The juiciest Middle Eastern tahini and sumac packed skewers tucked into a lettuce wrap with a quick chopped topping and the most refreshing dressing: these Romaine Kofta Wraps with Mint Yogurt Drizzle are my go-to healthy dinner!
Jump to RecipeSpring has sprung! And so has my obsession with all the fresh flavors! Veggies, fruits, and, you guessed it, all things herbs. Like, I in all seriousness, I cannot get enough of all the fresh mint, basil, and chives that have been springing up recently. I use dried herbs all throughout the year, but there’s just something about the fresh flavors of the home-grown herbs that simply cannot be beat. While I’m not in any way shape or form a gardener (I kill just about any flower I try to keep alive in my room), mint seems to be one of those herbs that just grows like a weed in my garden. Like I seriously have enough to feed an army. Hence, in thinking about all the good recipes I could whip up with this Spring fav, I knew I had to include a good mint yogurt dressing. It’s always one of my favs this time of the year. Plus, when paired with juicy grilled kofta and so many fresh veggies, it’s absolutely unreal. You have to try this one!
the breakdown…
These Romaine Kofta Wraps with Mint Yogurt Drizzle are truly one of the best simple meals for Spring or Summer. With a base of a crunchy romaine, an optional grain for some bulk, and all the good Greek flavors — there’s nothing bad about these handhelds. To start things off, I like to get the Kofta going. If you aren’t familiar, Kofta is kind of like a Middle Eastern meatball on a stick — the skewer version of “keftedes,” if you will. They’re typically eaten with assorted dips, some pita, or — as in this case — some veggies… and they’re PACKED with flavor! Traditionally, lamb is the go-to protein of choice. You could also go with turkey or chicken for this recipe, or even beef if that’s your favorite.
Regardless of the protein that you choose, you’ve gotta mix in all of the flavor and juiciness. For flavor, I go with an assortment of spices and herbs: sumac for some tang, salt because that’s always necessary, oregano for that subtle freshness, and some cumin for a bit of warmth. Nothing crazy, yet so good. Then, here’s the kicker — you’ve got to GRATE both some red onion and some zucchini into that meat mixture. Given that lamb (or turkey or chicken) are all pretty dry, you need to incorporate a bit of moisture into everything one way or another. In this Romaine Kofta Wraps with Mint Yogurt Drizzle recipe, I like to do that with some zucchini. Despite ringing out any excess water, the zucchini is packed with juiciness that keeps everything from drying out. No need for egg, oil, or any superfluous ingredients!
all the flavor…
With that zucchini, you want to throw some red onion in there for a bit of a bite. This will also bring in some moisture into the mix, but will also be a big player in flavoring your meat. Likewise, the addition of tahini adds a nice bitter and somewhat toasty flavor into your Kofta, but also acts as a binding agent. Made of ground up sesame seeds, tahini is truly one of my favorite Middle Eastern flavors. You could even add some to the mint yogurt drizzle if you would like! Either way, wrap up that meat mixture over your skewers and chill them up. This is mostly for flavor, but also helps keep things together a bit as they cook. I like to make my Kofta in the morning and cook them in the evening to let the flavors develop in the fridge. But, hey — if you’re in a time crunch, go ahead and cook them right away. They’ll still be delicious!
let’s talk toppings…
The next piece to these Romaine Kofta Wraps with Mint Yogurt Drizzle is that Greek salad topping. This is truly the simplest chopped salad out there. I like to finely chop up some Roma tomatoes (less watery than other tomatoes), a bit of cucumber, and some kalamatas to start things off. Pretty basic Greek salad ingredients… right? Then, with a bit of pepperoncinis and anchovies, if you would like, things get a bit more fun. Lastly, mix in some more red onion for a bit of a bite and some feta for some creaminess and everything really comes together. Oh, and I don’t even bother with a fancy dressing for this component of the dish. It’s simply not worth it. Rather, I go in with some red wine vinegar and olive oil to marinate those fresh ingredients while still maintaining their natural flavors. You could also add some more fresh mint or parsley, though, if you would like. Really, the key to success with this topping is to just finely chop everything up… so work on those knife skills!
