ground meat filling.

Prep time: 1 hour · Cook time: 30 minutes · Servings: 6

Ingredients

• 2 cups fine bulgur

• 1 cup flour

• 1 egg

• Salt, 1 tablespoon tomato paste (for the outer dough)

• 250 g ground meat (filling)

• 1 onion, finely chopped (filling)

• Walnuts, optional

• Salt, black pepper, red pepper flakes (filling)

Instructions

1. Soak the bulgur in warm water to soften it, then knead with the flour, egg, and tomato paste to make the outer dough.

2. For the filling, sauté the ground meat with the onion and add the spices.

3. Flatten small pieces of the outer dough in your palm, place the filling inside, seal, and shape into meatballs.

4. Boil the meatballs in salted boiling water for 15-20 minutes.

5. Drain and serve hot, drizzled with melted butter.