Lebanese Kafta Easy (Printable View)

Juicy spiced meat kebabs with classic Middle Eastern flavors, ready in 35 minutes.

# What You'll Need:

→ Meats

01 - 1.1 lb ground lamb or beef (or a mix)

→ 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 (optional)

→ To Serve (optional)

11 - Lemon wedges
12 - Chopped fresh parsley
13 - Pita bread
14 - Tahini sauce

# How-To Steps:

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.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • These skewers turn a regular weeknight into something that feels like a celebration without requiring hours of prep
  • The spice blend hits that perfect spot between warming and bright, making everyone ask whats in it
02 -
  • Over mixing makes tough kafta, but under mixing makes it fall apart, that sticky texture is your sweet spot
  • Room temperature meat grills more evenly, so take it out of the fridge 20 minutes before cooking
03 -
  • Test a tiny piece of the raw mixture to check seasoning before shaping everything
  • Don't press down on the meat while grilling, you want to keep those juices inside

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