Lamb Kofta with Fattoush Salad and Hummus is an absolute feast of Middle Eastern flavours and textures. It’s a deliciously satisfying meal that is also bursting with nutritious vegetables and herbs.
Prep Time13 minutesmins
Cook Time40 minutesmins
Total Time53 minutesmins
Ingredients
FATTOUSH
Pita crisps:
1pita bread
2tbspolive oil
1tspsea salt flakes
Dressing:
80mlolive oil
2tbspfresh lemon juice
1tspsea salt flakes
½tspdried mint
½tspsumac
½tspfreshly cracked black pepper
Salad:
1large or 2 small gem lettuces, cut into bite-sized pieces
Start by making the fattoush. Preheat the oven to 220°C (425°F) (200°C/400°F fan-forced).
Make the pita crisps – For the pita crisps, brush (or spray) the pita bread with the olive oil and sprinkle it with salt.
Bake for 8–10 minutes until crisp and golden, turning halfway through cooking. Allow the pita to cool slightly (it will take 2–3 minutes), then use your hands to break the pita into shards.
Make the dressing – For the dressing, whisk all the ingredients in a small bowl to combine.
Assemble the salad – For the salad, arrange the ingredients in a large serving bowl, topping with the parsley and pomegranate seeds last (if using). Drizzle with the dressing and top with the pita crisps.
Hummus:
Cook the chickpeas – For the hummus, place the chickpeas and bicarbonate of soda in a small saucepan and add water to cover by at least 2 cm (¾ inch). Bring to a simmer, then cook, covered, for 20 minutes on the lowest heat setting, until the chickpeas are soft and the skins are falling off. Drain in a fine-mesh sieve and rinse under cold tap water for 30 seconds.
Blitz the remaining ingredients – Place the tahini, garlic, lemon juice and salt in a food processor and blend for 1 minute until smooth and creamy.
Blitz the chickpeas – Add the cooked, drained chickpeas and blend for 2 minutes. With the food processor running, add the olive oil gradually until combined – stop and scrape down the sides of the food processor as needed.
Add 1–2 tablespoons of the iced water and stir until you have a smooth, pale consistency.
Kofta:
Soak the skewers – For the kofta, soak the skewers in water for a minimum of 5 minutes.
Make the kofta mix – Combine all the kofta ingredients, except the olive oil and lemon wedges, in a large bowl and mix well with your hands.
Divide the kofta mixture into eight portions, then form them into sausage shapes on the skewers.
Fill a small bowl with tap water to wet your hands as you make the kofta, to prevent the kofta mixture sticking.
Cook the kofta – Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large, heavy-based frying pan or chargrill pan (see note 2 for barbecue) over medium–high heat and cook the kofta in batches for 8–10 minutes, turning regularly until browned all over and cooked through, and adding more oil as needed.
Serve:
Serve the kofta, fattoush and hummus in the centre of the table for everyone to help themselves.
Notes
Note 1 – You can use minced (ground) beef instead of lamb.Note 2 – If you would like to cook the kofta on the barbecue, preheat a barbecue plate to medium–high, then cook the kofta, turning regularly, for around 15 minutes.
Make ahead
Fattoush – You can make the dressing and chop the vegetables a day ahead and store them separately in the fridge. Wrap the vegetables in a clean, damp paper towel.Hummus – You can make the hummus up to 3 days ahead and store in the fridge.Kofta – Prepare as per the recipe and freeze, uncooked, in an airtight container with baking (parchment) paper between the layers to stop the kofta sticking. Thaw completely in the fridge overnight before cooking.
Leftovers
Pita crisps – Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days (delicious dipped in the hummus).Fattoush – Best prepared and eaten immediately. Hummus – Refrigerate for up to 3 days. Kofta – Cooked kofta can be refrigerated for up to 3 days.
Cook once, eat twice
Try the fattoush with falafels. Make lamb wraps by stuffing the kofta into wraps with the tabbouleh.
Nutrition Facts
Lamb Kofta with Fattoush Salad and Hummus
Amount per Serving
Calories
1059
% Daily Value*
Fat
86
g
132
%
Saturated Fat
21
g
131
%
Trans Fat
2
g
Polyunsaturated Fat
11
g
Monounsaturated Fat
50
g
Cholesterol
91
mg
30
%
Sodium
3430
mg
149
%
Potassium
1044
mg
30
%
Carbohydrates
46
g
15
%
Fiber
11
g
46
%
Sugar
9
g
10
%
Protein
34
g
68
%
Vitamin A
9263
IU
185
%
Vitamin C
81
mg
98
%
Calcium
194
mg
19
%
Iron
7
mg
39
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.