Lamb "Kofta"

Kofta's are simply balls of minced or ground meat — usually beef or turkey — mixed with spices and/or onions. Today I made lamb kofta for a bit of change to the usual recipe.

Ingredients:

* 1 lb minced lamb
* 5 onions chopped very fine
* 2 tbsps garlic paste
* 1 tbsp ginger paste
* 2 tbsps garam masala (for the Koftas)
* 3 tbsps tomato ketchup
* 1/2 cup coriander leaves chopped fine
* Salt to taste
* 3 tbsps vegetable/canola/sunflower cooking oil
* 1 tbsp ginger paste
* 2 tbsps garlic paste
* 2 tsps coriander powder
* 1 tsp cumin powder
* 1/2 tsp turmeric powder
* 1 tsp chilli powder
* 1 tsp garam masala (for the gravy)
* 4 large tomatoes cubed

Method:

* Put the minced lam, 2 of the chopped onions, 2 tbsps garlic paste, 1 tbsp ginger paste, 2 tbsps garam masala, tomato ketchup and coriander leaves in a large bowl and mix well.
* Form the mixture into equal sized balls and keep on a plate.
* Heat the oil in a pan and add the remaining onions. Fry till they are light brown then add the ginger and garlic pastes. Fry for a minute.
* Add all the powdered spices - coriander, cumin, red chilli powder, 1 tsp garam masala, turmeric - and fry for 2-3 minutes.
* Add the tomatoes and mix well. Fry the masala till the oil begins to separate from it.
* Add 2 cups of warm water to the masala and season with salt to taste. Gently add the meatballs now. Do not stir for at least the next 5 minutes.
* Stir gently so as not to break the meatballs.
* Cook uncovered till the lamb meatballs are done. The gravy can be as thick as you like so add or dry up the water as required.