Easy Kofta (Beef Or Lamb)

Made with ground meat, either beef or lamb, that is seasoned with the most fragrant herbs and spices and then grilled to perfection, these Easy Kofta are a famous Middle Eastern street food! They are so delicious, juicy, and full of intense layered flavor that will take your tastebuds on a culinary adventure! 

Easy Kofta Kebab Recipe

Have you ever made a recipe that is loaded with spices!?! Well, this easy kofta recipe is just that! In fact, it’s the heavy-handed amount of spices used in most Middle Eastern recipes that creates such intense flavors and makes the food so darn tasty.

Middle Eastern food is one of my favorites! From Oven Roasted Chicken Shawarma to Falafel to Chocolate Baklava, I love it all! So when I recently got inspired to create a new recipe, I just knew it had to be kofta kebab. I’ve been craving them, I had all the spices on hand, and it was just time! 

Kofta kebabs are incredibly delicious, but also super easy to make. You can use your choice of either ground beef or ground lamb. Or, a combination of the two is also an option. But most importantly for the best flavor, you must use all of the spices and fresh herbs in the recipe. It will make a significant difference as the kofta kebabs char grill and the flavors meld together. 

What Are Kofta Kebabs

Kofta kebabs are basically a well-known Middle Eastern street food that is almost like a meatball grilled and served on a skewer. The earliest Arab recipes were always made using lamb, but today you can find them made with beef as well as chicken, pork, or mutton.

They can come in all different shapes, sizes, and regional variations. But kofta kebabs are always made of ground meat, fresh herbs, and lots of aromatic spices that are combined and then formed into a meatball that is then typically grilled over fire to brown the meat and add delicious char flavor.

Kofta Kebabs

• Ground Beef or Lamb – You can use either ground beef or lamb for the kofta kebabs. A mixture of the two is also quite yummy.
• Onion– You’ll want finely diced or shredded onion to add a layer of flavor to the meat.
• Garlic – Fresh minced garlic is the best option. You can also use jarred garlic, but sometimes it has a bitter taste if it has been opened and stored in the fridge for too long.
• Parsley – You want to use fresh Italian parsley in this recipe. Dried parsley could work, but it’s not quite the same.
• Mint – You’ll want fresh mint, an important kofta ingredient used to complement the flavor of the meat and middle eastern spices. 
• Spices – You’ll need a combination of sumac, black pepper, salt, allspice, ground cumin, smoked paprika, and ground cinnamon to season the kofta. If you’ve never used sumac before you are in for a treat. It’s a fantastic spice that has a tang of citrus that adds so much depth to the kofta.

For Serving

• Tzatziki Sauce – This is a lemony cucumber yogurt sauce that is delicious with the kofta. You can find pre-made versions at your local supermarket or even better you can make your own using my super easy Homemade Tzatziki Sauce recipe.
• Hummus – The perfect complement to any Middle Eastern dish! My 10-minute Hummus recipe is super quick and easy to make using the perfect amount of tahini! Or, you can pick up some already made hummus at the market.
• Greek Salad – Serving the kofta kebabs with a fresh Greek Salad is a fantastic way to create a healthy complete meal.
• Feta Cheese – The tangy sharp flavor of feta blends well with all the fresh herbs and seasoning. It also adds a touch of salt with each bite.
• Pita Bread – Unless you’re gluten-free or keto, warm pita bread is a must when serving kofta. 

Prepare The Kofta Kebabs

1. Season the kofta meat: Add the meat, diced onion, minced garlic, chopped fresh herbs, and spices to a large bowl and mix until combined well. 
2. Chill the kofta mixture: Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and then place it in the fridge for at least 30 minutes or up to overnight.
3. Form the kofta kebabs: Measure out about ½ cup of the kofta mixture. Now, with damp hands form it into the shape of a cylinder and then skewer it making sure to fit the ground meat cylinder tightly around the skewer. Then repeat this process until there is no remaining kofta mixture. The ground meat really needs to be molded to the skewer for the best results.   

Grilling Option

1. Preheat the grill: Oil the grates of your grill and then heat it to around 450°F (230°C). If you are using a grill pan instead, you will want to add about a tablespoon of oil to it and heat it to medium-high.
2. Grill the kofta kebabs: Place the skewered kofta on the grill to cook for about 5 minutes turning them from time to time so that they evenly brown on all sides. If necessary you will want to cook the kofta in batches rather than crowd your grill or grill pan.

Air Fry Option

1. Preheat air fryer: Preheat your air fryer to 380°F (195°C).
2. Air fry the kofta kebabs: Place a few kofta kebabs in the air fryer basket, do not over-crowd, and air fry for 7 to 8 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through.

Serve

1. Serve the kofta kebabs: For a delicious authentic Middle Eastern meal serve the kofta on warm pita bread with the tzatziki sauce, hummus, Greed salad, and feta cheese.

Can I Use Ground Turkey?

Yes, you can! But I suggest selecting ground turkey that has some fat content to it for juicy kofta. Really lean turkey tends to cook up dry and the kofta mixture needs to attach to the skewer so that it doesn’t crumble. Another thing you can do is add one egg for every pound of meat if you find that your kofta mixture made with turkey is too dry and not sticking together enough to form cylinder shapes.

Can I Bake The Kofta Kebabs?

Yes! If you don’t own a grill or a grill pan, you can bake the kofta kebabs instead. Just put the formed skewered kofta kebabs on a baking sheet pan sprayed with cooking spray and then bake them at 450°F (230°C) for about 12 to 14 minutes. When they are done baking, if you like, you can put them under the broiler for about a minute on each side to slightly char.

Can I Make Kofta In The Air Fryer?

Yes! I tried it and they came out perfect! Just make the recipe as instructed and then cook the kebabs in your air fryer for 7 to 8 minutes at 380°F (195°C).

Leftovers

You can store Kofta kebabs in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3 to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months! To reheat, you can put them in the microwave for about 4 minutes on medium or put them in the oven at 380°F (176°C) for about 10 minutes.

Other Middle Eastern Recipes To Try

• Beef Shish Kebab
• Shakshuka Recipe
• Baba Ganoush
• Chicken Gyros
• Tabbouleh Salad
• Lamb Meatballs
• Moroccan Spice Blend