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    Home » Recipes » Persian

    Koufteh (Persian Meat & Rice Dumpling Soup)

    Published: Oct 5, 2021 Modified: Oct 5, 2021 by Candice

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    Bowl of dumpling soup.
    Close up of rice dumpling soup.
    Close up of rice dumpling soup.

    My mom makes Koufteh every other week - sometimes like this, and sometimes in a tomato sauce. If we make it this often, you know it's an absolute winner of a recipe. Both versions are delicious, but this one is my favorite. The blend of simple flavors in the broth is comforting, aromatic, and just wonderful all round.

    Bowl of dumpling soup.

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    TABLE OF CONTENTS hide
    1 Why this Recipe Works
    2 Ingredients & Substitutions
    3 How to Make this Recipe
    4 Koufteh FAQs
    5 Related Recipes
    6 Koufteh - Persian Meat & Rice Dumpling Soup

    Why this Recipe Works

    The beauty of Koufteh is in its combination of spices and herbs to create a flavorful soup broth. The simple broth comes together quickly and easily – it's actually a plain vegetable broth that you can spruce up with bouillon or beef broth.

    The fresh parsley, cilantro, and bay leaves smell incredible and make the broth so fragrant and tasty. No matter whether you cook the dumplings in broth or the tomato sauce version, both are equally mouthwatering.

    I think ground lamb is the best meat for the dumplings, as it adds a rich flavor to an already delicious dish. Having said this, you can also make this recipe with ground beef (what my mom uses), turkey, or chicken.

    Ingredients & Substitutions

    Ingredients on a white countertop.

    beef bouillon - this is my preference if I'm adding extra flavor to the broth, but sometimes I leave it out because that's what I feel like. You can also use better than bouillon, or vegetable broth.

    basmati rice - long grain white basmati rice is preferred for this recipe, but you can substitute with other rice as long as it isn't a par-boiled quick cooking rice.

    oil - any flavorless oil works great in this recipe like canola, sunflower seed, or avocado seed.

    turmeric - this recipe uses dry, ground turmeric, not fresh.

    fresh herbs - you can use parsley, cilantro, tarragon, and basil. A great shortcut is to purchase sabzi koufteh, an herb mix especially for making koufteh.

    How to Make this Recipe

    Bring 2-3 quarts of water to boil with 1 quartered onion, 1 quartered tomato, 3 stalks of celery chopped into 3-inch sections, 2 carrots, 2 bay leaves, optional beef bouillon, ½ teaspoon pepper, & ½ teaspoon salt.

    Note: You can either use 1 beef bouillon cube or or use 1-2 cups beef broth in place of 1-2 cups water. I have made this recipe many times using neither, and loading it up with veggies instead - it is watery, but still delicious if the soup is seasoned properly with salt & pepper. I have had mixed reviews about serving it this way, so choose your own adventure.

    Pot of vegetable soup with large chunks of vegetables.

    Mix together 1 pound of ground lamb or beef, one grated onion, 5 cloves of minced garlic, ½ teaspoon turmeric, ½ cup of basmati rice, ½ cup of finely chopped parsley, ¼ cup of finely chopped cilantro, ¼ cup of oil, 1 teaspoon salt, & ½ teaspoon pepper in a bowl. Set aside.

    Ground meat mixed with herbs and rice.

    Once the water is boiling, roll the beef mixture into 2-inch diameter balls and drop into the boiling soup. Bring back to boil, reduce to simmer, cover, and cook for 45 minutes.

    Pot of soup with rice dumplings.

    Koufteh FAQs

    How do I stop my dumplings from falling apart?

    My two top tips for keeping your meatballs together are to chop the herbs very finely, and also firmly form the dumplings in your hand (don't be afraid to press hard!) This keeps them together without having to use an egg to bind them.

    What is the difference between Koufteh and Kofta?

    Koufteh are round meatballs, whereas Kofta are elongated kebabs where the ground meat is shaped into a longer cylinder around a stick for grilling. The names sound similar though, so may be sometimes mistaken for one another.

    What meat is traditional for Koufteh?

    Koufteh is traditionally made with ground beef, mixed together with rice and other ingredients to form the meatballs. They are traditionally served in a tomato-base or broth.

    Close up of rice dumpling soup.

