Afghan Kofta Challow (Meatballs in Tomato Sauce over Rice)

About This Recipe

Afghan Kofta Challow is a real, traditional Afghan dish, known as Meatballs in Tomato Sauce over Rice. Spiced ground meatballs simmered in a rich tomato sauce, served over fluffy long-grain rice, a beloved Afghan family dinner.\n\nKofta challow reflects Afghanistan's tradition of pairing seasoned meatballs with a tangy tomato-based sauce and plain white rice (challow), a comforting combination found in home kitchens across the country.\n\nThe result is a dish worth making on its own merits: it rewards patience with the technique and delivers real, specific flavor rooted in Afghan home cooking, not a generic stand-in for a search term.

Ingredients

Serves 6

• 600 gground beef or lamb
• 1yellow onion(grated, divided)
• 1 tspground coriander
• 1 tspfine sea salt(for meatballs)
• 0.5 tspblack pepper
• 1egg
• 4 tbspneutral oil
• 4tomatoes(blended or crushed)
• 2 tbsptomato paste
• 1 tspturmeric
• 300 mlwater
• 1 tspfine sea salt(for sauce)
• 4 cupscooked long-grain rice(to serve)

Instructions

1. 1

   Mix the meatballs

   Combine ground meat, half the grated onion, coriander, salt, pepper and egg, mixing thoroughly. Shape into small meatballs.

2. 2

   Brown the meatballs

   Heat oil in a wide pan and brown the meatballs on all sides; set aside.

3. 3

   Cook the remaining onion

   In the same pan, cook the remaining grated onion until soft, about 6 minutes.

4. 4

   Build the sauce

   Add blended tomatoes, tomato paste, turmeric and water, bringing to a simmer.

5. 5

   Simmer

   Return the meatballs to the sauce, cover, and simmer for 25 minutes until cooked through and the sauce has thickened.

6. 6

   Serve

   Season with salt and serve hot over fluffy long-grain rice.

Variations

• •

  Add a pinch of cinnamon to the tomato sauce for extra warmth, a variation in some households.

• •

  Use ground chicken for a lighter version.

• •

  Serve with a side of fresh cilantro chutney for extra brightness.

Storage

Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Reheat gently on the stovetop or in the microwave with a splash of water or stock to loosen the texture.

Frequently Asked Questions