Easy Homemade Beef Kofta
This homemade beef kofta is a take on a classic that’s easy to make and packed with flavor and warming spices! Serve it with a side of veggies and tzatziki for the perfect simple dinner.
What is Beef Kofta?
Beef kofta is essentially a spiced meatball popular in middle eastern and Mediterranean cuisine that’s made with ground beef, and spices, and grilled on a skewer. It’s also served with a sauce like tzatziki and sides like vegetables and rice. It’s packed full of flavor, and simple to make!
Why you’ll love this beef Kofta
- It’s the perfect way to use ground beef. If you’re bored of the same ol’ ground beef recipes, this is one that you have to add to your rotation!
- It’s simple to make. Nothing too fancy, just make sure you have some skewers on hand and you’re good to go!
The ingredients for Beef Kofta
- Ground beef. You can technically use lamb to make a similar recipe as well.
- Parsley, cinnamon, oregano, and cumin.
- Lemon zest and fresh lemon juice. This adds a pop of freshness to the beef.
- Onion and garlic. You’ll use grated onion to get lots of flavor and minimal texture.
How to make Beef Kofta
- Make the meat mixture. Using a large bowl, combine the beef, onion, garlic, seasonings, lemon juice, and zest until fully combined.
- Form onto the skewers and chill. Using 4-5 soaked wooden skewers, form a handful of the beef mixture on the skewer in a long shape, covering most of the skewer. Repeat for all of the beef mixtures. Transfer to a plate and chill.
- Grill & serve! Using a grill pan or outdoor grill, set to medium-high heat and grease with oil. Add the beef kofta to the grill surface and grill for about 7-8 minutes on each side, or until fully cooked through.
Tips & Tricks
- Don’t skip chilling the raw kebabs! This helps to ensure that the meat doesn’t slide off of the skewers.
- Stick with fresh lemon. The fresh lemon juice and zests lend a lot of flavors, so go with the fresh stuff.
What to serve with beef kofta
- Raw cucumber and red onion salad. I simply slice them thin and season them with salt, pepper, and lemon juice for a crunchy side.
- Rice or cauliflower rice
- Tzatziki
Can you make beef kofta in the oven?
The grill flavor is traditional to this recipe, but yes, you can make it in the oven in a pinch.
Evenly space the prepared skewers on a parchment-lined baking sheet (with a baking rack if possible) and bake at 350 F for 25 min, or until baked through.
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Easy Homemade Beef Kofta
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- ½ white onion, grated
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp salt
- ¾ tsp black pepper, omit for AIP
- 2 tbsp parsley, chopped
- ½ tsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp cumin, omit for AIP
- 1 tsp oregano
- Juice and zest of half a lemon
To serve
Instructions
- Using a large bowl, combine the beef, onion, garlic, seasonings, lemon juice, and zest until fully combined.
- Using 4-5 soaked wooden skewers, form a handful of the beef mixture on the skewer in a long shape, covering most of the skewer. Repeat for all of the beef mixtures. Transfer to a plate and chill in the fridge for 30 minutes.
- Using a grill pan or outdoor grill, set to medium-high heat and grease with oil. Add the beef kofta to the grill surface and grill for about 7-8 minutes on each side, or until fully cooked through.
- Serve the beef topped with tzatziki and with a side of vegetables and rice.
Notes
To cook in the oven, evenly space the prepared skewers on a parchment-lined baking sheet (with a baking rack if possible) and bake at 350 F for 25 min, or until baked through.
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