Spicy Apricot Koftas

We have given these koftas a Middle Eastern twist, spicy with sweet undertones and finished with tahini and pomegranate, the little gem leaf boats make them easy to eat too. Serve these spicy canapés at your next dinner party or holiday bash.

Spicy Apricot Koftas

Makes approx 25
Dietary: Vegan, Gluten free

Prep Time: 45 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes

Ingredients

• Sunflower oil for frying
• 1 small onion chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
• ½ tsp cumin seeds
• ½ tsp turmeric
• 1 tin chickpeas, drained
• 2-3 tbsp gram flour
• 3 tbsp flaked or whole almonds toasted then chopped
• 1 mild red chilli chopped finely or a pinch of dried chilli flakes
• 1 tbsp chopped parsley
• 1 tbsp chopped coriander
• 1 tsp orange flower water or zest of a clementine/small orange
• 100g soft dried apricots, chopped finely
• 1 tbsp sesame seeds
• 1 tbsp nigella/kalongi seeds
• Salt

Gem lettuce boats and topping

• 2-3 baby gem lettuces
• 1 medium carrot, grated
• Juice of 1/2 an orange
• A few mint leaves
• 1 tbsp runny tahini (thin with water if thick- tahini will take quite a bit of water to thin to a drizzling consistency)
• 2 tsp pomegranate syrup/molasses
• Seeds of half a pomegranate

Method

1. Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a frying pan. Fry and soften the onion for 5 minutes, then add the garlic and cumin seeds. Stir in the turmeric and remove from the heat.
2. Blitz the chickpeas till just broken down a little, then add the onion mix, 2 tablespoons gram flour, almonds, chilli, herbs and orange flower water.
3. Pulse a few times till the mixture comes together, but isn't too paste like. Add in the apricots and pulse again to combine. Season to taste.
4. It is worth test frying to make sure the mix stays together and tastes flavoursome. Pinch off a tablespoon of the mix, and form into a test patty, if the mix doesn't stick together, add a little more gram flour to the mixture. Fry the patty in a little oil, then when golden and crisp on both sides, taste and adjust the seasoning if necessary.
5. To make the koftas pinch off walnut sized amounts of the mixture and roll into baby torpedo shaped koftas. Place onto a plate, whilst you roll all the mixture. Finally roll the Koftas in the sesame and nigella seeds. Chill for 30 minutes to firm them up, or covered in cling film for up to 3 days in the fridge till needed.
6. Fry the Koftas in a little oil, rolling them gently around the pan to brown evenly. Alternatively, heat the oven to 200c°/180c° Fan, place the Koftas onto a lightly oiled parchment lined tray, brush each with a tiny bit of oil, and bake till golden for approx 15 minutes.

To assemble:

1. Wash and dry the gem lettuce leaves well, separating the leaves into similar sizes.
2. Mix the grated carrot with the orange juice and chopped mint.
3. Place a tablespoon of the carrot salad onto each lettuce leaf, then top with a kofta.
4. Drizzle over a little tahini then a little pomegranate syrup/molasses.
5. Finally sprinkle a few pomegranate seeds over each kofta, and serve.

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