Description
This Kofta Kebab recipe delivers the classic Eastern Mediterranean flavors with a juicy blend of ground lamb and beef mixed with aromatic spices, grilled to perfection on skewers. Perfect for a satisfying main course with smoky, tender meat and a beautifully charred exterior.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Meat Mixture
- 1 pound fresh ground lamb
- 1 pound fresh 80/20 ground beef
Spices and Aromatics
- 1 small onion, grated or finely minced
- 2 large cloves garlic, minced
- 2 teaspoons fine sea salt or 1 tablespoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Mix Ingredients: Put all the ingredients in a large bowl and knead until completely mixed. Divide the mix into eight egg-shaped portions.
- Preheat Grill: Set the grill up for direct medium heat (350°F). For gas grills, preheat with all burners on high for 15 minutes then reduce to medium. For charcoal grills, light a chimney full of charcoal, wait for white ash coverage, and spread evenly.
- Shape Kofta Kebabs: Take one portion of the meat mixture and wrap it around the bottom of a skewer, squeezing and working the meat up the skewer into a 1 ½ inch thick tube. Dimple the kebab every inch using your fingers to create nooks and crannies.
- Grill Kebabs: Place the kebabs on the grill over direct medium heat. Cook until firm and browned on the bottom, about 5 minutes. Flip and cook the other side until browned, about 5 more minutes.
- Rest and Serve: Remove the kebabs from the grill carefully due to hot skewers. Let rest for 10 minutes before serving to allow juices to redistribute. Enjoy!
Notes
- For authentic flavor, use a mix of lamb and beef with about 20% fat content for juiciness.
- If you don’t have a grill, these kebabs can be cooked under a broiler or on a stovetop grill pan.
- Soak wooden skewers in water for at least 30 minutes to prevent burning during grilling.
- Adjust red pepper flakes to control the heat level to your preference.
- Allowing the cooked kebabs to rest enhances tenderness and flavor.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 skewer
- Calories: 311 kcal
- Sugar: 0.4 g
- Sodium: 537 mg
- Fat: 24.7 g
- Saturated Fat: 10.1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14.6 g
- Trans Fat: 0.7 g
- Carbohydrates: 1.5 g
- Fiber: 0.4 g
- Protein: 19.4 g
- Cholesterol: 82 mg
