Beef Open Kofta

Summary
Yield2
Source

Masterchef Australia

Prep time15 minutes
CategoryCooking
CookingBeef Main Courses Meat dishes
Description

If you like kebab you'll love this fragrant dish.   It's easy to cook and the result is astonishingly tasty.

Ingredients
  • 1
    tbsp
    coriander seeds
  • 1
    tbsp
    cumin seeds
  • 4
     
    french shallots, thinly sliced
  • 1
     
    garlic clove, thinly sliced
  • 1
     
    bunch coriander
  • 500
    g
    beef mince
  • 1
     
    lemon, rind finely grated
  • 1
     
    egg
  • 5
    tbsp
    soft white breadcrumbs
  • 1
    tbsp
    seeded mustard
  • 1
     
    piece flat round pita bread 22cm in diameter
  • 1⁄2
     
    small red onion, peeled
  •  
     
    extra virgin olive oil
  •  
     
    pinch salt
  • 2
     
    baby cucumbers
  •  
     
    greek yoghurt, coriander sprigs & deep fried shallots, to serve
Instructions

1. Spoon coriander and cumin seeds into a frying pan and toast over medium heat for 3-5 minutes until fragrant. Tip into a mortar and use pestle to finely grind the warm spices.

2. Cover base of frying pan with olive oil and add shallots and garlic, cook over low heat until soft and translucent. Spoon into a bowl and refrigerate until cold. Wash coriander root well then finely chop 6cm of the root and stem, set top half of the bunch aside for later.

3. Combine mince, lemon rind, egg, breadcrumbs, mustard, shallot and garlic mixture, spices and salt and pepper in a bowl. Use clean hands to mix until well combined. Preheat oven grill to medium-high.

4. Press beef mixture onto a round flat bread, leaving a 1cm border around the outer edge. Heat a little oil in an ovenproof frying pan over medium heat, add pita bread and cook 1 minute. Transfer the pan to the oven and grill 4-5 minutes until just cooked through. Remove from the oven. Check the under-side of the bread is golden and crisp if not cook a few minutes on the stove top over high heat.

5. Meanwhile, finely slice the onion into a bowl. Season with salt and drizzle with extra virgin olive oil.  Thinly slice the cucumbers on the angle and place into a bowl. Season with salt and drizzle with extra virgin olive oil.

6. Remove the kofta from the pan. Spread generously with yoghurt. Top with onion salad, cucumber, coriander sprigs and deep fried shallots to serve.

Notes

I once omitted deep fried shallots bit and it was just as delicious.

If you prefer stronger flavours, use twice as much spices and herbs as per recipe