Kufta bi Tahini (Baked Meatballs and Potatoes in Tahini Sauce)
Local name: كفتة بالطحينة
In short: Spiced beef and parsley meatballs roasted with potatoes and tomato, then baked in a lemony tahini sauce until bubbling and golden at the edges. It takes about 1 h 20 min in total and makes 6 servings.
- Prep
- 35 min
- Cook
- 45 min
- Total
- 1 h 20 min
- Servings
- 6
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 535 kcal
Kufta bi tahini is a tray bake that Palestinian families make in a big sini, a round metal tray. Oval meatballs of beef and parsley roast with thick potato slices and tomatoes, and a sauce of tahini, lemon and garlic is poured over for the final bake. It sets slightly at the edges and stays creamy underneath. Serve it from the dish with bread and a simple salad.
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 220°C (425°F). Mix the beef, onion, parsley, salt, allspice, cinnamon and pepper and knead for 1 minute. Shape into 24 oval patties of about 30 g each.
- Toss the potato rounds with the olive oil and salt and spread them in a 23 x 33 cm (9 x 13 in) baking dish or large tray. Roast for 15 minutes.
- Arrange the meatballs and tomato slices among the potatoes. Roast for 15 minutes, until the meatballs are browned.
- Whisk the tahini, lemon juice, 120 ml of the water and the garlic until smooth and pourable like heavy cream. Add more water if it is too thick.
- Pour the sauce evenly over the dish. Return it to the oven for 10 to 15 minutes, until the sauce is bubbling and lightly golden at the edges and the meatballs reach 71°C (160°F).
- Scatter with pine nuts and parsley and serve hot from the dish.
Tips
- The tahini sauce thickens quickly. If it looks stiff, add water a tablespoon at a time until it flows, as it will thicken in the oven.
- Use a low-oil tahini that is smooth and not bitter. Some cooks add thin slices of onion to the tray, which melt into the sauce.
Questions and answers
Can I make kufta bi tahini ahead?
Shape and roast the meatballs and potatoes ahead. Add the sauce and the final bake on the day. Leftovers keep for 3 days in the fridge.
Why did my tahini sauce split?
Too much heat or too little water. Keep the sauce loose and bake at moderate heat so it does not separate into oil.
What do you serve with it?
Warm bread, rice or a fresh cucumber and tomato salad. A bowl of pickled turnips on the side is traditional.
How long does it take to make Kufta bi Tahini (Baked Meatballs and Potatoes in Tahini Sauce)?
About 1 h 20 min in total: 35 min of preparation and 45 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Kufta bi Tahini (Baked Meatballs and Potatoes in Tahini Sauce)?
About 535 kcal per serving, with 23 g of protein, 27 g of carbohydrates and 37 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 535 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 23 g |
| Carbohydrates | 27 g |
| Fat | 37 g |
| Fiber | 5 g |
| Sugar | 4 g |
| Sodium | 1000 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
