Kofta Kebab

Content… What Is It? Recipe Ingredients How to Make It Recipe Variations Tips and Tricks Make-Ahead Instructions Serving and Storage Instructions FAQs What to Serve More Easy Mediterranean Recipes to Try Conclusion Watch How to Make It

What is Kofta or Kefta Kebab?

Throughout the Middle East, kofta kebabs are a popular dish. The word kofta (or kefta) originates in Persian, meaning pounded or grounded. This makes total sense, considering how the meat is prepared for these kebabs. Since the word kofta has to do with preparation methods, technically, you can make meat kofta, vegetarian kofta, or even seafood kofta.

Recipe Ingredients

• Kebab Mixture – For this recipe, we are using a more traditional kebab meat mixture, which includes beef and lamb. You could use one or the other if you’d like, or another ground meat, such as chicken or turkey.
• Kofta Spices – The warm combination of Mediterranean kebab spices in generous portions make this recipe such a winner. Spices include paprika, allspice, pepper flakes, cumin, cardamom, sumac, nutmeg, and rosemary.
• Fresh Herbs – Fresh parsley, garlic, bell pepper, and onion (ok, so some are technically veggies 🙊) added to the kebab meat mixture give these kebabs an herby, fresh flavor that is just lovely. 😋
• Breadcrumbs – This ingredient helps bind the kebabs together and makes them easier to grill.

How to Make Kofta Kebabs

Prepare the Kofta

• First, add the ground beef and lamb to a large bowl and set aside. (Photo 1)
• Next, blend onions, garlic, and parsley in a food processor or blender. (Photos 2-3)
• Transfer the mixture into a fine sieve and then use a rubber spatula to press out as much liquid as possible out of the minced vegetables.
• Add the mixture to the bowl with all the spices and breadcrumbs. (Photo 4)
• Finally, using your hands, mash the mixture together until evenly combined.

Shape the Meat Mixture

• Take a scoopful of the mixture and mold it on a wooden skewer. (Photos 6-7)
• Then, press the meat to cover the extent of the skewer and set it aside. (Photo 8)
• Continue with this process until all the beef mixture has been used up.

Grill the Kofta Kebabs

• Preheat your grill to medium-high heat.
• If you’re using a grill pan, lightly spray or oil it to prevent the kofta from sticking to the pan. (Photos 9-10)
• Next, place the kofta kebabs right onto your grill and cook for 3-4 minutes or until browned on both sides and cooked through. The cooking time will vary depending on the thickness of the kebabs.
• Remove and serve with fattoush salad, pita bread, and dill sauce. Enjoy!!!

Recipe Variations

1. You can easily make these kofta kebabs gluten-free by omitting the breadcrumbs. If you find the meat mixture isn’t shaping as easily without them, simply put the mixture in the fridge for 10 minutes to firm it up.
2. If you don’t have a grill or grill pan, you can still make kofta kebabs. Just bake them on a sheet pan at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for about 15-18 minutes, or until they are cooked through. If you want to brown them up a little more at the end to mimic the char you get from the grill, turn on the broiler for two or three minutes. And one more tip: if you are baking your kofta kebabs, skewers are purely optional.

Tips and Tricks

1. If you use wooden skewers, there is an easy way to prevent them from catching fire on the grill. Soak the skewers for 30 to 60 minutes, totally submerged in water, before placing the kofta kebabs on them and grilling.
2. Sometimes, I like to shape my kofta on two skewers per kebab. It helps when turning the kofta and makes grilling all sides evenly a lot easier. 😅
3. If you want to get these kebabs grilling before your guests arrive, you can keep already grilled kebabs warm in the oven for about an hour at low temperatures before serving. I usually set my oven to about 165℉/74℃.

Make-Ahead Instructions

You can make kefta kebabs a day ahead of time if you’d like. Prepare the kebabs as per the recipe without grilling them. Store them in the fridge in an airtight container and then grill the following day when you are ready to serve them.

Serving and Storage Instructions

Serve these kebabs fresh off the grill if you can. They definitely taste the best that way. Serve with plenty of salads, dips, and sauces. You’ll find some good ideas for what to serve them with below.

Store any leftover kebabs in the fridge for 3-5 days in an airtight container. To reheat them, you can microwave them (sans metal skewers, of course! 💥), but I think they taste the best if you reheat them on the grill. Heat up your grill to medium-high heat, and then give the skewers about two or three minutes on each side to heat up.

FAQs

What Goes with Kofta Kebabs

Salads, pita bread, and sauces! I love to serve kofta kebabs with a Mediterranean chickpea salad, a Greek salad, or Israeli couscous when it comes to salads.

As for dips, there are so many good ones for this. Homemade dill sauce is definitely a favorite, but tzatziki is a great choice too.

More Easy Mediterranean Recipes to Try

1. Hummus
2. Chicken Shawarma
3. Grilled Shrimp Kabobs
4. Chicken Kabobs
5. Spinach Pie

Conclusion

So go ahead and fire up that grill! This summer grilling recipe is perfect for days spent enjoying the great outdoors and warm weather. What is your favorite Mediterranean dish? Let me know what you think of this recipe in the comments section below!

Watch How to Make It

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