Veal koftas baked under a pastry: A delicious twist

Koftas are a dish originating from the cuisine of the Middle East, South Asia, and the Balkans. Though vegetarian versions also exist, they are typically long or round cutlets made from ground meat, most commonly lamb, beef, or poultry. In this recipe, you can use tender veal. Koftas pair excellently with roasted vegetables and aromatic spices. Such a casserole is irresistible.

When this dish goes into the oven, the entire house fills with a unique aroma. Baked koftas covered with a thin pastry taste outstanding and look appetizing on the table. Discovering the layers and pulling out the steaming meat along with roasted, finely chopped vegetables is a culinary spectacle, the final scene of which plays out on the plates.

Roasted vegetables like eggplant, tomatoes, bell peppers, and onions give the dish a deep, sweet flavor and soft texture, while garlic and chili add spiciness. The veal shoulder cutlets are tender and juicy, and the addition of grated paprika and onion enriches their flavor. This dish definitely deserves an Oscar.

Ingredients:

• 1 eggplant
• 2 tomatoes
• 2 green chili peppers
• 2 red onions
• 1 head of garlic
• 1 red bell pepper
• 1 green bell pepper

Cutlets:

• 1.75 lbs of veal shoulder
• 1 red bell pepper
• 1 red onion
• 1/3 cup chopped parsley
• 1.5 teaspoons salt
• 1 teaspoon pepper
• 4 tablespoons olive oil

Pastry:

• 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup water
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon sesame seeds

Preparation:

Step 1. Place the eggplant, green chili peppers, peeled onions, and tomatoes on a baking sheet, along with the red bell pepper cut into smaller pieces (without seeds). Drizzle the garlic with olive oil, wrap it in aluminum foil, and place it on the baking sheet. Put the sheet in the oven preheated to 350°F for 1 hour. After this time, remove them from the oven, cover with foil, and let them cool down.

Step 2. Grind the veal shoulder in a meat grinder. Add the grated red bell pepper and onion, chopped parsley, salt, pepper, and olive oil, and mix thoroughly. Form elongated koftas.

Step 3. Prepare the pastry. In a bowl, combine the flour, water, olive oil, and salt into a uniform dough. Cover with foil and let it rest for 20 minutes.

Step 4. Peel the roasted vegetables, and squeeze the garlic out of its skin. Chop everything very finely and transfer to a form about 10 inches in diameter. Sprinkle with salt, drizzle with olive oil, and place the koftas on top. Put in the oven preheated to 350°F for 30 minutes.

Step 5. Roll out the dough and cover the pre-baked koftas with it, tucking in the edges. Drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle with sesame seeds, and bake for another 20 minutes.

Step 6. After baking, slice the pastry and serve it with the koftas and vegetables. Enjoy your meal!