Easy iftar recipe: Chicken Kofta

Middle Eastern recipes are packed with taste, and this chicken kofta recipe is no exception. It is the perfect combination of chicken, cheese, and mesmerizing spices and herbs. The dish can be prepared in less than an hour and lends an exotic touch to your Iftar table. 

Ingredients (for 4 servings):

- 3 tbsp cream cheese

- 4 boneless chicken breasts

- 4 potatoes

- 10g chopped coriander leaves

- 2 tbsp garlic powder

- 2 tsp of allspice (you can substitute with garam masala)

- 1 tsp of salt

- 120g of breadcrumbs

- 2 eggs

- 60ml vegetable oil

Instruction

1) Boil the chicken breasts, sprinkle them with salt and pepper, and chop them into tiny pieces.

2) Boil the potatoes and mash them in a large bowl. Add the chopped chicken, cilantro, cream cheese, allspice, garlic powder, and salt.

3) Mix the ingredients with your hands until everything is well combined. Form small balls.

4) Beat the eggs and dip the balls in the eggs and then in breadcrumbs.

5) Heat the oil and fry the kofta balls until golden brown. Serve hot.

Save time and prepare the meat and potato mixture in advance. Combine all the ingredients in the mixture and let it sit in the fridge covered with cling film or foil for a few hours or until the next day. This allows the flavours to develop and meld together, resulting in a more flavourful result. 

When you are ready to make the chicken kofta with cheese, simply form the mixture into balls and bread and fry them.

Pay attention to the temperature of the oil when frying the balls. Using oil that is too hot can result in burnt kofta, while oil that is not hot enough can result in greasy, soggy kofta. 

Once they are done, place them on a piece of paper towel to soak up any excess oil before serving.