Hamdi Saidani This Jamie Oliver 15 Minute Meal Lamb Kofte is a flavorful and quick Mediterranean-inspired dish, which uses seasoned lamb mince and couscous with fresh herbs. It’s a complete, satisfying dinner ready in just 15 minutes.
Jamie Oliver 15 Minute Meal Lamb Kofte Ingredients
Kofte:
- 400g lean lamb mince
- 1 tsp garam masala
- Olive oil
- 25g shelled pistachios
- A few sprigs of fresh thyme
- 1 tbsp runny honey
Couscous:
- ½ bunch fresh mint
- 1 fresh red chilli
- ½ mug (150g) couscous
Salad:
- ½ iceberg lettuce
- ½ red onion
- ½ cucumber
- 5 cherry tomatoes
- 4 black olives (stone in)
- 4 heaped tbsp fat-free natural yoghurt
- 2 lemons
- 40g feta cheese
To Serve:
- 4 pitta breads
How To Make Jamie Oliver 15 Minute Meal Lamb Kofte
- Shape and cook kofte: Mix lamb mince with garam masala, salt, and pepper. Form into 8 kofte shapes and sear in a hot pan with olive oil, turning until browned on all sides.
- Prepare couscous: Blitz mint and chilli with seasoning in a food processor. Stir in couscous and 1 mug of boiling water. Cover and let sit.
- Make salad base: Cut lettuce into wedges. Grate onion and cucumber, season with salt, squeeze out excess water, and sprinkle over lettuce. Add chopped tomatoes and pitted olives.
- Add yoghurt dressing: Mix yoghurt with juice of 1 lemon, season, and drizzle over salad. Crumble feta on top.
- Finish kofte and warm pitta: Crush pistachios and toss with cooked lamb, thyme leaves, and honey. Warm pittas in the microwave.
- Assemble and serve: Fluff couscous, scatter remaining mint, and serve everything with lemon wedges.
Recipe Tips
- How to keep kofte from falling apart?
Don’t overwork the mince and press them firmly when shaping. - Can I make it spicier?
Add more fresh chilli or a pinch of cayenne to the lamb mix. - Can I prep the couscous earlier?
Yes, it fluffs up well and stays soft at room temp. - What’s a vegetarian substitute?
Use falafel or grilled halloumi instead of lamb.
What To Serve With Lamb Kofte
Perfect pairings include:
- Hummus or baba ganoush
- Roasted aubergine
- Pickled red onions
- A chilled glass of rosé
How To Store Lamb Kofte
Refrigerate:
Store lamb, couscous, and salad separately in airtight containers. Use within 2 days.
Reheat:
Warm lamb and couscous in a skillet or microwave. Serve fresh salad and yoghurt cold.
Lamb Kofte Nutrition Facts
- Calories: ~587 per serving
- Fat: 28g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Protein: 35g
- Sugar: 6g
Nutrition information is estimated and may vary based on ingredients and cooking methods used.
FAQs
Can I use beef instead of lamb?
Yes, beef mince works well with the same seasoning.
How to toast the pistachios?
Briefly heat them in a dry pan before crushing for extra flavor.
Can I make this gluten-free?
Yes, use GF pittas and replace couscous with quinoa or GF grains.
Can I prep this ahead?
Yes, shape kofte and prep salad earlier to save time.
Jamie Oliver 15 Minute Meal Lamb Kofte
Course: DinnerCuisine: MediterraneanDifficulty: Easy4
servings5
minutes10
587
kcalSpiced lamb kofte paired with mint couscous and a fresh yogurt-dressed salad, wrapped in warm pitta for a satisfying, 15-minute dinner.
Ingredients
400g lamb mince
1 tsp garam masala
Olive oil
25g pistachios
Thyme sprigs
1 tbsp honey
½ bunch mint
1 red chilli
150g couscous
½ iceberg lettuce
½ red onion
½ cucumber
5 cherry tomatoes
4 black olives
4 tbsp yoghurt
2 lemons
40g feta
4 pittas
Directions
- Shape lamb into 8 kofte and cook in hot pan until browned.
- Blitz mint and chilli, add couscous and boiling water, cover.
- Prepare salad with grated veg and tomatoes, dress with lemon yoghurt and feta.
- Toss lamb with crushed pistachios, thyme, and honey.
- Warm pittas, fluff couscous, assemble and serve with lemon.
Notes
- Form kofte tightly to avoid crumbling.
- Add harissa for a spicy kick.
- Use halloumi for a vegetarian version.
- Couscous can be made ahead and fluffed before serving.