Kufteh tabrizi

Kufteh Tabrizi are large, stuffed meatballs usually made with ground beef or lamb, split yellow peas, rice, and a variety of fresh herbs and spices. The filling enclosed in the meatballs mostly consists of nuts and dried fruits, and occasionally whole hard-boiled eggs.

As the name suggests, they originated in the Iranian city of Tabriz. In the past, Tabriz meatballs were so large that whole young chickens were used as a filling. Today, they rarely appear in their original form and are mostly the size of an orange or a grapefruit.

These meatballs are usually prepared for special occasions and come served with the accompanying sauce and a sprinkle of cinnamon and saffron.