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    Cooking Gorgeous » Recipes » Main Dishes

    Sulu Kofte - Turkish Meatball Soup

    Published: Apr 6, 2022 by Ayla Clulee · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe

    Sulu Kofte is a rich and hearty Turkish Meatball Soup / Stew consisting of juicy meatballs and vegetables cooked in a tomatoey broth. 

    This traditional Turkish meatball dish is full of Mediterranean flavors and extremely easy to make.

    Sulu Kofte-Turkish meatball soup

    This Turkish Meatball Soup is a flavourful dish of juicy meatballs made with ground meat (lamb, beef, or a mixture), egg, bulgur, onions, herbs, and spices.

    It is a very easy one-pot-dish that the whole family would enjoy, including the kids.

    Growing up Sulu Köfte was one of my favorite dishes that my mom prepared.

    turkish stew made with meatballs and vegetables

    Why This Recipe Works?

    • This Sulu Kofte dish is such a crowd-pleaser and I promise that your kids will love them.  
    • The meatballs keep their shape perfectly when boiled, you don't need to brown them before adding them to the soup!
    • Meatball soup is hearty enough to stand alone as a complete meal, or you can serve it with a side of Tawa Naan with Garlic.
    • You can prepare the meatballs a couple of days in advance and keep them refrigerated until you need them.
    • The leftovers would keep refrigerated for up to five days. If you want to keep them longer, you can freeze them for up to three months.
    • Sulu Köfte tastes even better when reheated, the same as many soups and stews!

    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.

    Labelled picture of ingredients for Sulu Kofte
    • Minced meat - The main ingredient for kofte is mince and its fat content is as important as the quality of the meat. The ideal mince should have %30 fat for soft and delicious koftes. Using lean mince will make them dry and tough. If you want to use lean mince, you should add some fat or oil to the mixture. I generally use half lamb and half beef mince to get the right balance of fat.
    • Bulgur wheat - Use fine or medium-grade bulgur wheat for this recipe. You can find it in the Middle Eastern / Turkish markets and online from Amazon. Alternatively, you can make Sulu Kofte with short-grain rice.
    • Onion - It adds extra flavor and moisture to the meatballs. I prefer grating it into the mixture. You can substitute it with shallots.
    • Egg - It helps to bind the meat, breadcrumbs, spices, and herbs. For up to one kilo of meat, you usually won't need more than one egg.
    • Breadcrumbs - They absorb the juices from the meat as it cooks, trapping them within the meatball. Also, they give meatballs a nice soft texture.
    • Red pepper paste - Turkish red pepper paste is a rich, delicious paste made with juicy, spicy red peppers and I use it quite often in my Turkish recipes. You can buy it from Turkish or Middle Eastern shops or online from Amazon. Substitute it with tomato paste if you don't have it in hand.
    • Vegetables - I like using carrots and potatoes for this soup but you can use any vegetables you have in hand such as peas, courgettes, cauliflower, or sugar snaps.

    How to Make Sulu Kofte?

    This Sulu Kofte recipe is very easy to follow.

    However, to achieve the best results, you need to follow a few simple steps:

    Prepare the Meatballs

    Place the mince, onion, bulgur wheat, breadcrumbs, egg, parsley, dried mint, salt, chili flakes, and freshly ground black pepper in a medium-sized mixing bowl. 

    the meatball ingredients are placed in a bowl

    Mix everything together until it’s thoroughly combined, then continue kneading it for another two minutes.

    the kofte mixture is ready for meatballs

    Shape them into small meatballs, as they will expand when cooked.

    Use water to wet your hands while shaping them to ensure they do not stick to your palms.

    kofta mixture is shaped into small balls

    Place them on a large plate or tray, and sprinkle on some flour making sure they are all nicely covered.

    meatballs are dusted with flour

    Prepare the Soup

    Melt the butter in a Dutch oven or a heavy-based pan on medium heat and then add the pepper paste.

    sautéing the pepper paste with butter in a pan

    Cook the pepper paste for a few minutes before adding the potatoes and carrots.

    potatoes and carrots are added to the pan

    Sauté the vegetables for a minute and then add the vegetable stock (or water) along with the meatballs.

    the meatballs and stock are added to the pan

    Bring the soup to a boil, lower the heat, and gently simmer for 45-50 minutes or until the carrots are cooked.

