All recipes

Kofta Curry (Meatballs in Gravy)

Name: Kofta Curry (Meatballs in Gravy)
Total time: 80 min
Yield: 4
Ingredients: 500 g Minced meat, minced; 2 tbsp Gram flour; 1 pc Eggs; 3 pc Onion, 1 finely chopped for the kofta, 2 sliced for the gravy; 1.5 tbsp Ginger, made into a paste; 1.5 tbsp Garlic, made into a paste; 2 pc Green chilli, finely chopped; 3 tbsp Coriander, finely chopped; 1 tsp Garam masala; 1 tsp Cumin seeds; 0.5 tsp Turmeric; 1.5 tsp Red chilli powder; 1 tsp Coriander powder; 3 pc Tomato, finely chopped; 120 g Yogurt, whisked, at room temperature; 100 ml Cooking oil; to taste Salt

80 min Medium 4 servings

Serves 4 · Total 80 min · Prep 30 min · Cook 50 min

Updated on 8 November 2026

Photo: Miansari66 / CC0 (Public Domain)

Soft spiced mince meatballs simmered in an onion and tomato gravy with a little yogurt. A staple of Urdu-speaking family lunches and Eid tables, best with plain rice or fresh roti. The trick is a binder of egg and gram flour and not stirring the pot for the first 15 minutes.

Quick answer: 80 min in total · serves 4 · main ingredients: Minced meat, Gram flour, Eggs, Onion · amounts in metric and US

Jump to recipe

Ingredients

Metric US

500 g 1.1 lb Minced meat, minced
2 tbsp 2 tbsp Gram flour
1 pc 1 pc Eggs
3 pc 3 pc Onion, 1 finely chopped for the kofta, 2 sliced for the gravy
1.5 tbsp 1.5 tbsp Ginger, made into a paste
1.5 tbsp 1.5 tbsp Garlic, made into a paste
2 pc 2 pc Green chilli, finely chopped
3 tbsp 3 tbsp Coriander, finely chopped
1 tsp 1 tsp Garam masala
1 tsp 1 tsp Cumin seeds
0.5 tsp 0.5 tsp Turmeric
1.5 tsp 1.5 tsp Red chilli powder
1 tsp 1 tsp Coriander powder
3 pc 3 pc Tomato, finely chopped
120 g 0.5 cup Yogurt, whisked, at room temperature
100 ml 0.4 cup Cooking oil
to taste to taste Salt

Steps

Timers run only while this tab is open. The Degchi app keeps them running on a locked phone.

Mix the beef or mutton mince, gram flour, egg, the chopped onion, 1 tablespoon each of ginger and garlic paste, green chillies, coriander, garam masala, half the chilli powder and salt. Knead well for 2 minutes, then chill for 15 minutes.
⏱ Chilling the mixture · 15 min
With damp hands, shape the mixture into 16 balls, each about the size of a walnut. Keep them on a plate.
Heat the oil in a wide pot and fry the sliced onions for about 10 minutes until deep golden brown.
⏱ Browning the onions · 10 min
Add the remaining ginger and garlic paste, cumin, turmeric, coriander powder, the rest of the chilli powder, tomatoes and salt. Cook for about 10 minutes, mashing the tomatoes, until the oil separates at the edges.
⏱ Cooking the masala · 10 min
Lower the heat, stir in the whisked yogurt for 2 minutes, then pour in 500 ml of hot water and bring to a gentle simmer.
⏱ Stirring in yogurt · 2 min
Slide the koftas into the gravy one at a time. Cover and simmer on medium-low heat for 15 minutes without stirring, so they set and do not break.
⏱ Simmering the koftas · 15 min
Uncover and cook 8 more minutes, shaking the pot gently, until the gravy thickens and oil floats on top. The koftas must be cooked through (at least 71 °C / 160 °F inside). Serve hot with rice or roti.
⏱ Thickening the gravy · 8 min

Cook this in the app — get Degchi on Google Play

Get it on Google Play

Not sure you have everything? Check this against your pantry

Frequently asked questions

How long does Kofta Curry (Meatballs in Gravy) take?

80 minutes in total: about 30 minutes of prep and 50 minutes of cooking.

Is Kofta Curry (Meatballs in Gravy) hard to make?

Degchi rates it medium. The method has 7 steps, and 6 of them have a timer you can start on this page.

How many people does Kofta Curry (Meatballs in Gravy) serve?

This recipe serves 4. Use the toggle above the ingredient list to see the amounts in metric or US measures. For more or fewer portions, scale every amount in the same proportion, or use the servings control in the Degchi app.

Is Kofta Curry (Meatballs in Gravy) halal, vegetarian or eggless?

It is marked halal in our recipe data. It is not vegetarian. It contains egg. It has no beef. Check the labels on any packaged ingredients for your own needs.

What will I probably need to buy for Kofta Curry (Meatballs in Gravy)?

Everyday staples that Degchi counts as pantry basics: turmeric, red chilli powder, cooking oil, salt. Spice-box items: garam masala, cumin seeds, coriander powder. Fresh items you will probably need to buy: minced meat, eggs, onion, ginger, garlic, green chilli, coriander, tomato, yogurt. Lentils, grains and other dry goods: gram flour.

Any tips for making Kofta Curry (Meatballs in Gravy)?

Use mince that is not too lean; very lean mince makes dry koftas that crack. Add the yogurt at room temperature and stir it in on low heat so it does not curdle.