Bulgur Koftes in Tomato and Pepper Paste Sauce

Harput Köftesi — kofte named for Harput, a highly elevated town about five kilometers from Elazığ city — are an indispensable part of Elazığ cuisine, frequently decorating tables during festivals and weddings. There is a saying about this type of köfte: “I prepared Harput Kofte, rolled (or ‘gındırlamak’ in a local language) it from Harput to Elazığ, and it did not disintegrate.” Therefore, they’re shaped like tires. Gülhan’s mother would often cook this dish with dried basil, a common ingre