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Kofta Curry

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Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Calories: 624kcal
Servings: 4 People

Ingredients

Koftas

  • 28 g Ghee or Clarified Butter
  • 1 Brown (Yellow) Onion Diced
  • 500 g Lamb, Beef or Chicken Mince
  • 8 g Garam Masala
  • Salt & Pepper

Masala Blend

  • 10 g Garam Masala
  • 8 g Ground Cumin
  • 6 g Ground Coriander
  • 4 g Ground Turmeric
  • 4 g Kashmiri Chilli Powder

Gravy (Sauce)

  • 14 g Ghee or Clarified Butter
  • 1 Brown (Yellow) Onion Diced
  • 3 Garlic Cloves Grated
  • 10 g Ginger Peeled & Grated
  • 1 Green or Red Chilli Optional
  • 1 bunch Coriander (Cilantro) Leaves & Roots Separated
  • 400 g Diced Tomatoes
  • 30 g Tomato Paste
  • 200 ml Chicken Stock
  • 250 ml Coconut Milk
  • Salt & Pepper

Basmati Rice

  • ½ Cinnamon Stick
  • 3 Green Cardamom Pods
  • 3 Whole Cloves
  • 8 g Whole Cumin Seeds
  • 300 g Basmati Rice Washed
  • 600 ml Cold Water
  • Pinch of Salt

Method

  • Place a large, high-rimmed pan over medium-high heat. Add half of the ghee and diced onion and sauté for 5–6 minutes, or until soft and translucent. Remove and let cool slightly.
  • Add mince to a bowl with the sautéed onions, garam masala, salt, and pepper. Mix well and portion into even-sized koftas (meatballs). Set aside.
  • Place the same pan back over medium heat and add the remaining half of ghee or clarified butter. Add the koftas and sear for 5–6 minutes or until browned all over. Remove from the pan to rest. Don't worry; the koftas will not be fully cooked at this stage.
  • Using the same large, high-rimmed pan again, place it over medium heat and add the ghee or clarified butter. Add the onions and sauté for 8–10 minutes or until soft, mixing regularly. Add the garlic, ginger, coriander roots, stems, and chilli and sauté for 2 minutes, mixing regularly. Add the spices and cook for 1 minute.
  • Add diced tomatoes, tomato paste, chicken stock, and coconut milk and bring to a simmer, mixing well. Turn the heat down to low and simmer for 10 minutes to reduce and thicken slightly. Add the koftas and any resting juices and cook for 10 minutes to finish cooking the koftas and for the gravy to reduce to a thick, saucy consistency. Check the seasoning and remove from the heat.
  • For the rice, add all of the spices to a saucepan over medium heat and toast for 2 minutes until fragrant and slightly cracking. Add basmati rice, cold water and a pinch of salt and boil over high heat. Place on a lid, turn the heat low, and cook for 12 minutes. Turn off the heat and steam for 4 minutes. Remove the lid, and fluff with a fork or spatula.
  • Serve the koftas with the curry and naan (optional). Garnish with fresh coriander (cilantro). Dig in.
Chef's Tips
Sear the koftas just to brown them, not to cook them through — as the method notes, they finish cooking in the simmering gravy. Since this is ground meat, make sure they're fully cooked through by the end of that final 10-minute simmer rather than judging by the initial sear alone.
Toast the whole spices for the rice until fragrant and just starting to crack, as written, before the rice goes in — this blooms their oils into the fat, giving the rice a fragrant base rather than tasting raw and dusty.
Let the gravy properly reduce across both simmering stages — the first 10 minutes to build the base, then the second 10 minutes with the koftas in — rushing either one leaves it thin instead of the thick, clinging consistency this dish is meant to have.
Storage & Reheating
Refrigerate for up to 4 days, or freeze for up to 3 months, in an airtight container — coconut-based curries generally freeze and reheat well.
Reheat the koftas, gravy and rice together in the microwave for 2–3 minutes, or in a pot over medium heat, adding a small splash of water or stock if the sauce has thickened. Thaw frozen portions in the fridge overnight before reheating. Finish with fresh coriander just before serving.
Serving 500gCalories 624kcalCarbohydrates 68gProtein 42gFat 19gSaturated Fat 4gMonounsaturated Fat 1gCholesterol 9mgSodium 310mgPotassium 150mgFiber 2gSugar 9gVitamin A 980IUVitamin C 12mgCalcium 150mgIron 1.3mg