Kosovo Tavë Kosi (Baked Lamb and Rice with Yogurt)

Kosovo Tavë Kosi is a delicious baked lamb dish with rice and yogurt.  The lamb is first cooked with garlic and rice and then seasoned with oregano.  The dish is smothered in a yogurt egg mixture that turns golden brown and souffle like in the oven.  The result is almost like a shepherds pie.  It is light however and has a tartness from the yogurt.  A lovely main dish for any occasion. The dish originated in Albania.  Enjoy!

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3 from 2 votes

Kosovo Tavë Kosi (Baked Lamb and Rice with Yogurt)

Course Main Dish

Cuisine Kosovo

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 1 hour 30 minutes

Total Time 1 hour 40 minutes

Servings 8

Author International Cuisine

Ingredients

• 6 tbsp. unsalted butter
• 1 tbsp. olive oil
• 2 lb. lamb shoulder trimmed and cut into 1" pieces
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
• 1 ⁄3 cup flour
• 3 tbsp. long grain white rice
• 4 cloves garlic finely chopped
• 3 tbsp. finely chopped oregano
• 4 cups plain yogurt
• 1 ⁄8 tsp. freshly grated nutmeg
• 5 eggs

Instructions

• Heat oven to 375 degrees
• Heat 3 tbsp. butter and the oil in a 6-qt. saucepan over medium-high heat.
• Season lamb with salt and pepper and toss with 1⁄4 cup flour.
• Cook lamb, turning as needed, until browned, 10–12 minutes.
• Add rice, garlic, and 1⁄2 cup water; boil.
• Reduce heat to medium-low; cook, covered, until rice is just tender, about 15-20 minutes.
• Stir in oregano, salt, and pepper and transfer to a 9" x 13" baking dish; set aside.
• Melt remaining butter in a saucepan over medium-high heat.
• Whisk in remaining flour; cook until smooth, 2 minutes.
• Remove from heat; whisk in yogurt, nutmeg, eggs, salt, and pepper until smooth.
• Pour yogurt sauce evenly over lamb mixture.
• Bake until golden and the lamb is tender, 45–60 minutes.