Vegan cig köfte (easy bulgur balls)

Vegan cig köfte (easy bulgur balls)

Based on 1 ratings
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Emre Kesici

Emre Kesici

Food Editor at Kitchen Stories

"You may have heard about çiğ köfte: It’s a super easy, fiber packed, and full of flavor bulgur dish combining many spices and aromas all in one bite. You mix everything with your hands (which is super cozy) in a deep bowl and it’s ready. As any çiğ köfte master, we’re putting all the love we have for bulgur and spice through our hands into the mix. Usually you would knead for a loong time to get it really smooth (you can use a food processor too), but let us keep things simple. This might be a bit grainy than the common çiğ köfte mix, but the taste is impeccable and the pomegranate molasses is here to make it all even better. If you can’t get your hands on isot, compensate with even more chili flakes until you have a good color and consistency, it’ll be great. I enjoy çiğ köfte both in a wrap and inside iceberg lettuce leaves with ayran, but you should find your own fave here. You can whip up a simple vegan ayran too. What a nice Veganuary pick!"
Difficulty
Easy 👌
Preparation
25 min
Baking
0 min
Resting
4 min

Ingredients

2Servings
MetricImperial
150 g
fine bulgur
250 ml
water (hot)
1 cloves
garlic
tbsp
tomato paste
tbsp
pomegranate syrup
1
red bell pepper paste
1 tbsp
sweet paprika powder
1 tbsp
isot chili flakes
½ tbsp
sumac
2 tbsp
olive oil
salt
½
iceberg lettuce (for serving)
pomegranate syrup (for serving)
flour tortilla (for serving)

Utensils

bowl (large), cutting board, knife, grater, plate

Nutrition per serving

Cal575
Fat17 g
Protein15 g
Carb102 g
  • Step 1/3

    For çiğ köfte, pour bulgur into a big deep bowl. Add hot water and let it soak for approx. 4 min. until water is absorbed. Peel and grate onion and garlic. Once bulgur has rested enough, put all the ingredients into a bowl. Start mixing and kneading by hand for approx. 10–15 min.
    • 150 g fine bulgur
    • 250 ml water (hot)
    • 1 onions
    • 1 cloves garlic
    • tbsp tomato paste
    • tbsp pomegranate syrup
    • 1 red bell pepper paste
    • 1 tbsp chili flakes
    • 1 tbsp sweet paprika powder
    • 1 tbsp isot chili flakes
    • ½ tbsp sumac
    • 2 tbsp olive oil
    • salt
    • pepper
    • bowl (large)
    • cutting board
    • knife
    • grater

    For çiğ köfte, pour bulgur into a big deep bowl. Add hot water and let it soak for approx. 4 min. until water is absorbed. Peel and grate onion and garlic. Once bulgur has rested enough, put all the ingredients into a bowl. Start mixing and kneading by hand for approx. 10–15 min.

  • Step 2/3

    Once everything is thoroughly mixed, take a piece in your hand and make sure it is not too dry or too wet. Add more bulgur or water in accordance. You will have a good consistency when you can form solid balls. For a classic çiğ köfte shape, take a ball into your hand and squeeze lightly within your fist.

    Once everything is thoroughly mixed, take a piece in your hand and make sure it is not too dry or too wet. Add more bulgur or water in accordance. You will have a good consistency when you can form solid balls. For a classic çiğ köfte shape, take a ball into your hand and squeeze lightly within your fist.

  • Step 3/3

    To serve çiğ köfte in lettuce leaves, continue with the mixture and place the bulgur balls on a plate. Serve with iceberg lettuce leaves, a piece of çiğ köfte on top, and drizzle pomegranate syrup and lemon juice, fold in the lettuce leaf and enjoy. 

To make a çiğ köfte wrap, take another piece of the mixture, place it on a wrap and spread the mixture. Add chopped iceberg lettuce leaves, pomegranate syrup, and lemon juice and roll up. Place another çiğ köfte at the top of the wrap.

Garnish with parsley as desired. You can serve in wraps, iceberg lettuce, or combine both.
    • ½ iceberg lettuce (for serving)
    • pomegranate syrup (for serving)
    • ½ lemon (for serving)
    • flour tortilla (for serving)
    • parsley (for garnish)
    • plate

    To serve çiğ köfte in lettuce leaves, continue with the mixture and place the bulgur balls on a plate. Serve with iceberg lettuce leaves, a piece of çiğ köfte on top, and drizzle pomegranate syrup and lemon juice, fold in the lettuce leaf and enjoy. To make a çiğ köfte wrap, take another piece of the mixture, place it on a wrap and spread the mixture. Add chopped iceberg lettuce leaves, pomegranate syrup, and lemon juice and roll up. Place another çiğ köfte at the top of the wrap. Garnish with parsley as desired. You can serve in wraps, iceberg lettuce, or combine both.

  • Enjoy your meal!

    Vegan cig köfte (easy bulgur balls)
FAQ

Cig köfte is a plant-based twist on the traditional Turkish raw meatballs, made with bulgur, spices, and tomato paste. It is generally vegan and a delicious addition to your bulgur game.

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