Aysun AydınCommis
15 August 2026 Last updated: 15 August 2026

Harput meatballs are a smaller, boiled version of stuffed bulgur dumplings: shape them walnut-sized, simmer them in tomato-seasoned meat broth, and serve them in a bowl with the broth. Semolina keeps the outer shell from breaking apart in the water. Walnuts are the signature filling; in Elazig, Harput meatballs are considered incomplete without them.

Step by Step

How to make it?

1

Cook the filling

12 min

Cook the ground meat in a dry skillet until it releases and reabsorbs its juices. Add the finely chopped onion and cook until translucent. Stir in the coarsely chopped walnuts, salt, black pepper, and mint. Cook for 2 more minutes, then let the filling cool completely.

2

Knead the outer mixture

15 min

Knead the hydrated bulgur with the semolina, egg, and salt for at least 10 minutes. Flatten a small piece in your palm: if you can thin the edges without cracking, the mixture is ready. If it cracks, add 2 tablespoons of hot water and continue kneading.

3

Shape and fill the dumplings

30 min

Take a walnut-sized piece of the mixture and roll it between wet palms. Press a hollow into it with your index finger and thin the walls. Add a 4 ml measure of filling, seal the opening, and roll it again. This makes about forty dumplings.

4

Prepare the broth

8 min

Melt the butter in a pot and cook the tomato paste for 1 minute. Add the meat broth and salt, then bring to a boil.

5

Cook the dumplings

20 min

Add the dumplings to the boiling broth in batches without crowding the pot. Once they float, simmer over low heat for another 12–15 minutes. Cut one in half: it is ready when the outer shell is fully opaque and the filling is hot. Serve in bowls with the broth.

Reminder

After soaking the fine bulgur in hot water, cover it and let it swell for at least 30 minutes. If the bulgur has not fully hydrated, the mixture may crack while shaping and the dumplings may open in the water.

Nutritional Values · 1 serving

Values are estimates
422 kcalCalories
16 gProtein
49 gCarbohydrate
18 gFat
6.5 gFiber
3 gSugar
900 mgSodium
6 gSaturated Fat
Protein 15% Carbohydrate 46% Fat 38%
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