Authentic Beef Kofta
Kofta is a classic Middle Eastern kebab made with ground beef and spices. It’s relatively simple but bursting with flavor. There are different variations based on the culture but I stand by the classic half lamb and half beef. Makes all the difference!
Beef Kofta
Kofta is a beef kabob made from ground beef and/or lamb. It's filled with spices and has delicious flavor. It can be considered Persian, Lebanese and many others. Every culture has their own variation. It's one of my favorite things to eat because its packed with flavor and is so simple. If you don't eat lamb, you can use all beef. But I do strongly suggest using the lamb as it adds a beautiful flavor and tenderness to it. Let's talk about baharat seasoning- you can likely find this at Whole Foods. I tried this recipe with a bunch of variations including making my own and using baharat was the best option. How to serve: I recommend making a big platter of chopped cucumbers, tomatoes, feta, hummus and tzatziki. Grab some warm pita too.
Ingredients
- 1 lb Ground Beef 85%
- 1 lb Ground Lamb
- 1 Onion
- 3 Garlic cloves, minced
- 1.5 tsp Baharat Seasoning
- 2 tsp Salt
- 1 tsp Pepper
Instructions
- Let's work on the onion first. You need a grater for this. No ifs ands or buts! You're going to grate your onion. It's easiest to go side by side leaving the middle intact. Once you have grated the onion, you need to squeeze out the onion juice. I use a paper towel because I never have a cheesecloth handy (who just has that lying around?).
- Use a few paper towels and squeeze out the juice from the grated onion.
- Add your ground beef, lamb, garlic, onion, baharat, salt and pepper to a mixing bowl. I recommend putting gloves on and mixing with your hands. You are going to have to use your hands to shape the kebabs anyway.
- If you are using wooden skewers, be sure to soak them.
- Skewer your meat into your skewers being sure to squeeze the mixture to mold it to the skewer. You want to use your thumb and press down gently as you go.
- Using a grill on medium high heat, Place the meat on and cook for 4 minutes. Flip over and cook for another 4 minutes. Check your internal temperatures to cook to your liking.