Homemade Qofte (Albanian Kernacka)
Juicy, flavorful homemade qofte, also known as Albanian kernacka, made with beef, potatoes, and lots of onion and garlic.
Ingredients
- 5 ibs ground beef
- 3 eggs
- 2 potatoes (medium)
- 3 onions (medium)
- 1 whole head of garlic
- 1 tbsp salt
- 1 tbsp paprika
- 1 tbsp dried oregano
- 3 tbsp olive oil or neutral oil (for cooking, if pan frying)
Instructions
Prepare the potatoes
- Peel the potatoes.
- Boil them in salted water until just tender when pierced with a fork.
- Drain very well and let them cool completely.
- Once cooled, grate the potatoes on the fine side of a grater or mash them very smoothly.
- You want them smooth so they disappear into the qofte and act as a binder.
Prepare the onions and garlic
- Peel the onions and grate them on the fine side of a grater, or pulse them in a food processor until very finely chopped.
- Squeeze out some of the excess liquid from the onions with your hands or a clean kitchen towel so the mixture does not become too wet.
- Peel the whole head of garlic and finely mince or grate the cloves.
Combine the mixture
- Add the ground beef.
- Add the grated or mashed potatoes.
- Add the grated onions and minced garlic.
- Crack in the 3 eggs.
- Sprinkle in the salt, paprika, and oregano.
- Mix everything together very well, folding and pressing the mixture until it becomes sticky and uniform.This step is important. The more you mix, the better your homemade qofte will hold together and the more Albanian kernacka texture you will get.
Rest the mixture
- Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a lid.
- Refrigerate for at least 1 hour, or up to overnight.Resting lets the flavors blend and the mixture firm up.
Shape the qofte / kernacka
- Lightly oil your hands so the mixture does not stick.
- Take a small handful of the meat mixture.
- Shape into small oval patties or finger shaped logs, the traditional kernacka shape.
- Place them on a tray or plate.
- Continue until all the mixture is shaped.
Cook the qofte
- You can grill, pan fry, or bake. Here is a simple pan frying method.
Pan frying
- Heat a large skillet over medium to medium high heat.
- Add oil to the pan.
- Place the qofte in a single layer without crowding.
- Cook for about 4 to 6 minutes per side, depending on thickness, until nicely browned and cooked through in the center.
- Transfer to a plate lined with paper towels while you finish the rest.
Grilling (optional)
- Preheat the grill to medium high.
- Lightly oil the grates.
- Grill the kernacka for about 3 to 5 minutes per side, until charred on the outside and cooked through.
Serve
- Serve your homemade qofte / Albanian kernacka:With fresh bread, salad, and yogurt or tzatzikiIn a sandwich with onions, tomatoes, and picklesAlongside grilled vegetables or fries