    Remove it from the heat and serve immediately with a slice of crusty bread!

    carrots and potatoes are cooked until soft

    Top Tips From the Chef

    • The main ingredient for kofte is mince and its fat content is as important as the quality of the meat. The ideal mince should have %30 fat for soft and delicious koftes.
    • Use water to wet your hands while shaping them to ensure they do not stick to your palms.
    • Make the meatballs as small as possible. They will expand once cooked as they contain bulgur wheat. The small meatballs are easier to eat in the soup!

    Serving Suggestions

    Sulu Kofte is a traditional Turkish dish that is typically served as a main course.

    It is a flavorful meatball and bulgur wheat soup that is often accompanied by a few simple side dishes to balance out the meal.

    Here are some traditional dishes that you can serve with Sulu Kofte:

    • Cacik (Turkish Yogurt with Cucumbers): This is a refreshing yogurt and cucumber dip that is perfect for dipping bread into. It is made with yogurt, grated cucumber, garlic, and fresh mint.
    • Persian Shirazi Salad: A simple green salad with tomatoes, cucumbers, and onions is a great complement to the rich flavors of Sulu Kofte.
    • Ayran (Turkish Yogurt Drink): This is a traditional Turkish yogurt drink that is made with yogurt, water, and a pinch of salt. It is a great accompaniment to any Turkish meal, including Sulu Kofte.
    • Bulgur Pilavi (Turkish Bulgur Rice Pilaf): Sulu Kofte already contains bulgur wheat, but you can serve it with an additional side of bulgur pilaf to make the meal more filling and complete.
    • Turkish Pide Bread - Ramazan Pidesi: Or crusty bread such as Bolillo - Crusty Mexican Bread Rolls are often served with Sulu Kofte to soak up the delicious broth and flavors of the dish.

    Recipe FAQs

    Can you freeze the leftover Sulu Köfte?

    Yes, if you're into meal prep and want to make this soup ahead to freeze for later, you can. Let the soup completely cool before you freeze it. Divide it into portions, allowing room at the top of each container.
    To reheat the frozen meatball soup, thaw it in the fridge overnight. Warm thoroughly over medium heat.

    How to store the leftover Meatball Soup?

    This recipe makes 4 large portions. If you are a small family and have some leftover soup, you can store it in the fridge for five days in an airtight container. Be sure the soup has completely cooled before you store it in the fridge.
    To reheat the leftovers, warm them over medium heat, adding a little bit more liquid if needed.

    Can I make Sulu Kofte ahead of time?

    Yes, you can make Sulu Kofte ahead of time. It is actually a great dish to make ahead because the flavors tend to develop and become more delicious over time.
    You can make the meatballs and the soup base ahead of time and store them separately in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
    When you're ready to serve, simply reheat the soup and add the meatballs to the pot. If the soup is too thick, you can add some hot water or broth to thin it out.

    Related Recipes

    For more delicious Soup Recipes why not try:

    • yayla Corbasi Turkish yoghurt Corbasi served with mint sauce
      Yayla Corbasi - Turkish Yogurt Soup
    • roasted pumpkin soup made in Thermomix
      Creamy Roasted Vegan Pumpkin Soup Recipe
    • tomato soup served in a bowl with basil leaves
      Roasted Red Pepper and Tomato Soup
    • Cauliflower and celeriac soup
      Roasted Cauliflower Soup with Celeriac

    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 comforting and delicious Sulu Köfte - Turkish Meatball Soup as much as you enjoy eating it! 🙂 

    Bon appétit! / Afiyet olsun!

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    Sulu Kofte- Turkish soup with meatballs

    Sulu Kofte - Turkish Meatball Soup

    Ayla Clulee
    Sulu Kofte is a rich and hearty Turkish Meatball Soup / Stew consisting of juicy meatballs and vegetables cooked in a tomatoey broth. 
    5 from 4 votes
    Prevent your screen from going dark
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 20 minutes mins
    Cook Time 50 minutes mins
    Total Time 1 hour hr 10 minutes mins
    Course Main Course, Soup
    Cuisine Mediterranean, Turkish
    Servings 4 people
    Calories 568 kcal

    Equipment

    • 1 kitchen scale
    • 1 measuring spoons
    • 1 Measuring cups
    • 1 peeler
    • 1 grater
    • 1 Lodge Dutch oven

    Ingredients
     
     

