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    Home » Recipes » Ground Beef Recipes

    Published: Sep 2, 2021 Modified: Dec 2, 2021 by Isabel Laessig

    Easy Beef Kofta Kebab Recipe

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    My easy Beef Kofta Kebab recipe is a delicious Mediterranean ground beef dish that's ready in 30 minutes and perfect for feeding your family or a party! Kofta kebabs use simple ingredients for a flavor-packed, inexpensive meal you will want to make again and again.

    Kofta kebabs on a white platter with garlic sauce
    Jump to:
    • Best Ground Beef Kebab Recipe
    • FAQs
    • Substitutions
    • Recipe Tips
    • Sauce for Kebabs
    • Ground Beef Recipes
    • 📌 Pin it for later!
    • 📋 Recipe
    • 💬 Reviews

    Best Ground Beef Kebab Recipe

    I love ground beef dinners! They're budget-friendly and so simple to make. One of my favorite ground beef recipes is my recipe for Beef Kofta Kebabs. This is a Mediterranean-style dish that has a flavor like you wouldn't believe.

    Packed with spices, this easy beef kofta recipe is a must-try. You can make it for a family dinner or to serve a crowd. The leftovers are just as delicious - if you even have any! My family always comes back for seconds when I make these kebabs.

    Give them a try with creamy garlic sauce and a salad on the side, and I guarantee you'll come back for more, too!

    Kofta kebabs on a white plate with vegetables on the side

    FAQs

    What is kofta?

    Kofta is a Middle Eastern meatball or loaf made using ground meat mixed with herbs and onions. It's also known as kafta, kofte, or kefta, all names that come from the Persian word kufta. Kufta means a rissole, or rolled meat patty.

    Can I make kebabs without a grill?

    Ground beef kebabs can be made in the oven or on the stove. Preheat your oven to 350ºF and bake on a greased baking sheet for 15 to 20 minutes until cooked through to at least 160ºF. Or, use a grill pan over medium-high heat, and grill on each side until browned and cooked through. If you don't own a grill pan, cook the kofta without skewers in a pan.

    How long do you soak skewers?

    Soak bamboo skewers for 30 minutes or up to 1 hour before grilling, but do not let them soak for more than 3 hours. This prevents the skewers from burning on the grill.

    What is kofta seasoning made of?

    Kofta seasoning uses ground white pepper, sea salt, red pepper flakes, cinnamon, ground ginger, allspice, chopped white onion, and fresh parsley and mint.

    What does kofta taste like?

    Beef kofta is full of strong Mediterranean flavors and has a spiced, earthy taste.

    Complete beef kofta on a white platter on skewers

    Substitutions

    • White pepper is best for beef kofta kebabs, but if you have none on hand you can use black pepper.
    • For more or less spice, you can add more or take out the red pepper flakes.
    • You can use dried herbs instead of fresh if you prefer. Use 4 teaspoons dried parsley and 1 teaspoon dried mint.
    Ingredients to make beef kofta kebabs on a table

    Recipe Tips

    • Use 80 to 85% lean ground beef. A little fat keeps the beef kofta juicy and moist.
    • Size each kofta log evenly so they take the same amount of time to cook.

    This recipe is keto friendly. Try more of our Best Keto Beef Recipes!

    Sauce for Kebabs

    • My favorite is White Garlic Sauce. It is literally made for this dish!
    • Lebanese toum is a Lebanese garlic sauce perfect for serving with kebabs.
    • Aioli is amazing with ground beef kebabs.
    • Tahini also works well.
    • Tzatziki is delicious with kofta kebabs.
    Kofta kebabs on a white platter

    Ground Beef Recipes

    Try more of my favorite ground beef recipes:

    • Korean Beef (Instant Pot)
    • Best Meatball Sub Recipe
    • Beef Meatballs Recipe (with Honey Sriracha)
    • Best Homemade Chili

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    📋 Recipe

    Beef kofta kebabs with garlic sauce on a white platter
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    5 from 3 votes

    Beef Kofta Kebabs

    My easy Beef Kofta Kebab recipe is a delicious Mediterranean ground beef dish that's ready in 30 minutes. Kofta kebabs use simple ingredients for a flavor-packed, inexpensive meal you will want to make again and again!
    Prep Time25 mins
    Cook Time5 mins
    Total Time30 mins
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: American, Lebanese
    Keyword: beef kafta, beef kofta, beef kofta kebabs, kafta, kebabs, kofta
    Servings: 8 kebabs
    Calories: 226kcal
    Author: Isabel Laessig

    Equipment

    • 8 metal skewers or wooden skewers (soak for 30 minutes)

    Ingredients

    • 1½ pounds ground beef 80 or 85% lean
    • 1 tsp. sea salt
    • ½ tsp. ground white pepper
    • ½ tsp. red pepper flakes
    • ¼ tsp. cinnamon
    • ¼ tsp. ground ginger
    • ½ tsp. allspice
    • ½ white onion chopped
    • 4 Tbsp. fresh parsley finely chopped
    • 1 Tbsp. fresh mint finely chopped

    Instructions

    • In a small bowl, combine sea salt, white pepper, red pepper flakes, cinnamon, ground ginger, and allspice. In a large bowl, add ground beef, parsley, mint, white onion, and the spice mix.
      Mixing kofta beef in glass bowl
    • Form ground beef mixture into about 8 logs. Skewer each log, packing the mixture evenly and tightly around each skewer. Pull the ground beef lengthwise from the tip of the skewer toward the handle, leaving four inches of skewer to hold the kebabs.
      Skewering kofta kebabs over a white plate
    • Cover in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or overnight before grilling.
      Uncooked kofta kebabs on a white plate
    • Grill skewers over medium-high heat until cooked through and browned on all sides, approximately 2 minutes for each side. The internal temperature should reach 160°F on a meat thermometer.
      Complete beef kofta on a white platter on skewers

    Notes

    • Use 80 to 85% lean ground beef. A little fat keeps the beef kofta juicy and moist.
    • Size each kofta log evenly so they take the same amount of time to cook.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1kebab | Calories: 226kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 15g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 60mg | Sodium: 306mg | Potassium: 303mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 795IU | Vitamin C: 11mg | Calcium: 37mg | Iron: 2mg

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Kela says

      November 28, 2021 at 9:06 pm

      5 stars
      Delicious. Adjusted the spice level a bit to reduce the heat. Will make this again.

      Reply
      • Em Beitel says

        November 30, 2021 at 12:00 pm

        Thank you so much for sharing, Kela! We're so glad you enjoyed it!

        Reply

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