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Juicy, lean, and inviting Turkey Kofta recipe. A healthy recipe that packs lean protein, savoury flavours, and satisfying wholesome ingredients the entire family will enjoy.
This post is sponsored by Canadian Turkey as part of the BBQ Bootcamp Campaign. My Kitchen Love has been compensated monetarily, we only support brands we love and cook with at home.
Possibly the best way to grill and serve dinner – healthy flavourful grilled turkey kebabs with savoury yogurt, fresh vegetables, and grilled pita. My family and I officially loved it.
What made these turkey kebabs so good? It’s almost challenging to figure out where to start with so many good pieces. The main event of Turkey Kebabs was so crazy good. Lean, wholesome ground turkey with all the right herbs and spices that had s coming back time and time again.
That being said, this turkey kofta recipe is perfect for families and kids because it doesn’t t have any spiciness to it and yet, are so juicy and mouthwatering.
We loved piling the pita high with grilled turkey, fresh veg, and lemon garlicky yogurt.
What are kofta balls made out of?
Kofta balls are made from a meat protein (usually a combo of beef and lamb, but I used Canadian turkey here for a lean and reliable substitution), parsley, bread crumbs, and other spices like allspice, cinnamon, and cumin.
To make this kofta recipe gluten-free, simply sub the bread crumbs for one large egg. Both act as a binding agent and I used bread crumbs as a more traditional recipe. In addition, this recipe would be amazing with rice in lieu of the pita.
To me, the best kofta recipe has all the right flavours and remains juicy. That’s what makes ground turkey meat the best partner for grilling. Turkey has great flavour everyone enjoys (kids especially!) and it’s perfect for pairing with other flavours like the savoury herbs and spices in this kofta recipe.
Top with kid-friendly savoury yogurt (condiments are always the answer for kids) and lots of fresh chopped vegetables and we have a winner that will take us through grilling season nicely.
Why else choose turkey? It’s the perfect meat to buy in a pinch as turkey is usually good bang for your buck and it packs a nice nutritional punch too. I like subbing turkey for other meat proteins to make them, not only more kid approachable, but also to save a few dollars here and there.
Some of my favourite weeknight turkey meals include this Turkey and Lentils (slow cooker alert!) and this one pot Turkey Tetrazzini.
Turkey recipes primed for the grill:
- Turkey Burger with Greek Yogurt
- Grilled Turkey Tenderloin
- Avocado Turkey Burgers
- Greek Turkey Burgers
- Grilled Taco Turkey Burgers
5 from 10 votes
Turkey Koftas
Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
Total Time
30 mins
Juicy flavourful Turkey Koftas recipe with savoury yogurt, fresh vegetables, and pita.
Course:Main Course
Cuisine:Turkish
Keyword:easy koftas recipe, healthy koftas recipe, juicy turkey recipe, koftas recipe, turkey bbq, turkey grilling, turkey recipe, turky koftas
Servings: 5 servings
Calories: 512 kcal
Author: Samantha
Ingredients
Turkey Koftas:
- 2lbsground turkey thigh*
- 1mediumonion, finely chopped
- 1/2cupfinely chopped parsley leaves
- 2tbspfinely chopped mint leaves
- 1tspsmoked paprika (sweet or hot)
- 1/2tsp cumin
- 1/4tspcinnamon
- 1/4tspground allspice
- 1/2cupbreadcrumbs
- 1tspfine sea salt
- 1/2tsp ground black pepper
Sides:
- 1headRomaine lettuce, roughly chopped
- 1pintcherry tomatoes, halved
- 1English cucumber, quartered
- 1/4mediumred onion, thinly sliced
- 5pitas or naan bread
Garlic Lemon Yogurt:
- 2cupsthick plain Greek yogurt
- 1/2lemonzest and juice
- 2tspfinely chopped mint leaves
- 1garlic clove, finely grated
US Customary – Metric
Instructions
Turkey Koftas:
Soak 10 wooden skewers in water for at least 30 minutes.
In a large bowl combine turkey, onion, parsley, mint, paprika, cumin, cinnamon, allspice, breadcrumbs, salt, and pepper. Mix** until all ingredients are well blended.
Using a 1/3 cup measuring tool, make 10-12 oval shaped patties and pierce with a soaked toothpick through the middle. Place in fridge while grill preheats.
Preheat grill to high heat. Add Turkey Koftas to the grill and reduce temperature down to medium. Cook for 15-20 minutes, flipping once after 8 minutes, or until meat has reached 165°.
Sides:
Place all sliced/chopped fresh vegetables on a plate.
Yogurt:
Mix all ingredients in a small bowl.
Pita:
Grill for 1-2 minutes per side or serve with cooked rice if preferred.
Recipe Notes
* I find that ground turkey thigh is juicer and holds up to grilling, but extra lean ground turkey breast meat will also work here.
** I find that using my hands to mix all the ingredients together works the best for making any form of patty.
Nutrition Facts
Turkey Koftas
Amount Per Serving
Calories 512Calories from Fat 54
% Daily Value*
Fat 6g9%
Saturated Fat 1g6%
Cholesterol 104mg35%
Sodium 993mg43%
Potassium 1423mg41%
Carbohydrates 56g19%
Fiber 6g25%
Sugar 9g10%
Protein 61g122%
Vitamin A 12205IU244%
Vitamin C 39mg47%
Calcium 236mg24%
Iron 5.4mg30%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Enjoy! xo
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