tave-kosi
Next Dish: Rice with Side Dishes
Tavë Kosi is a traditional Albanian dish, often considered the national dish of the country. The main ingredients are lamb and rice, which are baked in a dish covered with a mixture of yogurt and eggs called kosi. The dish is typically seasoned with oregano, and sometimes garlic. Tavë Kosi is commonly served with a side salad, and is especially popular in the city of Elbasan, leading to it sometimes being called "Elbasan's Tave".
Recipe
Ingredients:
1 kg of lamb
4 tablespoons of butter
2 tablespoons of rice
4 eggs
1 liter of yogurt
Salt
Pepper
3-4 cloves of garlic
Instructions:
Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F).
Cut the lamb into pieces and season with salt and pepper.
In a pan, melt 2 tablespoons of butter and brown the lamb pieces on all sides.
Once browned, remove the lamb from the pan and set aside.
In the same pan, add the rice and stir for a couple of minutes.
Add the lamb back to the pan, cover, and let it simmer for about 20 minutes.
While the lamb is simmering, prepare the yogurt sauce. Beat the eggs in a bowl, then add the yogurt and crushed garlic. Mix until well combined.
Place the lamb and rice in a baking dish, then pour the yogurt sauce over the top.
Melt the remaining butter and drizzle it over the yogurt sauce.
Bake in the preheated oven for about 45 minutes, or until the top is golden brown.
Allow to cool slightly before serving. Enjoy your Tavë Kosi!