Description
Juicy, spiced Middle Eastern Kofta Kebabs made with ground beef, lamb, or both, blended with fresh herbs and aromatic spices. Grilled to perfection, these kebabs are tender, flavorful, and perfect for any occasion.
Ingredients
1 lb ground beef or lamb (or a mix)
1 small onion, finely grated
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup fresh parsley, finely chopped
2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, finely chopped
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 tablespoon olive oil (for grilling or brushing)
Wooden or metal skewers
Instructions
- Place the ground meat, grated onion, garlic, parsley, cilantro, cumin, coriander, cinnamon, paprika, cayenne (if using), salt, and black pepper in a large bowl.
- Mix thoroughly with your hands until the mixture becomes sticky and well combined.
- Divide the mixture into 6–8 equal portions and shape each one around a skewer into a long sausage-like form.
- Refrigerate the shaped kebabs for at least 30 minutes to help them firm up.
- Preheat a grill or grill pan to medium-high heat and lightly brush it with olive oil.
- Grill the kebabs for 3–4 minutes per side, or until fully cooked through and nicely charred.
- Serve hot with pita bread, hummus, garlic sauce, or a cucumber-tomato salad.
Notes
Mix the meat well to ensure it binds and holds its shape on skewers.
Refrigerating the kebabs before grilling helps prevent them from falling apart.
Use a grill pan or bake in the oven at 400°F if an outdoor grill isn’t available.
Swap in ground turkey or chicken for a leaner version.
Add mint or dill for extra herbal freshness, or smoked paprika for a smokier taste.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: Middle Eastern
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 290
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 520mg
- Fat: 21g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 3g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 22g
- Cholesterol: 75mg
