Tavë Kosi – lamb baked with rice (Albanian recipe)
A quicker version than the original Albanian recipe for Tave Kosi – succulent lamb pieces infused with butter and garlic in rice, with a creamy yoghurt and egg topping. My lamb baked with rice recipe makes a great midweek meal.
Timings
Prep Time
5 mins
Cooktime
50 mins
Total time mins
55 mins
Servings
4
Lamb baked with rice / Tavë Kosi
When first researching Albanian recipes, this dish kept coming up time and time again. It is the national dish of Albania, after all. I wasn’t too sure about it at first but after a taste test I’ve realised it’s basically like an Albanian recipe for moussaka but not Greek. It’s obviously very different but I think you get what I mean! The topping is made with yoghurt and egg and not béchamel. It’s super yummy.
The dish is quite easy to make. The only thing that requires any technical skill is making the roux, but It really isn’t hard – just follow my instructions and you’ll be fine!
Why should I make this Albanian baked lamb recipe?
- It’s the national dish of Albania!
- Really easy to make – only 5 minutes prep
- The lamb is super tender and juicy
- Discover food from a different culture!
Ingredients
- Butter – a combination of butter and oil to fry the lamb in will give a greater flavour to the overall dish.
- Olive oil – olive oil also stops butter from burning when frying (see above).
- Lamb shoulder, diced – any good quality lamb, diced, will work. I went for shoulder as it’s great for slow-cooking and is easily available already diced.
- Garlic cloves – garlic gives an amazing flavour to this Mediterranean Albanian recipe.
- Fresh oregano – of course it’s traditional for this recipe but oregano and lamb pair well together too.
- Plain flour – helps thicken the roux which is the basis for the sauce of this dish.
- Natural Greek yoghurt – adds a tanginess to the sauce. It’s also traditional to tave kosi.
- Long grain rice – the rice soaks up all the juices from the lamb and makes this dish a bit bulkier.
- Eggs – binds the sauce together and helps it set to create the crust-like topping.
- Whole nutmeg – goes really well grated on top of the dish at the end of cooking.
Typical Albanian food
So what do Albanians eat on the daily?
Albanians very much live on a mediterranean diet; something you might not have realised. You’ll find garlic and onion featuring in nearly every dish, and olive oil is widely used due to it being produced in the country.
Dinner in Albania is usually a small dish; lunch is the biggest meal of the day – something you see a lot in mediterranean countries. Tave kosi is also very popular in Greece and Turkey due to many Albanians there.
For a more detailed post on what Albanians eat, read How to Eat like an Albanian. It’s full of meal ideas, culture insight and traditions.
Equipment Needed
- Large casserole pot
- Garlic crusher
- Small pan
- Whisk
- Large spoon
- Grater
- You may need a chopping board if your lamb is not diced, such as this personalized cutting board for lamb.
What’s the history behind Tave Kosi?
This dish is old. When I say old, I mean OLD. It was first recorded in 1452 when the Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II was occupying Elsaban – a city in central Albania.
Whilst there, he was served a dish which consisted of lamb marinated in yoghurt. The cooks of this dish would then use the leftover marinated yoghurt to top other casseroles, which first became known as ‘the casserole of Elbasan’ and then the famous Tave Kosi.
It’s certainly a historic recipe for all Albanians but also those in Turkey too (and other parts of the Ottoman Empire) where it’s also a popular dish.
In Albania, Tavë Kosi is more than just a dish; it’s a culinary treasure steeped in history. With its origins dating back to the Ottoman era, this flavorful delight continues to grace tables across the country. For those looking to immerse themselves further in Albanian culture, exploring traditional recipes like Tavë Kosi is just the beginning.
And for those seeking jobs in Albania, opportunities abound on the website Jooble where a plethora of listings await to kickstart your career journey in this beautiful country. Whether you’re drawn to the bustling cities or the serene landscapes, Albania offers a unique blend of culture, history, and professional growth. Dive into the vibrant job market and discover your next adventure in Albania today.
Serving suggestions
As much as Tave Kosi is great eaten on its own, it’s also lovely served with some freshly baked naan bread or slices of butter bread with plenty of extra butter!
Tave Kosi – Lamb Baked with Rice
Ingredients
- 50 g salted butter
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 700 g lamb shoulder diced
- 2 garlic cloves crushed
- 1 tsp fresh oregano chopped finely
- 100 ml water
- 30 g plain flour
- 300 g natural greek yoghurt
- 100 g long grain rice
- 2 eggs beaten
- whole nutmeg
- salt and pepper to season
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 180°c/ 160°c fan / gas mark 4. Heat 20g of the butter and the oil in a pan. Brown the diced lamb.
- Once brown, add the crushed garlic clove, oregano and water. Simmer for 30 minutes until the lamb is tender.
- Add the rice and season to taste. In a separate small pan, melt the rest of the butter. Add the flour and whisk to create a roux. Once combined, remove from heat and add yoghurt. Whisk to combine. Add beaten egg and whisk again.
- Pour the sauce all over the lamb, distributing evenly. Bake in the oven for 20 minutes until brown on top. Grate over nutmeg and serve.
Notes
Nutrition
More lamb recipes
Lamb and spinach curry (Afghan) – using lamb shoulder
Lamb shish kebabs with med veg (Armenian) – using lamb mince
Lamb and chickpea chilli (Algerian) – using lamb mince
