Summer Fresh Recipe Series: Grilled Chicken Kofta

Tender flavor-packed grilled chicken kofta, filled with fresh herb & spices, will be on the table in under 45 min.  The perfect summer Mediterranean dish!

It's almost time to celebrate the 4th of July and that means you need to fire up the grill and get cooking!  Today I'm bring you my 2nd installment of my Summer Fresh Recipe Series.  Recipes that are filled with fresh summer produce and are easy, light, and oh soooo tasty!  The other day I brought you a light and fresh Greek Cobb Salad.  Since we have Independence Day in mind, some grilling is in order.  Let's take our grilling to the next level with a wonderful, but easy, Mediterranean dish.

GRILLED CHICKEN KOFTA

Kofta is similar to the Persian Kabob Chicken Koobideh which is made with ground chicken and grilled on skewers.  Kofta is made with ground chicken and is loaded with herbs and spices but instead of using skewers they are formed into oval patties and grilled for the best flavor.  They come out tender and juicy and bursting with Mediterranean spices.  

They are perfect served along side my Easy Mediterranean Salad (recipe coming next) or with a side a rice.  I served them with the salad, some hummus and toasted pita.  They are easy to prepare and grill up in 8-10 minutes.  You will have them on the table in under 45 minutes. MGG can attest that they made great leftovers! 

What makes them unique?  They are filled with mint and parsley for a burst of fresh herbs.  They are spiced with Ancho chili powder for complex flavoring, red pepper flakes for a little heat, coriander for a bright citrus burst, and sweet paprika for depth of flavor.  This is no ordinary meatball mix!  

Try something new this 4th of July, or anytime this summer and this dish will surely be a winner in your family.

Enjoy!

Grilled Chicken Kofta

serves: 4

1 small  slice of sandwich bread
1 lb ground chicken
1/3 cup grated onion
1 garlic clove, minced
1/3 cup chopped fresh parsley
2 tbsp chopped fresh mint
1 1/2 tsp Ancho chile powder 

1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
3/4 tsp ground coriander
½ tsp sweet paprika
Kosher salt and pepper
1 egg (raw)
Drizzle extra virgin olive oil


Serve along with: (optional)
Hummus

Mediterranean tomato and cucumber salad
Toasted Pita Bread

Instructions:

Toast the slice of bread in the toaster until golden brown.  Place it in a small bowl and add a little water so the slice become soggy and tender.  Squeeze out the excess water from the bread.  

Place the bread in a large mixing bowl.  Add the ground chicken, onion, garlic, parsley, mint, all the spices, and a pinch of salt and pepper.  Add the egg and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil.  Mix the chicken mixture with your hand until well combined.

Form chicken mixture in to 8 oval patties.  (Wet hands help with the stickiness of the mixture.) Place on a tray and refrigerate for 15 to 20 minutes to allow to set.  Meanwhile preheat your grill.

Grease the grates of your grill or indoor grill pan with oil.  Heat to medium-high heat.  Place the patties on the grill and cook for 4-5 minutes per side or until fully cooked through.  Remove from grill and serve.  

adapted from: The Mediterranean Dish