İçli Köfte
Monday, 29th June 2009 | 12 Comments
İçli köfte is the Turkish name for the deep fried, bulgur wheat sheathed meatball served throughout Turkey and the Levent. The exterior crust acts the vessel within which minced meat, onions and spices cook, their delicate flavors blending together inside their starchy container. On Saturday night I had içli köfte at Hamdi in Istanbul’s Eminönü district, but found it to be a bit greasy and too soggy. But since I never turn down fried food when it was offered to me (that’s rude!), I finished it anyway, focusing on the savory blend of meat and spices within their lackluster shell as my thoughts drifted to the içli köfte at Borsa, where they get everything just right.
July 3rd, 2009 at 11:53 am
This is incredibly good.. I will move to Turkey or hire a Turkish chef! Is this a crazy thinking or it is just stupid to not have this every day for lunch, dinner and…. ehm… breakfast!???
July 3rd, 2009 at 12:26 pm
Moving to Turkey to eat fried minced meat is not a crazy idea. It is one of the most logical things I have heard all day.
July 9th, 2009 at 9:54 pm
this looks great, I guess is the non greasy one! Looks like a Sicilian arancino with a thinner shell, YUM.
December 22nd, 2009 at 7:18 pm
I AM TURKISH AND I WAS EATING THIS IT WAS DELICIOUS
March 23rd, 2010 at 11:39 pm
also in Adana, icli kofte is boiled. the outside shell is much softer and maybe it is a more healthier option.
i personally prefer the adana style however it can be tough to find it outside of adana.
here is a turkish link, which has a pic. i am sorry not much is written on turkish food in english
http://blog.milliyet.com.tr/Blog.aspx?BlogNo=82231
March 24th, 2010 at 2:41 pm
i guess i have to go back to adana, then!
May 12th, 2010 at 10:42 pm
Well of course you can go to Adana but a good substitute in Istanbul is Kaburgacı Selim Amca in anatolian side, around sahrayıcedit. I just started following this blog so i don’t know if you’ve tasted the Kaburga dolması (stuffed ribcage) yet but they are the expert on that. also the restaurant serves very delicious boiled içli köfte and nar ekşili salata (salad with pomegranate sauce) it’s worth a try
May 12th, 2010 at 10:45 pm
oooh sounds fabulous. Haven’t been there, nor have I had kaburga dolmasi. I’ll check it out on my next trip. thanks!
February 3rd, 2011 at 1:07 am
en cok sevdim ve keif alarak yedim turk yemeklerinden bitanec
February 22nd, 2011 at 3:18 pm
[...] and pepper spread, one of my favorite foods. There are also hot appetizers like sauteed liver, içli köfte, and [...]
September 20th, 2011 at 2:20 pm
Moving to Turkey to eat fried minced meat is not a crazy idea. It is one of the most logical things I have heard all day.
December 10th, 2011 at 11:03 pm
In malatya and Mersin it’s boiled too, I was living with some friends from those cities. I just love Turkey, I die for Turkish food!!! I need to learn to make içli köfte!!! I already learnt to make çiğ köfte and mercimek çorbası hmmmmmmmmm!!!!!!!