Bowls
Lamb Kofta, Bulgur & Cucumber Bowls
Pan-browned lamb patties seasoned with cumin and parsley sit beside bulgur, crisp cucumber, tomato, and a spoonful of lemon yogurt.
Inspired by Mediterranean and Middle Eastern-inspired kofta meals
Prep
25 min
Cook
20 min
Serves
4 servings
Difficulty
Medium
Pantry match
Uses the current servings and temporary recipe changes.
Missing 15 ingredients
- • 1 pound ground lamb
- • 1/2 onion, finely grated and squeezed dry
- • 2 garlic cloves, minced
- • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- • 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
- • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, divided
- • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- • 1/4 cup chopped parsley, divided
- • 1 tablespoon olive oil
- • 1 cup dry medium bulgur
- • 2 cups water
- • 1 cucumber, diced
- • 2 tomatoes, diced
- • 3/4 cup plain Greek yogurt
- • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
View ingredient-by-ingredient match
- 1 pound ground lambMissing
- 1/2 onion, finely grated and squeezed dryMissing
- 2 garlic cloves, mincedMissing
- 1 teaspoon ground cuminMissing
- 1/2 teaspoon ground corianderMissing
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, dividedMissing
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepperMissing
- 1/4 cup chopped parsley, dividedMissing
- 1 tablespoon olive oilMissing
- 1 cup dry medium bulgurMissing
- 2 cups waterMissing
- 1 cucumber, dicedMissing
- 2 tomatoes, dicedMissing
- 3/4 cup plain Greek yogurtMissing
- 2 tablespoons lemon juiceMissing
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Method
Recipe notes
Squeezing moisture from grated onion keeps the patties easy to handle without breadcrumbs. Ground lamb needs a 160 F center; exterior browning alone is not enough. Bulgur is cracked wheat, so this bowl is not gluten-free as written even though the patties contain no flour.
Planning, storage, and serving
Storage and reheating
Refrigerate cooked patties and bulgur within two hours in separate shallow containers and use within 3 days. Keep yogurt and salad chilled separately; reheat the patties to 165 F before assembling leftovers.
Make-ahead tips
Mix the yogurt sauce and chop salad vegetables one day ahead. Form raw patties and refrigerate covered for up to one day, then cook them fully shortly before serving.
What to serve with it
- - Roasted eggplant
- - A lemon-dressed cabbage salad
- - Warm pita wedges
Equipment needed
- - Wide skillet and spatula
- - Bulgur saucepan with lid
- - Instant-read thermometer
Difficulty explained
The components are simple, but uniform patty thickness and a thermometer are useful for evenly cooking ground lamb while keeping the bowls fresh.
Recipe calculator
Nutrition facts
Updating nutrition…
Alternatives
Apply a reviewed substitution to this temporary working copy. The published recipe stays unchanged.
Browse reviewed options
High-protein dairy-free yogurt
Use the same amount of a thick, plain, high-protein dairy-free yogurt.
Bottled 100% lemon juice
Use slightly less bottled lemon juice, then adjust after tasting.
Meyer lemon juice
Use the same amount of Meyer lemon juice.
Type the ingredient you're missing — we'll find what you can use instead.
Pitfalls to Watch Out For
- Wet grated onion loosens the meat mixture and encourages patties to crack in the skillet.
- Mixing ground lamb aggressively compresses it and makes the cooked patties dense.
- Using the same board for raw lamb and the ready-to-eat cucumber or yogurt risks cross-contamination.
Nutrition Context
- Lamb and Greek yogurt supply protein, while bulgur and raw vegetables make the bowl a complete meal.
- The estimate assumes two patties and one quarter of the grain and yogurt per bowl; ground-lamb fat varies significantly by package.
FAQ
Do I need skewers?
No. Small oval patties fit a normal skillet and make this home version easier to cook evenly.
Is bulgur gluten-free?
No. It is wheat. Use separately cooked rice if that suits your requirements and check all other labels.
Can I grill the patties?
Yes, on a clean well-oiled grate, turning carefully and checking that every center reaches 160 F.
Why squeeze the onion?
Removing excess liquid keeps the patties firm enough to turn without adding flour or breadcrumbs.
Can I freeze cooked kofta?
Yes. Cool promptly, freeze separately for up to two months, and reheat thoroughly before building a fresh bowl.
What sides pair best with this dish?
Good pairings include Roasted eggplant; A lemon-dressed cabbage salad; Warm pita wedges. Choose one or two based on how substantial you want the meal to be.