Tuna Kofta, Sour Garlic Sauce

Tuna Kofta, Sour Garlic Sauce

Recipe by Josh Niland, Restaurateur & Chef

SAINT PETER, Paddington, Sydney

Serves 4

Kofta
60 ml buttermilk
40 g fresh white breadcrumbs
500 g yellowfin tuna belly, trimmed
3 tsp garlic, finely grated
3 tsp French shallot, finely diced
3 tsp coriander seeds, freshly ground
2 tsp cummin seeds, freshly ground
2 tsp sumac
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp smoked paprika
¼ tsp cayenne pepper
1 tsp sea salt flakes
½ tsp black pepper, freshly cracked
80 ml grapeseed oil

Sour garlic sauce
125 g natural yoghurt
80 ml buttermilk
1 tbs garlic, minced
2 tsp lemon juice
Sea salt flakes
½ bunch chives, finely sliced

Tuna Kofta
Pour the buttermilk over the breadcrumbs in a large mixing bowl. Leave to soak for 10 min until the bread swells and there is no residual liquid left in the bowl.
Pass the trimmed tuna through a meat grinder on a coarse setting (or chop into a coarse mince consistency with a sharp knife).
Add to the breadcrumb mixture along with all the remaining ingredients.
Using your hands, mix everything together for about 1 min, to strengthen the mix slightly (be careful not to work it too far or the kofta will end up being too firm).
Divide the mix into 12 even pieces and roll into long sausage shapes.
Shape the kofta onto stainless steel skewers and store on a plate, covered, in the fridge until needed.
Either preheat a chargrill pan over medium-high heat or a charcoal grill with evenly burnt-down embers. Level out the embers so the heat is even.
Brush the kofta with a little grapeseed oil and season with salt flakes, then grill for 2 to 2½ minutes, turning carefully at 40-second intervals, until cooked through and nicely coloured all over.
Transfer the kofta to a large serving platter and set aside to rest.

Sour Garlic Sauce
Whisk together all of the ingredients in a mixing bowl. Set aside in the fridge.

To serve
With the platter of kofta, place the sour garlic sauce to the side and your choice of accompaniments.

Suggestions for accompaniments 
Eggplant and macadamia purée
Brown butter hummus
Lovage tabbouleh
Flatbreads, such as naan bread
Salad leaves
BBQ grapes