What is Cig Kofte?
Cig Kofte is a dish made with raw beef that is flavored with spices and formed into oblongs with indentations on top, served wrapped in lettuce leaves. It has a rich, spicy flavor.
Ingredients
Bulgur wheat are boiled wheat kernels. Bulgur has a tan color when dry and cooked. The texture is soft and chewy. The flavor is nutty and mild. Bulgur is used to add bulk to dishes and is served as side grain to the centerpiece of a meal.
Water is a substance and chemical compound made up of hydrogen and oxygen. It is clear, fluid, flavorless and odorless. Water is a necessity in nearly every aspect of life, including cooking, baking and hydrating the human body. Water can be served as a cold beverage, or at any temperature comfortable to the mouth and skin.
Beef refers to any part of meat from the cow. Beef is a popular meat across multiple cuisines and pairs well with a multitude of dishes, often serving as the main ingredient. There are eight main cuts of beef and many more within each section of the animal. Varieties of beef vary depending on the breed of cattle and its diet.
The onion is a bulb vegetable, meaning its bulb and not its leaves are eaten. Onions come in many varieties, including white, yellow and red. Shallots are small and mild onions. Vidalias are sweet, while red onions are strong and sharp. The onion is usually round and has a thin dry skin around its juicy layers. This skin depends in the color of the onion, as does the flesh. The flesh, or body of the onion is made of multiple round layers, that get smaller towards the center. The flavor of onions are sharp and sweet when raw, with an astringent taste. When cooked, these flavors mellow and the sweetness emerges. Onion are a very common flavoring and ingredient for many savory dishes.
Spring onions, also called green onions or scallions are a thin onion formed into a stalk with a white bottom that sprouts out into two or three thin tubular branches. They are less than a foot in height and three quarters of the spring onion is green. It is easy to cut and chew and is dry with a hint of juiciness. The flavor is spicy and sharp with a green taste. Spring onions are used to flavor to savory foods.
Red hot pepper paste, also called gochujang is a Korean condiment and commonly used in sauces, soups and marinades, it can also be found as a side sauce for bibimbap. It is made primarily from hot chili peppers which lends an intense heat to this salty and spicy paste. The color of the paste is deep bright red.
Tomato paste is a made by cooking tomatoes down, straining them and then continuing to let them cook until they have been reduced to a thick, dark red paste. This paste is tart and sweet with very little moisture due to the reduction of juices which creates an intensified and rich tomato flavor. Tomato paste is used in sauces and many Italian dishes.
Olive oil is extracted from the fresh olive, which grows on a tree. Many olives are needed in the extraction of the oil. This is done by a mechanical process and sometimes by a chemical process, though the mechanical method is highly preferred. Olive oil is a golden color and changes slightly due to whether it is extra virgin, or first cold pressed. The flavor of olive oil depends on how it was processed. Lower quality oils will taste mild, while high quality olive oils will have a robust flavor that is green, or may have a spicy quality. Extra virgin and first cold pressed or preferred. Olive oil lends a depth of flavor to any savory dish.
Lemon juice is made from the flesh of the pulpy yellow lemon fruit. The juice is squeezed from the flesh of the lemon and is a pale yellow color. The flavor is very sour and bright. Lemon juice is used in multiple cuisines around the world to brighten and enhance the flavors of the other ingredients. Lemon juice is used to make lemonade and goes well on fish. It has many uses.
Red chili flakes are usually made from cayenne peppers that have been dried and ground into small red flakes. The seeds are included and add much heat. The flavor is spicy and can be used as a topping for savory dishes such as pizza, meats and veggies.
Salt is a mineral composed mostly of sodium chloride. It is the main flavoring used in food and is naturally occurring in certain foods, such as cheese, beets, meat and celery, plus many others. Salt is white and has finer granules than sugar. Many commercial salts include iodide, while others exclude it. Most salts are white, while some are naturally pale pink with minerals. Salt brings out the flavor of something and can create a tangy mouthfeel, if used in excess.
Parsley is an aromatic herb with slender green stalks and sturdy, small green leaves. There are two common types of parsley, curly parsley and Italian flat leaf parsley. Italian parsley has a more robust flavor than curly parsley. Though each type tastes green, spicy and vegetal, with a hint of bitterness. Parsley is used as and herb to flavor dishes and as a garnish.
