Kofte with Tomato Sauce

Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup cubed stale, firm white bread, crustless
• 1 1/4 pounds lean ground lamb or beef
• 1 small onion grated
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
• salt
• 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
• 1 egg, well beaten
• 2 tsp olive oil.

For the sauce:

• 2 tsp olive oil
• 2 ripe tomatoes, peeled, seeded, and chopped
• 1 tsp chopped mediume hot green chili
• pinches of salt
• and sugar
• 1/4 tsp crushed garlic
• 1 tsp red wine vinegar

Directions:

Kofte:

• In a bowl, pour warm water over the bread cubes and le them stand for a few iutes.
• Press out and discard the liquid, leaving the bread in the bowl.
• Add the meat, onion, cumin, salt, and black pepper and knead until well blended.
• Add egg to the mixture and knead with a fork until light and well combined.
• Shape into four patties and fry on both sides to desired doneness.

Tomato sauce:

• In a second skillet, warm the olive oil.
• Add the tomatoes and chili and cook over high heat, stirring until thick.
• Add the salt, sugar, garlic, and vinegar and bring to a boil, stirring,.
• Set aside makes about 1 cup.

We served ours with couscous, the meat patties on top and then the tomato sauce over that.