Kiftah كفتة بالطحينية is more like the Arabic version of meatballs, which consists of ground lamb or beef mixed with finely chopped parsley, garlic, onions, and some spices. Kiftah is very well known in Palestine, it can be made in few versions, either kiftah bi seniyeh where it can be baked with potatoes and tomatoes or kiftah kabab on a skewer grilled, or this recipe kiftah bi tahini sauce. The main difference with the latest is adding the tahini sauce which makes the taste a bit more distinguished than the other recipes, as the tangy delicious tahini sauce dominates the flavor.
This dish was one of my late dad's favorite dishes may his soul rest in peace.
I'm also sharing this dish as part of my contribution to the Truly Palestinian campaign aiming to document Palestinian recipes. This phase of the campaign is all about Palestinian main dishes. An Arabic version of this recipe is available on the Cookpad Arabic app.
This is how to make kiftah bi tahini sauce:
First, prepare the meat. Here I have half ground lamb and half ground beef. Mix the meat well with finely chopped parsley, onions, and allspice, salt, and pepper. Then shape it into either balls or oval shapes and place them in a baking pot. Then peel and slice potatoes following the same shape order of the meat, place the potatoes over the meat in the same baking pot.
Heat the oven on 350 degrees, cover the pot and bake for about 30 minutes and until the meat and potatoes are cooked, you can test the potato with a fork to make sure it has softened. Meanwhile, prepare the tahini dressing which includes tahini, water, lemon juice, salt, and garlic. Blend everything in a blender.
Once the pot is ready, take it out of the oven, (if the pot has so much water as a residue from baking take most of that water out before pouring the tahini sauce). Pour tahini sauce and place the tray back in the oven for another 15-20 minutes uncovered. If you aim for a golden color, the pot can be placed for a few minutes only under the broiler.
Serve with a side of rice or bread.
Just keep in mind, that tahini sauce can easily thicken once cooled off, if that's the case you can easily add a bit of warm water over it once re-heated.
Kiftah bi Tahini Sauce (Meatballs) كفتة بالطحينية
Description
Kiftah is more like the Arabic version of meatballs, which consists of ground lamb or beef mixed with finely chopped parsley, garlic, onions, and some spices. Kiftah is very well known in Palestine, it can be made in few versions, either kiftah bi seniyeh where it can be baked with potatoes and tomatoes or kiftah kabab on a skewer grilled, or this recipe kiftah bi tahini sauce. The main difference with the latest is adding the tahini sauce which makes the taste a bit more distinguished than the other recipes, as the tangy delicious tahini sauce dominates the flavor.
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef or (half beef and half lamb)
- 1 bunch of parsley finely chopped
- 1 onion finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon allspice
- salt and pepper
- 3-4 small Yukon potatoes
Tahini sauce
- ½ cup of tahini
- 1 cup of water
- 2 cloves garlic
- ⅓ cup lemon juice
- salt
Instructions
- Mix the meat well with finely chopped parsley, onions, allspice, salt, and pepper. Shape the meat into either balls or oval shapes and place them in a baking pot.
- Peel and slice potatoes following the same shape order of the meat and place over the meat in the same baking pot.
- Heat the oven to 350 degrees, cover the pot and bake for about 30 minutes and until the meat and potatoes are cooked.
- Prepare the tahini sauce which includes tahini, water, lemon juice, salt, and garlic. Mix everything well in a blender.
- Once the pot is ready, take it out of the oven, (if the pot has so much water as a residue from baking take most of that water out before pouring the tahini sauce). Pour tahini sauce and place the tray back in the oven for another 15-20 minutes uncovered.
Serve with a side of rice or bread.
This recipe is enough for 3-4 people.
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