Ekşili Köfte Recipe (Turkish Meatball Soup with Lemon Sauce)
Ekşili Köfte is a traditional Turkish soup made with tender meatballs, vegetables, and a silky lemon-egg sauce. It’s comforting, nutritious, and perfect for colder days.
Ingredients
- 1/2 lb 225g ground beef
- 1/4 cup white rice rinsed
- 1 small onion finely grated
- 1 carrot diced
- 1 medium potato diced
- 1 egg yolk
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 5 –6 cups water or broth
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Prepare the meatballs
- In a bowl, mix ground beef, rice, grated onion, salt, and pepper. Form into small, bite-sized meatballs.
- Start the soup base
- Heat olive oil in a pot. Add diced carrot and sauté for 2–3 minutes to build flavor.
- Add liquids and vegetables
- Add potatoes and water (or broth). Bring to a gentle boil.
- Cook the meatballs
- Carefully add the meatballs into the simmering soup. Cook for 20 minutes until rice and vegetables are tender.
- Prepare the terbiye (sauce)
- In a bowl, whisk egg yolk, lemon juice, and flour until smooth.
- Temper and combine
- Slowly add a ladle of hot soup into the sauce while whisking, then pour it back into the pot.
- Simmer gently
- Cook on low heat for 3–5 minutes without boiling. Stir gently and serve warm.
Notes
Always temper the egg-lemon mixture with hot soup before adding it to the pot to prevent curdling. Avoid boiling after adding the sauce to maintain a smooth texture.