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Beef kofta kebabs on a white plate with bowl of tzatziki sauce

Beef Kofta Kebabs

Chef Dennis Littley
Beef Kofta kebabs are a delicious and versatile dish that has been enjoyed for centuries across the Middle East and beyond. These succulent meat skewers are made with ground beef, infused with fragrant spices, and grilled to perfection.
5 from 64 votes
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Total Time 22 minutes
Course Entree
Cuisine Middle Eastern, Moroccan
Servings 4
Calories 347 kcal

Equipment

  • Grill Pan or Outdoor Grill

Ingredients
 
 

Beef Kebabs

  • 4 wooden skewers or metal skewers
  • 1 pound ground beef you need some fat in the meat, use 85/15 or 80/20 for the best results.
  • 1 cup onion finely minced
  • 1 teaspoon garlic finely minced
  • 2 teaspoon sweet paprika or smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • 1 teaspoon turmeric
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes more or less to taste
  • ¼ cup fresh parsley chopped
  • ¼ cup fresh cilantro chopped
  • 1 tablespoon fresh mint leaves chopped

Tzatziki Sauce

  • 1 cup Greek yogurt
  • ½ cup grated peeled cucumber squeeze dry
  • 1 teaspoon garlic finely minced
  • 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon fresh mint finely chopped
  • ¼ teaspoon salt to taste

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Instructions
 

Beef Kebabs

  • Add the spices to a small bowl and whisk to blend together.
  • Place the ground beef, spice blend, chopped garlic, and chopped onions in a large bowl.
  • Mix the ingredients together to combine. Cover with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to give the seasonings time to bloom.
  • Form the seasoned beef into a log shape (long cylinder shapes).
  • Skewer the kafta meat with the wooden skewers (or metal skewers), squeezing the mixture to mold it to the skewer.
  • Place the kabobs on a hot grill pan over medium-high heat and cook for 5-6 minutes.
  • Turn the beef kofta kabobs halfway through the cooking process and continue to cook for an additional 5-6 minutes or until an instant-read thermometer reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees F.
    You can also cook these on a gas or charcoal grill to cook the kabobs. Kabobs can also be cooked in a 350-degree oven for 15-18 minutes.

Tzatziki Sauce

  • Add all of the ingredients to a bowl and whisk together to combine. Refrigerate the sauce until ready to serve.
  • Serve the Beef Kebabs with coconut rice and tzatziki sauce. Garnish with chopped parsley.

Notes

If you use wooden skewers and cook over an outdoor grill with an open flame, make sure to soak the wooden skewers in water for 30 minutes to prevent them from burning.

Nutrition

Calories: 347kcalCarbohydrates: 8gProtein: 26gFat: 23gSaturated Fat: 9gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 83mgSodium: 829mgPotassium: 524mgFiber: 2gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 977IUVitamin C: 10mgCalcium: 106mgIron: 3mg
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