Cokertme Kebabi is a traditional Turkish dish consisting of marinated beef strips and thin crispy fries covered with tomato sauce, and yogurt. This delightful kebab originates from a village in the Milas district of Muğla province and is widely available in restaurants.
Same as Orman Kebabi and Tas Kebabi, this special Bodrum Çökertme Kebabı is very easy to make at home with a few fridge ingredients.
Çökertme Kebabı has three components to prepare but don't let this discourage you from making this special dish for your loved ones. This recipe is relatively easy, ready in 40 minutes, and extremely tasty.
What is Çökertme Kebabı?
Cokertme Kebabi is a traditional Turkish dish that features sautéed beef or lamb that is served with a tomato-based sauce, yogurt, and fried potatoes. The dish is typically seasoned with a blend of spices such as salt and black pepper, and sometimes with cumin and oregano.
Cokertme Kebabi is a popular dish in Turkish cuisine and is enjoyed in homes and restaurants throughout the country.
Why This Recipe Works?
- This recipe is relatively easy, ready in 40 minutes, and extremely tasty.
- Cokertme Kebab has a unique flavor that comes from the combination of sautéed beef, tomato-based sauce, yogurt, and fried potatoes.
- You can customize the Cokertme Kebab to suit individual tastes by adjusting the amount of spices.
Ingredients You'll Need
Please scroll down to the recipe card below for the full ingredients list with measurements, complete recipe method, recipe notes, and nutritional information.
- Steak - Veal or beef steak is traditionally used for this recipe. I prefer fillet steak but sirloin steak or rump steak would work great too.
- Vinegar - A little bit of vinegar helps to tenderize the steak. You can use white wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar.
- Potatoes - The best potatoes for frying are Yukon gold, Idaho, russets, Maris Piper, and King Edwards.
- Yogurt - Plain, unsweetened natural or Greek yogurt works for this recipe. You can flavor it with a bit of finely chopped garlic or just use it plain.
- Tomato - Use the tastiest tomatoes you can find to get the best result. I prefer beefsteak or Roma tomatoes but any type would work fine as long as they are tasty and juicy.
- Tomato paste - It is the staple of Turkish cooking. It adds an umami flavor to the dishes as well as a bright red color. You can find it in Turkish or Middle Eastern shops. You can also buy it from Amazon .
How to Make Cokertme Kebabi?
Making this restaurant-style Cokertme Kebab is quite simple. However, to achieve the best results, you need to follow a few simple steps and tips:
Marinate the Beef
Trim off any fatty and sinewy bits of your steak, and cut it into thick julienne. In a large bowl, mix the olive oil, vinegar, salt, and pepper.
Add the steak pieces and give it a good stir, making sure all the meat is covered with the marinade.
Let the meat marinate refrigerated for a minimum of two hours, ideally overnight.
Prepare the Tomato Sauce
To make the sauce, place the grated tomatoes, tomato paste, sugar, salt, paprika, and water in a small saucepan.
Stir well to mix them all and let them gently simmer for 15 minutes on low heat while preparing the potatoes.
Prepare the Potatoes
Peel and cut the potatoes into matchstick-size strips and transfer them into a bowl with cold water to remove the starch in the potato and increase flavor.
Drain the potatoes and pat dry them with a kitchen towel.
Heat a cup of oil in a pan on medium-high heat and fry the potatoes until golden and crispy. Do it in batches if necessary to avoid overcrowding the pan. Remove them on a paper towel to get rid of excess oil and start stir-frying your beef.
Stir Fry the Beef
Remove the marinated meat from the fridge and place a wok or a large pan on high heat. When the wok is hot enough, add the meat and stir fry for a couple of minutes, until it's cooked evenly.
Build Your Cokertme Kebab
To serve your kebab, place some fried potatoes on a plate and top it with a dollop of yogurt.
For extra flavor, you can add grated or finely chopped garlic to your yogurt. Drizzle some tomato sauce on the yogurt and place the beef on top.
Finish with some more drizzle of the tomato sauce over the beef and garnish with some parsley.
