Mughlai dawat dish · Show-stopper
Nargisi Kofta Recipe (Egg-Stuffed Meatballs)
Thin, even wrap. Fry to seal. Halve to serve.
Recipe by Farwa ZeeshanTested in the NineFoods home kitchenNargisi kofta are boiled eggs wrapped in spiced mince, fried, and simmered in a rich gravy. Cut in half they look like a narcissus flower. They fail when the coating cracks in the oil. The fix is a fine, well-kneaded mince, an even thin wrap and medium-hot oil.
The 3 laws of nargisi kofta
Why this recipe works
Coarse mince
Grind or knead to a smooth paste.
Thick and thin spots
Thin spots crack.
Very hot oil
Medium heat cooks the mince through.
Shopping and prep list
Ingredients
Kofte
Gravy
The NineFoods frying gauge
Is the coating sealed?
Watch the kofta in the oil.
Method · 4 stages
Step by step
Make the mix
- Knead mince with raw egg, besan and spices until smooth.
Wrap eggs
- Flatten a quarter of the mince on a wet palm.
- Wrap an egg evenly and seal. Chill 10 minutes.
Fry
- Fry kofte, turning gently.
- Use the gauge above.
Gravy and simmer
- Fry crushed onions, tomatoes, yogurt and spices until oil separates.
- Add water and kofte and simmer 10 minutes, spooning gravy over.
Chef's troubleshooter
What went wrong? Pick the symptom
Why
Uneven wrap or hot oil.
Fix next time
Wrap evenly, chill and fry on medium.
Why
Mix too wet.
Fix next time
Add besan and squeeze any onion juice out.
Why
Oil too hot.
Fix next time
Fry on medium so the mince cooks through.
Why
Yogurt on high.
Fix next time
Add yogurt on low heat.
Swap smart
Ingredient roles and substitutes
| Ingredient | Job in the dish | Swap with |
|---|---|---|
| Beef mince | Coating | Chicken mince, fry 2 minutes less |
| Hard-boiled eggs | Centre | Quail eggs for mini kofte |
| Besan | Binder | Bread crumbs |
| Yogurt | Gravy body | Cream |
After the meal
Serve, store, reheat
Serve with
Naan, sheermal or pulao.
Store
Fridge 2 days. Freeze uncooked wrapped kofta, not the cooked eggs.
Reheat
Warm the gravy, add halved kofta for 3 minutes.
How we tested this recipe
Tested in a home kitchen, not a studio
Recipe developed and tested by Farwa Zeeshan, who cooks and tests every NineFoods recipe on a regular home stove.
- Cooked from start to finish with the exact quantities above for 4 servings, using both the metric and US cup measures.
- Every one of the 4 stages was timed at the stove; heat levels and the 'look for' cues are what we saw in the pan.
- The doneness check (is the coating sealed) and the troubleshooter come from batches that went wrong, and how we fixed them.
- Reheating and storage advice was checked on leftovers, not guessed.
Keep cooking
Related recipes and guides
Quick answers
Nargisi Kofta FAQ
What is nargisi kofta?
Boiled eggs wrapped in spiced mince, fried and served in gravy.
Why is it called nargisi?
Cut in half it looks like the narcissus (nargis) flower.
How do I stop the coating cracking?
Use fine mince, wrap evenly, chill and fry on medium heat.
Can I bake nargisi kofta?
Yes, at 200 C for 20 minutes, turning once.