Lebanese Kafta Spiced Ground Meat (Printer-Friendly)
Tender spiced meat kebabs with Middle Eastern flavors, grilled to perfection and ready in under 40 minutes.
# What You’ll Need:
→ Meats
01 - 1.1 lbs ground lamb or beef, or a combination
→ Vegetables
02 - 1 small onion, finely chopped
03 - 0.5 bunch fresh parsley, finely chopped
→ Spices & Seasoning
04 - 2 garlic cloves, minced
05 - 1 tsp ground allspice
06 - 1 tsp ground cumin
07 - 0.5 tsp ground cinnamon
08 - 1 tsp salt
09 - 0.5 tsp ground black pepper
10 - 0.25 tsp ground cayenne or chili flakes
→ To Serve
11 - Lemon wedges
12 - Chopped fresh parsley
13 - Pita bread
14 - Tahini sauce
# How To Make It:
01 - In a large bowl, combine the ground meat, onion, parsley, garlic, allspice, cumin, cinnamon, salt, pepper, and cayenne (if using).
02 - Mix thoroughly with your hands until fully combined and sticky.
03 - Divide the mixture into 8–10 portions. Shape each into an oval patty or around a skewer for kebabs.
04 - Preheat grill, grill pan, or oven broiler to medium-high heat.
05 - Grill or broil kafta for 8–10 minutes, turning occasionally, until browned and cooked through.
06 - Serve hot with pita bread, lemon wedges, fresh parsley, and tahini sauce, if desired.
# Helpful Hints:
01 -
- The combination of warm spices transforms humble ground meat into something extraordinary and memorable
- These kebabs come together in under 40 minutes but taste like they've been simmering for hours
02 -
- Mixing the meat thoroughly until it becomes sticky is what keeps the kafta tender and prevents it from crumbling on the grill
- Letting the shaped kafta rest for 15 minutes before cooking helps the flavors meld and the proteins relax
03 -
- Don't overwork the meat once you've added the spices just mix until combined and sticky
- Aim for consistent thickness when shaping to ensure even cooking throughout