Mushroom and Ostrich Koftas

I've been working with the marvellous people at MushroomSA to come up with healthy recipes that revolve around a concept called 'Blendability', basically blending finely chopped mushrooms with ground meat to up the nutrition and taste and decrease the calories. It's a cool concept that works to lessen cost, calorie intake, your carbon footprint as well as up the vitamin and mineral content of your food. 

But, aside from all of that factual stuff, it makes the food taste better and in the case of these koftas, makes them lighter in texture which means they're delicious both hot and cold.

You can make them with either ostrich or lamb mince, but ostrich mince is more freely available in South Africa and very low in fat.

Ostrich Koftas

Finger food, eating with hands, generally digging in when it comes to eating is a firm favourite of mine, but this could also be associated with fatty meals, drunkard behavior and boerewors roll stands on street corners at 2am (an occasional favourite of mine). These koftas are certainly not fatty nor are they drunkards, they are simply awesome, little, bite-sized meatballs of deliciousness that can be eaten as a canape, with your hands in a wrap or any which way you like.

Traditionally made with lamb, kofta's are of Middle Eastern origin, but the flavour of the spices usually associated with lamb goes perfectly with Ostrich which is also rich and gamey. All the flavour, none of the fat - booya!

Ostrich Koftas

Ingredients: (makes 20)
500g ostrich mince
1/2 onion (cut into wedges)
handful of fresh corinader
a few sprigs of fresh rosemary
2 tsp ground cumin
pinch of salt and pepper
1 egg

To serve:
tsatsiki and chutney if serving as a canapé
AND (if serving as a main)
tortillas or pita breads
tomatoes
avocado
slices of red onion
fresh rocket/lettuce/coriander/baby spinach

Method:
Put everything into a food processor and blitz until well combined.
Roll into equally sized balls.
Fry in a little oil on med/high heat in batches for 5-7 minutes, turning occasionally to brown on all sides. (You might want to cover the pan with a lid whilst cooking as the little suckers tend to spit)