the mint yogurt drizzle…
Lastly, you want to get that mint yogurt drizzle all ready to go. This is probably the most simple and light dressing out there. I mean, all there is to it is some Greek yogurt, lemon juice, mint, parsley, and some s&p. So easy, yet so good. You could also add some tahini, hummus, or baba ganoush to the mix… or even a bit of grated cucumber and fresh dill for more of a tzatziki type of dip. Either way, it’s absolutely delicious drizzled all over those wraps.
how to serve them up…
Speaking of which, the final step of this Romaine Kofta Wraps with Mint Yogurt Drizzle recipe is to throw everything into a nice big heart of romaine! I love romaine for a lettuce wrap, and honestly think they are not used nearly enough. I mean, they’re super crunchy and can hold a whole lot of filling. Still, butter lettuce or pita bread would also be nice substitutes. You could even stuff your pita with some romaine and the rest of the goodies! Personally, however, if I’m looking to bulk up my lettuce wraps, I like to throw in some couscous or pearled couscous. Then, I tuck in a Kofta or two, some of that delicious Greek salad topping, and a generous drizzle of that mint yogurt dressing to finish it off! These are truly the best ever easy lunch or dinner, especially in the Summer or Spring time. You have to make them!
Romaine Kofta Wraps with Mint Yogurt Drizzle
Course: Main CourseCuisine: Middle Eastern, FusionDifficulty: Easy6
servings20
minutes12
minutes20+
minutesThe juiciest Middle Eastern tahini and sumac packed skewers tucked into a lettuce wrap with a quick chopped topping and the most refreshing dressing: these Romaine Kofta Wraps with Mint Yogurt Drizzle are my go-to healthy dinner!
Ingredients
- materials:
10-12 skewers, soaked in water for at least 30 minutes (if using the wooden variety)
- kofta:
1 lb ground lamb (chicken or Turkey also work)
½ a red onion, grated
½ a large zucchini, grated and strained of all water*
1 tsp salt
½ tsp ground cumin
1 tsp sumac
1 tsp dried oregano
2 tbsp tahini*
- Greek salad topping:
2 tbsp red wine vinegar
2 tbsp olive oil
3 mini persian cucumbers, finely diced (or 1 large cucumber)
2 Roma tomatoes, finely diced
¼ cup kalamata olives, finely diced
¼ cup pepperoncinis, finely diced
½ a red onion, finely diced
2-3 anchovies, finely diced (optional)
¼ cup fresh parsley, finely chopped
½ cup feta cheese, cubed or crumbled
- mint yogurt dressing:
1 cup plain Greek yogurt
1 large lemon, juiced
½ cup fresh mint, torn or roughly chopped
¼ cup fresh parsley, finely chopped
Salt and pepper, to taste
2-3 tbsp water, to thin as needed
- assembly:
1 head romaine, pulled apart
Optional: couscous or pearled couscous
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine all of the Kofta ingredients until combined.
- Using one hand to mold the Kofta mixture and the other to hold the skewer, pack about ⅓ cup of the Kofta meat onto each skewer. Allow your Kofta to sit in the fridge for at least 20 minutes, or up to 24 hours (the longer they sit, the more flavorful they will be).
- In a large bowl, combine all of the Greek salad topping ingredients until combined. Set aside for now.
- In a small bowl, whisk all of the mint yogurt dressing ingredients until combined. Set aside for now.
- Indoor method: Grease a grill pan or large cast iron skillet with oil over medium-high heat. Once hot, add your koftas to the hot oil and sear for 3-4 minutes on each side, about 12 minutes total. (You could also do this on an outdoor grill, but I would reduce the cooking time to 2-3 minutes on each side).
- Stuff each heart of romaine with some couscous (as desired), 1-2 skewers of the Kofta, a generous scoop of the Greek salad topping, and a drizzle of the mint yogurt dressing. Eat as a wrap and enjoy!
Notes
- The kofta will be ready to flip when it easily is removable from your grill pan or grill. If it is sticking to the pan (a greased one, that is), it is not ready to flip.
- Other delicious add ins would be fresh or dried dill, pine nuts, pepitas, or sun dried tomatoes.