Cig kofte Tepsisi - Legen

A "Çiğ Köfte Tray" is a specific type of serving tray or platter used for presenting and serving çiğ köfte, a traditional Turkish dish. Çiğ köfte is a mixture of fine bulgur, ground meat or a vegetarian alternative, spices, herbs, and various flavorings. It's typically served as a kind of spicy, flavorful paste or dough, often accompanied by fresh lettuce leaves, parsley, and lemon wedges, which people use to wrap portions of the çiğ köfte before eating.

A çiğ köfte tray is designed to hold and display the çiğ köfte mixture along with the accompanying fresh ingredients in an aesthetically pleasing way. It's often used for serving çiğ köfte at gatherings, parties, or restaurants, allowing people to assemble their own bite-sized wraps of çiğ köfte with the provided ingredients.

The tray itself can come in various sizes and materials, including plastic, metal, or wood, and it's usually chosen based on the specific occasion and the quantity of çiğ köfte being served. It's a popular dish in Turkey and neighboring regions, known for its bold flavors and social aspect of preparation and consumption.

How to make Cig Kofte

You can pour your dark bulgur into cig kofte (çiğ köfte) tray. Then, you moisten it with boiling water and wait for 5 minutes. After that, you add the tomato paste, oil, all the spices, lemon juice, and pomegranate syrup, and start kneading. Next, you grate the medium-sized onion and add the grated garlic to it. Then, you continue kneading for about 30 minutes. In a separate pan, you cook two eggs, and after they are cooked, you add them to the çiğ köfte (the purpose of cooking the eggs is to prevent the çiğ köfte from falling apart when you eat it; if you make it with half a package of bulgur, one egg is enough). You continue kneading until the çiğ köfte reaches a dough-like consistency. As the final step, you chop the parsley and add it to the mixture, kneading a little more. Now you can shape it and place it in a baking dish. You can use lemon, parsley, or other ingredients to garnish the top; I recommend it. It looks even more delicious when it's garnished. Good luck to those who will make it!