Top Tip From the Chef
Although traditionally beef steak is used for making this delicious kebab dish, you can use julienne-cut chicken breast or lamb steak if you prefer. The cooking time might vary depending on the size and type of the meat.
What to Serve with Cokertme Kebabi?
This kebab dish is a complete & filling meal on its own. However, you can serve it with a side of salad such as Lebanese Fattoush Salad, Rocket Salad With Parmesan, or Ezme Salad (Acili Ezme) on the side.
Recipe FAQs
Cokertme Kebabi originated in the Aegean region of Turkey and is a popular dish in both Turkish homes and restaurants.
You can marinate the beef up to 2 days ahead and keep it refrigerated until you need it.
Also, you can prepare the tomato sauce up to three days in advance.
Simply peel, slice, and fry the potatoes, warm the tomato sauce up, and stir-fry the beef just before the serving.
Cokertme Kebabi is not typically a spicy dish, although some recipes may include red pepper flakes or other spices for added flavor.
Related Recipes
For more easy and delicious Turkish Kebab dishes why not try:
Did you make this recipe? Please let me know how it turned out! Leave a comment below and tag @cookingorgeous on Instagram and hashtag it #cookingorgeous.
I hope you enjoy the process of making this delightful Cokertme Kebabi as much as you enjoy eating it! 🙂
Bon appétit! / Afiyet olsun!
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Cokertme Kebabi
Equipment
- 1 peeler
Ingredients
For the Marinade
- 400 g fillet steak or sirloin (cut in julienne)
- ¼ cup olive oil
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon white wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
For the Tomato Sauce
- 1 large tomato (grated)
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- ⅓ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon sugar
- ¼ cup water
For Serving
- 400 g potatoes
- 1 cup vegetable or sunflower oil for frying
- 1 cup plain natural yoghurt
Instructions
Marinate the Beef
- Trim off any fatty and sinewy bits of your steak, and cut it into thick julienne.
- In a large bowl, mix the olive oil, vinegar, salt, and pepper, and then add the steak pieces.
- Give it a good stir, making sure all the meat is covered with the marinade.
- Let the meat marinate refrigerated for a minimum of two hours, ideally overnight.
Prepare the Tomato Sauce
- To make the sauce, place the grated tomatoes, tomato paste, sugar, salt, paprika, and water in a small saucepan.
- Stir well to mix them all and let it gently simmer for 15 minutes on low heat while preparing the potatoes.
Prepare the Potatoes
- Peel and cut the potatoes into matchstick-size strips and transfer into a bowl with cold water to remove the starch in the potato and increase flavor.
- Drain the potatoes and pat dry them with a kitchen towel.
- Heat a cup of oil in a pan on medium-high heat and fry the potatoes until golden and crispy. Do it in batches if necessary to avoid overcrowding the pan.
- Remove them on a paper towel to get rid of excess oil and start stir-frying your beef.
Stir Fry the Beef
- Remove the marinated meat from the fridge and place a wok or a large pan on high heat.
- When the wok is hot enough, add the meat and stir fry for a couple of minutes, until it's cooked evenly.
Build Your Cokertme Kebab
- To serve your kebab, place some fried potatoes on a plate and top it with a dollop of yogurt.
- Drizzle some of the tomato sauce on top of the yogurt and place the beef on top.
- Finish with some more drizzle of the tomato sauce over the beef and garnish with some parsley.
Video
Notes
- This special Bodrum Çökertme Kebabı is very easy to make at home with a few fridge ingredients.
- Although traditionally beef steak is used to make this delicious kebab dish, you can use julienne cut chicken breast or lamb steak if you prefer so.
- The cooking time might vary depending on the size and type of the meat.
- Place the potato matchsticks into a bowl with cold water to remove the starch in the potato and increase flavor.
- This kebab dish is a complete & filling meal on its own.
- I recommend that 200 grams of meat are enough for one portion.
- You can add some grated or finely chopped garlic to your yogurt for extra flavor.
Tina
It was lovely. Definitely going to make this again. Thank you so much