    For the Meatballs

    • 500 g minced meat (beef, lamb or a mixture)
    • 1 large onion (grated)
    • 100 g bulgur wheat (fine or medium grade)
    • 15 g breadcrumbs
    • 1 small egg
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
    • ½ teaspoon flaked chilli (pul biber)
    • ½ teaspoon dried mint
    • ¼ cup chopped parsley

    For the Soup

    • 1 tablespoon butter
    • 2 tablespoon red pepper paste
    • 2 medium potatoes (approximately 400 grams)
    • 2 medium carrots (approximately 250 grams)
    • 850 ml water or vegetable stock
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • 2 tablespoon plain flour (for dusting the meatballs)

    Instructions
     

    Preparing the Meatballs

    • Place the mince, onion, bulgur wheat, breadcrumbs, egg, parsley, dried mint, salt, chili flakes, and freshly ground black pepper in a medium-sized mixing bowl. 
    • Mix everything together until it’s thoroughly combined, then continue kneading it for another two minutes.
    • Shape them into small meatballs, as they will expand when cooked. Use water to wet your hands while shaping them to ensure they do not stick to your palms.
    • Place them on a large plate or tray, and sprinkle on some flour making sure they are all nicely covered.

    Preparing the Soup

    • Melt the butter in a dutch oven or a heavy-based pan on medium heat and then add the pepper paste.
    • Cook the pepper paste for a few minutes before adding the potatoes and carrots.
    • Sauté the vegetables for a minute and then add the vegetable stock (or water) along with the meatballs.
    • Bring the soup to a boil, lower the heat and gently simmer for 45 minutes or until the carrots are cooked.
    • Remove it from the heat and serve immediately with a slice of crusty bread!

    Video

    Notes

    • The main ingredient for kofte is mince and its fat content is as important as the quality of the meat. The ideal mince should have %30 fat for soft and delicious koftes.
    • Make the meatballs as small as possible. They will expand once cooked as they contain bulgur wheat. The small meatballs are easier to eat in the soup!
    • Use water to wet your hands while shaping the meatballs to ensure they do not stick to your palms.
    • If you're into meal prep and want to make this soup ahead to freeze for later, you can. Let the soup completely cool before you freeze it. Divide it into portions, allowing room at the top of each container.
    • To reheat the frozen meatball soup, thaw it in the fridge overnight. Warm thoroughly over medium heat.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 568kcalCarbohydrates: 53gProtein: 30gFat: 27gSaturated Fat: 10gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 11gTrans Fat: 2gCholesterol: 125mgSodium: 762mgPotassium: 1130mgFiber: 9gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 5572IUVitamin C: 32mgCalcium: 96mgIron: 5mg
    Tried this recipe?Mention @cookingorgeous or tag #cookingorgeous!

    This post uses affiliate links. This means that if you click on them and then buy something, we get a small amount of commission to keep the site running, but it doesn’t cost you anything more.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Daisy

      April 10, 2022 at 4:15 pm

      5 stars
      Looks so delicious! I will have to try this recipe soon. Thank you for sharing!

      Reply
      • Ayla Clulee

        April 11, 2022 at 6:16 am

        You’re welcome, Daisy!

        Reply
    2. Kayla

      April 13, 2022 at 4:01 am

      5 stars
      My family loved this recipe. It was very tasty and really easy to make. I will make it again for sure. Thanks for the recipe.

      Reply
    3. Brena

      April 18, 2022 at 5:49 am

      5 stars
      Delicious, just the perfect flavour I was looking forward too! Needed something different and this hit the spot. Thank you!!!!

      Reply
    4. Martha

      May 14, 2022 at 4:34 am

      5 stars
      I made this today to have for tomorrow. I did sneak in a small bowl to taste test.
      This is so good!

      Reply
      • Ayla Clulee

        May 16, 2022 at 7:10 am

        Hi, Martha! Glad you enjoyed this recipe!
        Best wishes
        Ayla x

        Reply
    5 from 4 votes

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    Welcome to Cooking Gorgeous, where delicious easy-to-follow recipes and culinary inspiration await you! My name is Ayla Clulee, a passionate and professional Cordon Bleu-trained chef, recipe developer, and food content creator with decades of experience. I am based in the UK, and I'm thrilled to have you here.

    The kitchen is my happy place and cooking is my therapy.

    More about me →

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