Tavë Kosi Baked Lamb and Yogurt

Name: Tavë Kosi Baked Lamb and Yogurt
Prep time: 1 h 5 min
Cook time: 1 h 5 min
Total time: 2 h 10 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Albania
Ingredients: 1.3 lb lamb; ⅔ oz butter; 2 tbsp olive oil; 2 ½ oz rice; 2 tsp oregano; 1 ¾ cups + 2 tbsp boiling water; 2 cloves garlic; Pinch salt; Pinch pepper; 1 ¾ oz butter; 2 tbsp flour; 1.7 lb greek yogurt; 6 eggs; Pinch salt; Pinch pepper

A weekend Albania dinner. Ready in about 2 hours 10 minutes. Difficulty: more effort.

1 hr 5 minPrep (about)
1 hr 5 minCook (about)
2 hr 10 minTotal time
4Servings
More effortDifficulty

Save Add to my week Add to list Share

MealCovered is invite-only right now. Join the waitlist and we'll let you know.

Join the waitlist Not now

Ingredients

How many people?

− 6 people +

Changed from 4 to 6 people · Back to 4

Main ingredient

2 lb lamb Shopping tip: Lamb shoulder or leg, cut in cubes.

Fresh & other

1 oz butter
3 ⅔ oz rice Shopping tip: Long-grain white rice.
2 ¾ cups boiling water
3 cloves garlic
2 ⅔ oz butter
3 tbsp flour
2.5 lb greek yogurt
9 eggs

Sauces & oils

3 tbsp olive oil

Spices & seasonings (5): oregano, salt, pepper, salt, pepper

1 tbsp oregano Shopping tip: Dried is fine.
Pinch salt
Pinch pepper
Pinch salt
Pinch pepper

How to make it

Steps in our own plain words.

Baking the Lamb.
In a large pan melt your butter plus olive oil together then add your diced lamb.
Brown your lamb on medium heat, this will take around 5 min.
Add the garlic, oregano, 1 ¾ cups + 2 tbsp of water.
Season with salt and pepper.
Mix well before covering with the lid.
Leave to simmer for 50 min mixing 2 times ensuring your lamb doesn’t start to burn.
Your juices should have all boiled away so ¾ cup + 3 tbsp of water should be added along using the rice.
Mix altogether.
Bring to the boil.
Place the lid on.
Leave for 10 minutes.
It’s advised.
Do it to check at around 8 min – you want your liquid to be evaporated with moist coating of oily water left over your lamb and rice.
Place the lamb and rice into a baking dish, the mix should fully cover your base plus have at least 2 inches spare for your yogurt.
Alternatively you can split in four ceramic bowls.
Making a Roux.
In a small pot melt the butter over a medium heat.
Add two tablespoons of flour while stirring for two minutes.
Your roux should not be but not too runny, your colour will darken slightly.
Pour the roux into a bowl.
Keep to one side.
Making the Yogurt Mixture.
Eggs in a mixing bowl add the yogurt.
Season with salt and pepper.
Mix then add your roux continuing to mix fast for a min to ensure the roux and yogurt are well mixed.
Pour the yogurt mix over the baked lamb and rice.
Sprinkle on a little oregano, cooking.
Place on bottom shelf of oven on 180 degrees for 35 min then move it up to your middle for a further 10 minutes.
Your Tavë kosi is ready when your yogurt has risen up high plus a golden crust formed.
Leave to cool for 5 – 10 min before serving.