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Kufta bozbash
Küftə bozbaş: Baku lamb meatballs hiding a sour plum, in chickpea and potato broth
Kufta bozbash is one of Baku's great soups: huge lamb meatballs, each with a sour dried plum (alcha) hidden in the middle, simmered in a saffron-tinted broth with chickpeas and potatoes. Families make it on cold weekends, serving the broth first and then the meatballs, sprinkled with dried mint and sumac. A common mistake is using lean mince; the fat holds the big meatballs together and keeps them tender. Chef's tip: beat the mince with a little cold water until sticky and smooth, then wet your hands to shape; the balls will not crack around the plum. Minced lamb must reach 71 °C in the centre.
- Total time
- 120 min
- Difficulty
- medium
- Serves
- 6
Ingredients
For the broth
- 5 ½ oz dried chickpeassoaked overnight
- 8 ¼ cups water
- 1 pinch saffron threadssoaked in 2 tbsp hot water
- 3 potatoespeeled and halved
- 1 ½ tsp salt
For the meatballs
- 1 ½ lb lamb mince20% fat
- 1 ¾ oz short-grain ricerinsed
- 1 oniongrated
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp ground turmeric
- 3 tbsp cold water
To serve
- 1 tsp dried mint
- 1 tsp sumac
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Simmer drained 5 ½ oz dried chickpeas in 8 ¼ cups water for 45 minutes, skimming, until nearly tender.
45 minStep 2: Knead 1 ½ lb lamb mince, 1 ¾ oz short-grain rice, 1 onion, 1 tsp salt, ½ tsp black pepper, ½ tsp ground turmeric and 3 tbsp cold water for 5 minutes until sticky. Common mistake: a short mix; the meatballs crack.
Step 3: With wet hands, shape 6 large balls, each around one of the 6 dried sour plums (alcha) or prunes, sealing well.
Step 4: Add 3 potatoes, 1 ½ tsp salt and 1 pinch saffron threads to the broth and lower in the meatballs. Simmer very gently, partly covered, for 40 minutes, until the potatoes are tender and the meatballs read 160°F in the centre.
40 minStep 5: Ladle broth, a meatball and potato into each bowl and sprinkle with 1 tsp dried mint and 1 tsp sumac.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 450 kcal
- Protein
- 28 g
- Carbs
- 32 g
- Fat
- 23 g
- Fibre
- 7 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does kufta bozbash take?
- About 120 minutes in total: 30 minutes to prepare and 90 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 6 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of dried chickpeas?
- Cannellini or butter beans, same amount.
- What can I use instead of potatoes?
- Sweet potato, same weight (sweeter, cooks a little faster).
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