Lebanese Kafta Easy (Printable version)

Juicy Middle Eastern spiced meat kebabs with herbs and aromatic spices, grilled to perfection in minutes.

# List of ingredients:

→ Meats

01 - 1.1 pounds ground lamb or beef (or a mix)

→ Vegetables

02 - 1 small onion, finely chopped
03 - 0.5 bunch fresh parsley, finely chopped

→ Spices & Seasoning

04 - 2 garlic cloves, minced
05 - 1 teaspoon ground allspice
06 - 1 teaspoon ground cumin
07 - 0.5 teaspoon ground cinnamon
08 - 1 teaspoon salt
09 - 0.5 teaspoon ground black pepper
10 - 0.25 teaspoon ground cayenne or chili flakes (optional)

→ To Serve (optional)

11 - Lemon wedges
12 - Chopped fresh parsley
13 - Pita bread
14 - Tahini sauce

# Directions:

01 - In a large bowl, combine the ground meat, onion, parsley, garlic, allspice, cumin, cinnamon, salt, pepper, and cayenne (if using).
02 - Mix thoroughly with your hands until fully combined and sticky.
03 - Divide the mixture into 8–10 portions. Shape each into an oval patty or around a skewer for kebabs.
04 - Preheat grill, grill pan, or oven broiler to medium-high heat.
05 - Grill or broil kafta for 8–10 minutes, turning occasionally, until browned and cooked through.
06 - Serve hot with pita bread, lemon wedges, fresh parsley, and tahini sauce, if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The spice blend hits that perfect spot between warm comfort and something excitingly different
  • These come together in about 20 minutes but taste like you spent all day planning them
02 -
  • The mixture needs to be mixed thoroughly until it develops a tacky texture or the kafta will crumble apart
  • Letting the meat rest after mixing helps it hold together better on the grill
03 -
  • Soak wooden skewers for 30 minutes before using so they do not burn on the grill
  • Handle the meat gently when shaping to keep the texture light and juicy

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