Description
A flavorful Middle Eastern-inspired dish, this Beef Kofta Bake combines spiced ground beef kofta with a savory tomato sauce, baked to perfection and served with optional toppings for a delicious meal.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Kofta:
- 1 pound ground beef (85/15)
- 1/2 small onion (grated)
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon ground coriander
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
For the Tomato Sauce:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 (14 oz) can crushed tomatoes
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- pinch of cayenne (optional)
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley or cilantro
Optional Toppings:
- Greek yogurt or tahini sauce
- chopped herbs
- toasted pine nuts
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). In a large bowl, combine all kofta ingredients. Mix until well combined, but avoid overmixing. Form into oval-shaped patties or small meatballs. Arrange them in a greased 9×13-inch baking dish.
- In a small saucepan, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add garlic and sauté for 30 seconds. Stir in crushed tomatoes, cumin, paprika, salt, pepper, and cayenne if using. Simmer for 10 minutes to allow flavors to develop. Stir in fresh herbs and remove from heat.
- Pour the tomato sauce evenly over the kofta in the baking dish. Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove foil and bake for an additional 10–15 minutes, or until the beef is cooked through and the sauce is bubbling.
- Serve warm, topped with a dollop of Greek yogurt or tahini sauce, fresh herbs, and optional toasted pine nuts. Pair with rice, couscous, or warm flatbread.
Notes
- You can prepare the kofta mixture a day in advance for deeper flavor.
- Ground lamb or a beef-lamb blend also works well in this recipe.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Middle Eastern
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 of recipe
- Calories: 410
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 620mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 9g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 90mg
