Kufta (Arabian Style Meatloaf)

One of my favorite Arabic dishes Kufta is essentially the Arabian version of meatloaf made with onion, garlic, and cumin baked on top of fried potatoes and topped with roasted tomatoes fresh parsley and EVOO. Most people have only seen this dish served as a kabab but this is a more traditional family oriented casserole style version that is more typically what one would have when eating in someone’s home.

Ingredients:

2 lbs organic ground grass fed beef

3-4 large Yukon gold potatoes sliced thick (any potatoes will do, these are just my favorite for this dish)

2 large tomatoes sliced thin

1 medium size onion diced small

1 bunch curly leaf parsley minced

3-4 large cloves of garlic grated or pureed (2.5 Tbsp garlic powder can be substituted)

3 Tbsp cumin

1 egg beaten

1 Tbsp sea salt

2 tsp black pepper

1 Tbsp paprika

Trampolini Black Label EVOO for cooking and finishing

Directions:

This is entire meal is cooked in one large cast-iron pan, if you don’t have one simply use a frying pan to cook the potatoes separately and transfer them to your favorite glass casserole dish or baking pan

Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees

In a large bowl mix together beef, egg, cumin, paprika, salt, pepper, 3/4 bunch of chopped parsley, and garlic

Heat olive oil in extra large cast iron skillet and begin frying potatoes, use tongs to check if golden brown then turn potatoes over to cook on other side.

Remove pan from heat

Take beef mixture, layer evenly over cast iron potatoes and place in oven at 375 degrees for  15 mins

Next change oven from bake to broil at 500 degrees and allow broiler to crisp and brown meat for 2-3 mins

Remove pan from oven and place sliced tomatoes evenly over meat, put back in oven and reset oven to bake at 375 degrees for an additional 15 mins

Remove from oven and garnish with remaining parsley and a drizzle of Trampolini Black Label EVOO or Trampolini Novello if seasonally available

Traditionally served with rice, salad and yogurt