Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 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 & 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
Additional Items
- 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 fresh parsley leaves into a food processor and pulse until roughly chopped. If you don’t have a food processor, finely chop them with a knife.
- Mix Meat and Ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, ground lamb, and the soaked and squeezed bread slice. Add the chopped aromatics along with salt, pepper, ground allspice, cayenne pepper, cardamom, cumin, sumac, and paprika. Mix thoroughly until all ingredients are evenly incorporated.
- Shape Skewers: With wet hands to prevent sticking, form the meat mixture into 10 evenly sized logs. Carefully wrap each log around a soaked bamboo skewer, shaping them into an even layer about 1 inch thick.
- Preheat Grill: Heat your grill or grill pan to medium-high. Lightly oil the grill grates or pan surface to prevent sticking.
- Grill the Koftas: Place the skewered koftas on the preheated grill and cook for about 4 minutes on one side, allowing a nice sear to develop.
- Flip and Finish Cooking: Turn the skewers over and cook for an additional 4 to 6 minutes, until the koftas are browned on all sides and cooked through. Remove from the grill and let rest for a few minutes.
- Serve: Garnish with chopped fresh parsley and serve your kofta kebabs with pita bread, a fresh side salad, or your preferred dipping sauce.
Notes
- Soaking wooden skewers in water for at least 30 minutes prevents burning during grilling.
- The soaked bread slice helps bind the meat mixture and keeps the koftas tender.
- If you prefer, you can cook these koftas on a grill pan or in a broiler, but grilling gives the best smoky flavor.
- Adjust spice levels to your preference, especially the cayenne pepper for heat.
- Resting the cooked koftas before serving helps retain their juices for a more flavorful bite.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: Middle Eastern
