Cig Kofte Spice Blend – Çiğ Köfte Baharatı Seasoning Mix, 3 Sizes

Çiğ köfte is the famous kneaded bulgur dish of southeastern Turkey, a specialty of Urfa (Şanlıurfa) that has become street food in nearly every Turkish town. The name means "raw köfte": fine bulgur is kneaded — often for half an hour or more — with onion, garlic, tomato and pepper paste, and a heavy hand of spice until the grain softens into a smooth, shapeable paste. It is pressed into finger-marked ovals, served on lettuce leaves with a squeeze of lemon, or rolled into a lavash wrap (çiğ köfte dürüm) with a glass of ayran to cool the heat. The home tradition included raw minced meat, but since Turkey restricted the sale of raw-meat çiğ köfte in 2008, the version sold in shops across the country is made without meat — bulgur-based and, as commonly prepared, fully plant-based. The spice mix is what carries the dish. This blend is a ready-made çiğ köfte seasoning: a coarse, dark, herb-flecked mix in the style shops and home cooks use to season the bulgur dough in one step instead of measuring out each spice. Çiğ köfte blends typically build on isot (the smoky, dark Urfa pepper), red pepper and paprika, cumin, black pepper, allspice, coriander, and dried herbs such as mint — the exact composition varies by maker, so check the package label for the full ingredient list and any allergen information. To use it: soak fine bulgur briefly in hot water, then knead it with the spice blend, grated onion, garlic, tomato and pepper paste, a little oil, pomegranate molasses, and lemon juice until no crunch remains. Season to your own heat tolerance — eastern Turkey likes it dark and fierce; you can start lighter and add more as you knead. The same blend also works as a rub-style seasoning for kısır (bulgur salad), roasted vegetables, or anywhere an isot-cumin profile fits. Available in 100 g, 250 g, and 500 g resealable pouches.