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Traditional Turkish dish made with bulgur and minced meat, stuffed with spiced ground beef.
In season: Spring · Summer · Autumn · Winter
CALORIES · 100 G
GI
POTASSIUM · 100 G
FIBER · 100 G
1 piece (medium) of Stuffed Meatball (80 g) has 168 calories. That works out to 210 calories per 100 g. It contains 16.8 g of carbs, 8.8 g of protein, 6.4 g of fat and 2 g of fiber. Its 0.9 µg of B12 covers 37% of the Daily Value. Its glycemic index is 55 (medium), so it raises blood sugar at a moderate pace.
Selected: 1 piece (medium) · 80 g
168
KCAL / 80G
Carbs
16.8g
· 6% DV
Protein
8.8g
· 18% DV
Fat
6.4g
· 8% DV
Fiber
2g
· 7% DV
DV is the share of the daily value covered, on a 2,000 kcal reference diet.
Calories come from: Carbs 42% · Protein 22% · Fat 36%
| Nutrient | Amount | % DV |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 168 kcal | |
| Total fat | 6.4 g | 8% |
| Saturated fat | 2.56 g | 13% |
| Trans fat | 0.04 g | |
| Sodium | 256 mg | 11% |
| Total carbohydrate | 16.8 g | 6% |
| Fiber | 2 g | 7% |
| Protein | 8.8 g | 18% |
Calories: Calories measure energy. Average daily need is 2,000 kcal. Excess calories are stored as fat, too few cause weight loss.
Carbs: Your body's primary energy source. The brain runs exclusively on carbs. Daily need: 275g.
Protein: Essential for muscle repair and cell growth. Daily need: 50g. Keeps you full and boosts metabolism.
Fat: Needed for hormone production and vitamin absorption. Daily need: 78g. Limit saturated fats, choose unsaturated.
Fiber: Critical for digestive health and satiety. Daily need: 28g. Stabilizes blood sugar, lowers cholesterol.
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| Serving | Amount | Calories |
|---|---|---|
| 1 piece (medium) | 80 g | 168 kcal |
| 1 piece (extra small) | 40 g | 84 kcal |
| 1 piece (small) | 60 g | 126 kcal |
| 100 g | 100 g | 210 kcal |
| 1 piece (large) | 120 g | 252 kcal |
| 1 serving (medium) | 120 g | 252 kcal |
| 2 piece (double) | 160 g | 336 kcal |
| 1 serving (large) | 200 g | 420 kcal |
| 3 piece (jumbo) | 240 g | 504 kcal |
Calculated from 210 calories per 100 g.
A Turkish stuffed meatball, known as içli köfte, has a bulgur-based shell wrapped around a seasoned minced-meat filling. It is a traditional dish, commonly fried or boiled, with recipes and shapes that vary by region.
A Turkish stuffed meatball is usually filled with minced beef cooked with onion and spices; some regional recipes add walnuts or herbs. The filling is cooled before shaping so it is easier to enclose in the bulgur shell.
Keep the bulgur shell evenly thick, seal the opening completely, and avoid overfilling a Turkish stuffed meatball. For frying, use properly heated oil and lower each piece in gently; cracks can let the filling escape.
A Turkish stuffed meatball can be either fried or boiled. Frying gives it a crisp exterior, while boiling leaves the shell softer; which version you find depends on the recipe and regional tradition.
A Turkish stuffed meatball is closely related to kibbeh, a family of bulgur-and-meat dishes found across the Middle East. The names, shapes, seasonings, and cooking methods differ among cuisines, so the dishes are related rather than identical.
Yes, you can bake a Turkish stuffed meatball after brushing the outside lightly with oil. Baking avoids deep-frying, but the shell may not become as crisp as the traditional fried version.
Yes, freeze Turkish stuffed meatballs uncooked after shaping them. First arrange them separately on a tray; once firm, transfer them to a sealed freezer container so they do not stick together.
Serve a Turkish stuffed meatball with lemon, fresh herbs, or a crisp salad. Yogurt, cacık, or ayran also make cooling accompaniments, especially alongside the richer fried version.
Reheat a Turkish stuffed meatball in an oven or air fryer to help the outside stay crisp. A microwave warms it quickly but tends to soften the bulgur shell; heat leftovers until the center is hot.
Cooked Turkish stuffed meatballs generally keep for 3–4 days in a covered container in the refrigerator. Refrigerate them promptly after the meal, and reheat only the portion you plan to eat.
Vitamins
B12
0.88µg · 37% DV
B5
0.56mg · 11% DV
B3
1.76mg · 11% DV
Biotin
3.2µg · 11% DV
Minerals
Selenium
8.8µg · 16% DV
Zinc
1.68mg · 15% DV
Phosphorus
88mg · 13% DV
Copper
0.1mg · 11% DV
Sodium
256mg · 11% DV
Potassium ⭐
168mg · 5% DV
GLYCEMIC INDEX
GLYCEMIC LOAD
Accounts for portion size — a more realistic measure than GI alone.
To burn the 168 calories in 1 piece (medium) (80 g):
🚶
Walking (5 km/h)
🏃
Running (8 km/h)
🚴
Cycling
🏊
Swimming
Times are calculated with the MET equation for a 70 kg adult. Actual burn varies with your weight, age and pace.
Stuffed Meatball, known in Turkey as içli köfte, is made by enclosing a spiced minced-meat filling in a shell of fine bulgur. It is especially associated with southeastern Turkey, where families shape the shells by hand; the filling often includes onion and may contain walnuts, depending on the recipe.
The bulgur casing is tender yet slightly firm, while the centre is savoury and fragrant. İçli köfte is either boiled or fried and usually served hot, often with lemon and a fresh salad. It appears at family meals and festive tables in Turkey, and is also enjoyed in Turkish communities abroad. A filling choice built around grains and meat, it provides 11 g of protein per 100 g; boiling it rather than frying makes for a lighter serving.
Medium
How many vitamins, minerals and how much fiber this food carries per calorie. A high score means a lot of nutrition for few calories.
Medium
An EatBetter score computed from fiber, protein and calorie density. A high score means staying full longer on the same calories.
Both scores are calculated per 100 g and do not change with the selected portion. The satiety score is EatBetter's own calculation, not a clinical measure.
NOVA 3
Processed
1. Unprocessed
2. Minimally Processed
3. Processed
4. Ultra-Processed
NOVA classifies foods into 4 groups by industrial processing. NOVA 1 (unprocessed) is the healthiest.
Contains these allergens:
Vegan
— Not suitable
Vegetarian
— Not suitable
Gluten-Free
— Not suitable
Dairy-Free
— Not suitable
Mediterranean
✓ Suitable
Paleo
— Not suitable
Whole30
— Not suitable
DASH
— Not suitable
Keto
— Not suitable
Low FODMAP
— Not suitable
SATURATED
2.56g
MONOUNSATURATED
2.16g
POLYUNSATURATED
0.88g
Omega 6:3 ratio 2.5:1
Below the ideal 4:1 — a good omega balance.
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Nutrition data compiled from USDA FoodData Central and scientific sources.