Turkish Spicy Meatless 'Steak' Tartar (Çiğ Köfte)
A renowned, spicy vegetarian Turkish appetizer, traditionally made with raw meat, can be easily prepared as a meat-free alternative at home.
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Instructions
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Wash and peel tomatoes, then puree or finely grate them.
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Rinse bulgur under cold water, drain, and combine with the pureed tomatoes; mix, cover, and set aside for 1 hour to soften.
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Coarsely chop onions and garlic, then pulverize them in a food processor with stale bread and walnuts until a fine powder forms.
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Add this powder along with pomegranate concentrate, isot biber, tomato paste, red pepper paste, cumin, and salt to the bulgur mixture. Knead thoroughly with gloves until all ingredients are well combined.
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Process the mixture in small portions until smooth, then combine and continue kneading until the entire mixture has a smooth consistency.
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Place the mixture in a bowl, cover tightly, and refrigerate for at least 5 hours or overnight.
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The following morning, shape bite-sized pieces into fingerprint forms and arrange them on a serving plate with parsley, green onion, Romaine lettuce, and fresh lemon slivers.