Kofta

Kofta is the common English form of a term which has currency all the way from India through C. Asia to the Middle East, the Balkans, and N. Africa. It refers throughout its range to rissoles, meatballs, croquettes, dumplings, and so on, usually made of ground or mashed meat, well kneaded and often mixed with other ingredients such as rice, burghul (bulgur wheat), or vegetables and spices to form a smooth paste. They are sometimes made, e.g. in India, with fish or just vegetables rather than meat.