Air Fryer Lamb Kofta with Tahini Sauce Recipe
Introduction
These Air Fryer Lamb Koftas are flavorful, tender, and quick to prepare. Infused with warm spices and served with a creamy tahini sauce, they make a delicious Middle Eastern-inspired meal perfect for any night of the week.
Ingredients
- ¾ cup tahini paste
- Juice of 2 lemons
- 2-3 garlic cloves, coarsely chopped
- 1½ teaspoons kosher salt, divided
- 2 tablespoons finely ground bulgur wheat*
- 1 pound ground lamb
- ½ yellow onion, minced
- 1 teaspoon coriander
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- Cooking spray or oil
- Pita bread for serving
Instructions
- Step 1: To make the tahini sauce, place the tahini paste, lemon juice, garlic, and ½ teaspoon of salt in a blender or food processor. Pulse a few times until the mixture forms a paste.
- Step 2: With the motor running, slowly pour in ½ cup cold water and blend until the sauce is smooth and pourable, about 1 to 2 minutes. If it’s too thick, add up to an additional ¼ cup of cold water slowly. Refrigerate the sauce until ready to use.
- Step 3: Mix the bulgur wheat with 2 tablespoons of very hot water in a heatproof bowl. Let it stand for 7 minutes until the water is absorbed, then fluff with a fork.
- Step 4: In a medium bowl, combine the softened bulgur, ground lamb, minced onion, 1 teaspoon salt, coriander, cumin, black pepper, and cinnamon. Mix thoroughly with your hands.
- Step 5: With damp hands, form the lamb mixture into 8 equal, tightly packed oval patties. Place on a plate, cover, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or up to overnight.
- Step 6: Preheat the air fryer to 400ºF for 3 minutes.
- Step 7: Thread half the lamb patties onto metal skewers. Lightly spray or brush them with oil to prevent sticking. Place the skewers in a single layer in the air fryer basket, working in batches if needed.
- Step 8: Cook the koftas at 400ºF for about 10-12 minutes, turning halfway, until they are golden and cooked through.
- Step 9: Serve the lamb koftas hot with tahini sauce and warm pita bread.
Tips & Variations
- Substitute bulgur wheat with fine breadcrumbs if preferred, but soak them briefly in hot water first.
- For added freshness, garnish the koftas with chopped parsley and a squeeze of lemon before serving.
- If you don’t have metal skewers, you can shape the koftas as small meatballs and cook them directly in the air fryer basket.
- Adjust the spices according to your taste; adding a pinch of chili flakes gives a nice kick.
Storage
Store any leftover cooked koftas in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat them in the air fryer at 350ºF for about 5 minutes to maintain crispness. The tahini sauce can be kept refrigerated for up to one week.
How to Serve
Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.
FAQs
Can I make these koftas without an air fryer?
Yes, you can cook the koftas under a broiler or on a grill. Cook for about 4-5 minutes per side until nicely browned and cooked through.
What is bulgur wheat and can I omit it?
Bulgur wheat is cracked, parboiled wheat that adds texture and helps bind the kofta. If unavailable, finely ground breadcrumbs can be used as a substitute to help hold the mixture together.
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Air Fryer Lamb Kofta with Tahini Sauce Recipe
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 8 kofta patties 1x
Description
This Air Fryer Lamb Kofta recipe offers a deliciously spiced Middle Eastern-inspired dish featuring juicy lamb patties seasoned with warm spices and bulgur wheat for texture, cooked to perfection in an air fryer for a healthier twist. Served with a creamy tahini sauce and pita bread, it’s an easy yet flavorful meal perfect for weeknights or entertaining.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Tahini Sauce
- ¾ cup tahini paste
- Juice of 2 lemons
- 2–3 garlic cloves, coarsely chopped
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt (from the 1½ tsp. total)
- ½ cup cold water (plus up to ¼ cup more as needed)
For the Kofta
- 1 and ½ teaspoons kosher salt, divided (1 tsp. for lamb mixture)
- 2 Tbsp. finely ground bulgur wheat
- 2 Tbsp. very hot water
- 1 lb. ground lamb
- ½ yellow onion, minced
- 1 tsp. coriander
- 1 tsp. cumin
- ½ tsp. black pepper
- ¼ tsp. ground cinnamon
- Cooking spray or olive oil for air frying
- Pita bread for serving
Instructions
- Make the Tahini Sauce: Place the tahini paste, lemon juice, garlic, and ½ teaspoon kosher salt in a blender or food processor. Pulse a few times until a paste forms. With the motor running, slowly add ½ cup cold water and blend for 1 to 2 minutes until smooth and pourable. Add up to ¼ cup more water if needed to reach desired consistency. Refrigerate until ready to use.
- Soften the Bulgur: In a heatproof bowl, combine bulgur wheat with 2 tablespoons of very hot water. Let it stand for 7 minutes until water is absorbed. Fluff with a fork.
- Prepare the Kofta Mixture: In a medium bowl, combine the softened bulgur, ground lamb, minced onion, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, coriander, cumin, black pepper, and cinnamon. Mix thoroughly using your hands to ensure even seasoning.
- Form the Patties: With damp hands to prevent sticking, shape the lamb mixture into 8 equal, tightly packed oval patties. Place on a plate, cover, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, or up to overnight, to let flavors meld and help them firm up.
- Preheat the Air Fryer: Set your air fryer to 400ºF and let it preheat for 3 minutes to ensure even cooking.
- Thread and Prepare Patties for Cooking: Working in two batches, thread half of the patties onto metal skewers. Lightly spray or brush them with cooking spray or olive oil to prevent sticking.
- Air Fry the Kofta: Place skewers in the air fryer basket in a single layer without overcrowding. Cook for about 8-10 minutes, flipping halfway through, until the koftas are browned and cooked through (internal temperature of 160ºF). Repeat with remaining patties.
- Serve: Serve hot kofta with pita bread and tahini sauce for dipping or drizzling. Enjoy!
Notes
- Finely ground bulgur wheat helps bind the kofta and adds a pleasant texture; if unavailable, substitute with fine breadcrumbs.
- Soaking the bulgur in hot water softens it without cooking, keeping the kofta tender.
- Using metal skewers is ideal for air fryer cooking, but you can form patties without skewers if preferred; adjust cooking time accordingly.
- To ensure even cooking, do not overcrowd the air fryer basket; cook in batches.
- Leftover kofta can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or frozen for longer storage.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Air Frying
- Cuisine: Middle Eastern
Keywords: air fryer lamb kofta, lamb kofta recipe, Middle Eastern lamb, tahini sauce, air fryer recipes, healthy lamb kofta