    Related Recipes

    I was lucky enough to grow up eating Persian food and getting to learn how to cook from my mom, so you can find many Persian recipes on the blog. Here are some recipes I think you'll love if you love this koufteh.

    • Holishkes – Stuffed Cabbage Rolls
    • Dolmeh Felfel | Persian Stuffed Peppers
    • Lamb Stuffed Piquillo Peppers with Avocado Lime Sauce
    • Kotlet

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    Bowl of dumpling soup.
    Print Recipe
    5 from 3 votes

    Koufteh - Persian Meat & Rice Dumpling Soup

    This mouthwatering koufteh, a Persian meat & rice dumpling soup, is filled with fresh herbs & spices. It's a heartwarming recipe you'll love!
    Prep Time20 mins
    Cook Time45 mins
    Total Time1 hr 5 mins
    Course: Main
    Cuisine: Persian
    Diet: Gluten Free, Kosher
    Servings: 4
    Calories: 582kcal
    Author: Candice

    Ingredients

    • 1 lb. ground lamb beef, turkey, or chicken
    • 2 yellow onions 1 grated, 1 quartered
    • 2 carrots chopped into 3-inch long pieces
    • 1 tomato quartered
    • 3 stalks celery chopped into 3-inch long pieces
    • 1 beef bouillon or use 1-2 cups beef broth in place of 1-2 cups water
    • 2-3 quarts water
    • 5 cloves garlic minced
    • ½ teaspoon ground turmeric
    • ½ cup basmati rice
    • ½ cup parsley finely chopped
    • ¼ cup cilantro finely chopped
    • 2 bay leaves
    • ¼ cup oil canola or other flavorless oil
    • salt & pepper

    Instructions

    • Bring 2-3 quarts of water to boil with 1 quartered onion, tomato, celery, carrots, bay leaves, beef bouillon*, ½ teaspoon pepper, & ½ teaspoon salt.
    • Mix the ground lamb, one grated onion, garlic, turmeric, basmati rice, parsley, cilantro, oil, 1 teaspoon salt, & ½ teaspoon pepper in a bowl. Set aside.
    • Once the water is boiling, roll the beef mixture into 2-inch diameter balls and drop into the boiling soup. Bring back to boil, reduce to simmer, cover, and cook for 45 minutes.

    Video

    Notes

    My mom would also make this recipe in tomato sauce instead of broth. Simply add a can of tomato paste and a can of tomato sauce. Remove 1.5-2 cups of water from the recipe. It yields another delicious version of a great dish. Give both a try to see which you prefer.
    You can use any combination of parsley, cilantro, tarragon, and basil. A great shortcut is to purchase sabzi koufteh, a dried herb mix made especially for this dish.
    * You can either use 1 beef bouillon cube or or use 1-2 cups beef broth in place of 1-2 cups water. I have made this recipe many times using neither, and loading it up with veggies instead - it is watery, but still delicious if the soup is seasoned properly with salt & pepper. I have had mixed reviews about serving it this way, so choose your own adventure.
    Adding mixed greens - I often add leftover sauteed greens to the recipe just before serving and they compliment the dish wonderfully. Serving the dish with fresh herbs and lemon/lime wedges for everyone to add in themselves is also a delicious addition.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 582kcal | Carbohydrates: 31g | Protein: 22g | Fat: 41g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 6g | Monounsaturated Fat: 20g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 83mg | Sodium: 147mg | Potassium: 676mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 6190IU | Vitamin C: 23mg | Calcium: 95mg | Iron: 3mg
    Did you try this recipe?Don't forget to leave a rating and/or comment! And tag @ProportionalPlate on TikTok or Instagram... I'd love to see what you're making.
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    1. Laura

      January 04, 2022 at 12:50 am

      5 stars
      Can you use riced cauliflower in place of the basmati rice?

      Reply
      • Candice

        January 04, 2022 at 12:47 pm

        I've never tried it myself so I can't say for sure. Theoretically, the cauliflower will release water and the rice soaks up water, so there is a chance that the dumplings will not hold together.
        If you give it a try, please report back and let us know!

        Reply

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    Meet Candice

    On this blog, I get to share the food that I love, and get to enjoy in my own home. My Persian Jewish heritage influences most of my recipes, and my travels inspire them. And I'm sure you'll notice my love for everything matcha. Welcome, and enjoy!

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