Description
Kafta Kebabs are a classic Middle Eastern dish made with a flavorful blend of ground meat and aromatic spices, grilled to perfection. These kebabs are juicy, tender, and bursting with savory goodness, making them a favorite for outdoor barbecues or simple weeknight dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Kafta:
- 1 lb ground beef or lamb (or a mix of both)
- 1 small onion (grated or finely chopped)
- 1/2 cup fresh parsley (finely chopped)
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon ground allspice
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
- wooden or metal skewers (if grilling)
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine the ground meat, grated onion, parsley, garlic, cumin, allspice, cinnamon, salt, black pepper, and cayenne if using.
- Mix well with your hands until fully combined, but do not overwork.
- Divide the mixture into 6–8 portions and shape each one into a long, oval kebab around a skewer or shape them into log-style patties if cooking without skewers.
- Chill for 15–20 minutes to help them hold their shape.
- Grill the kafta kebabs over medium-high heat for 4–5 minutes per side, or until nicely browned and cooked through. Alternatively, cook them in a skillet with a little olive oil or bake at 400°F (200°C) for 18–20 minutes, flipping halfway through.
Notes
- Serve with warm pita bread, hummus, garlic sauce, or a fresh tomato and cucumber salad.
- You can also serve them over rice with a drizzle of tahini sauce or yogurt.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Grilling, Stovetop, or Baking
- Cuisine: Middle Eastern
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 kebabs
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 480mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 4g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 26g
- Cholesterol: 80mg
