Beef Kafta Kabob Recipe

Name: Beef Kafta Kabob Recipe
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 6 servings
Ingredients: 1 1/2 pounds ground beef; 4 garlic cloves (minced); 1/2 of a medium sweet onion (finely chopped); 2 tablespoons fresh parsley (finely chopped); 2 tablespoons fresh mint (finely chopped); 3/4 teaspoon salt; 1/8 teaspoon black pepper; 1 teaspoon cumin; 1 teaspoon coriander; 1 teaspoon cinnamon; 1/2 teaspoon allspice; 1/2 teaspoon cloves; 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes {optional}; 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper {optional}; 1/2 teaspoon oregano; 1 egg; 1/4 cup breadcrumbs; 1 cup tahini; 3/4 cup warm water {you might need more depending on the consistency you like}; 4 cloves garlic; 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice (or more to taste {1 lemon usually does the trick}); 1/4 tsp salt (or more to taste)

This Beef Kafta Kebab Recipe are easy to prepare and use warm, rich Middle Eastern spices. You can eat the beef kebabs in a pita sandwich or on a plate of hummus with pita on the side.

Prep15 min
Cook15 min
Total30 min
Makes6 servings
Calories571

Ingredients

6 servings

For the Beef Kafta:

1 1/2 pounds ground beef
4 garlic cloves (minced)
1/2 of a medium sweet onion (finely chopped)
2 tablespoons fresh parsley (finely chopped)
2 tablespoons fresh mint (finely chopped)
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon coriander
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon allspice
1/2 teaspoon cloves
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes {optional}
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper {optional}
1/2 teaspoon oregano
1 egg
1/4 cup breadcrumbs

For the Tahini Garlic Sauce:

1 cup tahini
3/4 cup warm water {you might need more depending on the consistency you like}
4 cloves garlic
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice (or more to taste {1 lemon usually does the trick})
1/4 tsp salt (or more to taste)

Method

1
If you are using wooden skewers you will want to soak them for an hour before you grill. If you are using metal skewers set about 6-8 aside depending on how big you want to make your kebabs.
2
Preheat the grill on medium-high heat for 10- 15 minutes before you start grilling.
3
In a food processor chop the onion and garlic until finely chopped.
4
Add the ground beef, parsley, mint, salt, pepper, cumin, coriander, cinnamon, allspice, cloves, red pepper flakes, cayenne pepper, oregano and give it a few pulses.
5
Add the egg and process until the beef starts to become a thick mixture and everything is pretty well mixed together.
6
Add the breadcrumbs and process until everything is combined. Remove the beef mixture from the food processor and put it into a large mixing bowl.
7
Optional: Refrigerate the beef mixture for 30 minutes before shaping to help the mixture hold and bind better.
8
Use your hands to form 1 to 1 1/2 inch thick kebabs around the skewers making them as long as you want. Do this using each of the skewers until your beef is done.
9
Put the kebabs on the grill and grill them over the medium-high heat for about 4-5 minutes on one side, flip and grill another 4 to 5 minutes.
10
Serve the kebabs with your favorite pita, hummus, tabbouleh and a drizzle of the tahini garlic sauce.
11
Put all the ingredients for the Tahini Garlic Sauce in a food processor and process until everything is combined and the sauce is smooth. Add more water to reach the consistency you like.

Notes

These Grilled Beef Kafta Kebabs work great in many meals. Try adding them on top of Fattoush or alongside Tabbouleh. Make a pita sandwich out of the beef along with tomato, a scoop of tabbouleh, hummus and the tahini garlic sauce. Traditional beef kafta doesn't always use breadcrumbs but I like to add that in to help with the consistency of the meat and make it easier to form into kebabs on the skewers.