Name: Chicken koftas with fig and seed pilaf
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 60 min
Yield: 4
Ingredients: Chicken koftas with fig & seed pilaf; 500 gram chicken mince; 1/2 cup (35g) stale breadcrumbs; 3 green onions, sliced; 2 clove garlic, crushed; 1 teaspoon ground cumin; 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice; 1/4 teaspoon ground chilli; 2 tablespoon olive oil; 1/3 cup fresh coriander sprigs; 1/2 cup (40g) flaked almonds, roasted; 12 bamboo skewers (see notes); Fig & seed pilaf; 2 tablespoon olive oil; 1 (80g) small onion, chopped finely; 2 clove garlic, crushed; 1 tablespoon orange rind, finely grated; 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon; 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin; 500 gram pack pre-cooked basmati rice; 1 cup (250ml) chicken stock; 1/3 cup (70g) dried figs, chopped; 100 gram baby spinach leaves; 2 tablespoon pepitas, toasted; 2 tablespoon sunflower seeds, toasted; freshly ground black pepper and salt, to season

These spiced chicken koftas are served with a fresh and fragrant fig and seed pilaf for a lovely Middle-Eastern style meal for the family to enjoy.

When you think of koftas, you traditionally think of meatballs or meat skewers, made of minced meat combined with spices or onions. These are a chicken version which allows a ligher flavour to the meat and the fragrant spices to reallycome through.

When you’re looking for a little more life in your side dishes, try pilaf – flavoured with chicken stock, orange rind, spices and garlic then topped with crunchy seeds. Pepitas, sunflower seeds are rich sources of omega-3 essential fatty acids, and are essential for a balanced diet.

Can’t get enough of koftas? Why not try our seeded cauliflower koftas with green hommus. If cauliflower is not your jam then you could try our tasty zucchini koftas or the meat lovers in the home you could try our lamb kofta with yoghurt

Ingredients

Chicken koftas with fig & seed pilaf

500 gram chicken mince

1/2 cup (35g) stale breadcrumbs

3 green onions, sliced

2 clove garlic, crushed

1 teaspoon ground cumin

1/4 teaspoon ground allspice

1/4 teaspoon ground chilli

2 tablespoon olive oil

1/3 cup fresh coriander sprigs

1/2 cup (40g) flaked almonds, roasted

12 bamboo skewers (see notes)

Fig & seed pilaf

2 tablespoon olive oil

1 (80g) small onion, chopped finely

2 clove garlic, crushed

1 tablespoon orange rind, finely grated

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

500 gram pack pre-cooked basmati rice

1 cup (250ml) chicken stock

1/3 cup (70g) dried figs, chopped

100 gram baby spinach leaves

2 tablespoon pepitas, toasted

2 tablespoon sunflower seeds, toasted

freshly ground black pepper and salt, to season

Method

Chicken koftas with fig & seed pilaf

1.In a large bowl, combine chicken, breadcrumbs, onion, garlic and spices. Roll 2 tablespoons of mixture into long oval shapes; make 12. Place koftas on an oven tray lined with baking paper; refrigerate for 1 hour.

2.Meanwhile, to make fig and seed pilaf: In a large deep frying pan, heat oil over medium-high heat; cook onion and garlic, for about 3 minutes, or until onion is soft. Stir in rind and spices; cook for 2 minutes. Add rice; stir to coat. Add stock; bring to the boil. Reduce heat to medium; cook, covered, for 8 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in figs, spinach and seeds. Season to taste.

3.Meanwhile, insert a skewer into each kofta; brush kofta well with oil. Cook on heated chargrill plate (or barbecue or grill) on medium-high heat, turning occasionally, for about 8 minutes, or until cooked through.

4.Serve kofta with pilaf, topped with coriander leaves and almonds.

Soak 12 bamboo skewers in water for 30 minutes before cooking.
Note

Women's Weekly Food

Trusted by home cooks for 90 years, The Australian Women’s Weekly’s Test Kitchen and cookbooks hold a singular place in shaping home cooking within the Australian culinary landscape. Today, the AWW Test Kitchen in Sydney is a thriving hub for food content, connected to two bustling photographic studios where a talented team of Australia’s best recipe developers, art directors, editors and photographers create our world class food content. Our recipes are thoroughly tested and tasted and given the Test Kitchen tick of approval, guaranteeing you’ll get great results in your home kitchen.

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