Ingredients
Meat and Aromatics
- 1 medium yellow onion (quartered)
- 3 garlic cloves (peeled)
- 2 cups packed fresh parsley leaves (stems removed)
- 16 ounces ground beef
- 8 ounces ground lamb
- 1 slice of bread (toasted until browned, soaked in water and squeezed dry)
Spices and Seasonings
- Salt (to taste)
- Pepper (to taste)
- 1 1/4 teaspoons ground allspice
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon ground sumac
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
Others
- Bamboo skewers (if wooden, soak in water for at least 30 minutes)
- Fresh parsley (chopped, for garnish)
Instructions
- Chop Aromatics: Place the quartered onion, garlic cloves, and parsley in a food processor and pulse until roughly chopped. Alternatively, finely chop with a knife if a food processor is unavailable.
- Mix Meat: In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, ground lamb, and the squeezed toasted bread. Add the chopped aromatics, salt, pepper, allspice, cayenne, cardamom, cumin, sumac, and paprika. Mix thoroughly until all ingredients are evenly incorporated.
- Shape Skewers: With wet hands, form the meat mixture into 10 evenly sized logs. Carefully wrap each log around a soaked bamboo skewer, ensuring the meat is shaped into an even layer about 1 inch thick.
- Preheat Grill: Preheat your grill or grill pan to medium-high heat and lightly oil the grates or surface to prevent sticking.
- Grill Kofta: Place the skewered koftas on the grill and cook for about 4 minutes without moving, allowing the meat to sear properly on one side.
- Finish Cooking: Turn the kofta skewers and cook for an additional 4 to 6 minutes, ensuring they are browned and cooked through. Remove from grill and allow to rest for a few minutes before serving.
- Serve: Garnish with chopped fresh parsley and serve the koftas with pita bread, side salads, or your favorite dipping sauce for a complete meal.
Notes
- Soaking wooden skewers in water prevents them from burning on the grill.
- To ensure evenly cooked kofta, form the logs to an even thickness of about 1 inch.
- You can substitute bread with breadcrumbs if preferred, but toasting enhances flavor and texture.
- Adjust spices to your preferred heat level, especially cayenne pepper.
- This recipe can also be cooked under a broiler or on a grill pan if an outdoor grill isn’t available.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: Middle Eastern
