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Chirpan kiofteta, poached meatballs in sauce

Chirpan kiofteta, poached meatballs in sauce

Main dishes

Bulgarian meatballs made with rice, cooked with ground apple and carrot, and then simmered in a sauce of bell peppers, tomatoes, and paprika.

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Recipe from Ted Masters, Bobbybbb, Spiritia, adapted by Recette de cuisine · · updated on

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These “kifte,” or meatball-like dishes, are prepared according to a traditional Bulgarian recipe. They are typically served with a vegetable sauce and a side of roasted potatoes.

Ingredients and directions

  • Prep time30 min
  • Cook time45 min
  • Total1 hr 15 min
  • DifficultyMedium
  • CostModerate
  • Cooking methodnibbling
  • Estimated cost$19.13 $3.19 / serving Estimated price; varies by store. Converted from euros at the ECB rate of October 15, 2026.

Ingredients

6 people

Meatballs

  • $3.81
  • $0.87
  • $1.67
  • $0.21

Sauce

  • $3.19
  • $0.41
  • $0.31
  • $0.77
  • $5.03
  • $0.07
  • $0.60
  • $1.06
  • $0.19
  • $0.04
  • $0.90

Prices from US supermarkets for 8 of 15 ingredients; Belgian prices for the rest.

Directions

  1. Mix the meat with the rice, pepper, cumin, and savory, then form into meatballs by rolling them in flour. ≈ 10 min
  2. Bring a large saucepan of salted water to a boil, and poach the meatballs for 5 to 10 minutes.
  3. Add the chopped apples and carrots, and cook for about 15 minutes.
  4. While that’s happening, heat the oil in a pan and sauté the chopped bell peppers, onions, and garlic until softened. Once they are tender, add the flour, followed immediately by the paprika.
  5. Mix everything together, add the grated tomatoes, and cook for 3 to 5 minutes.
  6. Pour this sauce into the saucepan and let it simmer for 5 to 10 minutes. Adjust the seasoning as needed.
  7. Garnish with parsley before removing from the heat. ≈ 2 min

The bill

Chirpan kiofteta, poached meatballs in sauce

  • 400 g of ground meat$3.81
  • 1 handful of rice (50g)$0.87
  • black pepper, cumin, and savory$1.67
  • flour for shaping$0.21
  • 2 bell peppers$3.19
  • 2 onions$0.41
  • 3 to 4 cloves of garlic$0.31
  • 2 carrots$0.77
  • 3 medium-sized tomatoes$5.03
  • 3 tablespoons of flour$0.07
  • 1 tablespoon of paprika$0.60
  • 500 g of ground apples$1.06
  • 3 tablespoons of oil$0.19
  • salt$0.04
  • parsley$0.90

Total$19.13

that's $3.19 per person

Estimated price; varies by store.

Equipment

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Before you start

Ingredients

  • 400 g of ground meat
  • 1 handful of rice (50g)
  • black pepper, cumin, and savory
  • flour for shaping
  • 2 bell peppers
  • 2 onions
  • 3 to 4 cloves of garlic
  • 2 carrots
  • 3 medium-sized tomatoes
  • 3 tablespoons of flour
  • 1 tablespoon of paprika
  • 500 g of ground apples
  • 3 tablespoons of oil
  • salt
  • parsley

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