Turkey Kofta Kebab Recipe

Name: Turkey Kofta Kebab Recipe
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 35 min
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients: 1 pound ground turkey ({I like 85% lean ground turkey}); 4 cloves garlic (minced); 1/2 sweet onion; 3 tablespoons parsley (finely chopped); 2 tablespoons mint (finely chopped); 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1/8 teaspoon black pepper; 1 teaspoon cumin; 1/2 teaspoon oregano; 1/2 teaspoon coriander; 1 teaspoon cinnamon; 1/4 teaspoon allspice; 1/4 teaspoon cloves; 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (or cayenne red pepper {optional}); 1 egg (slightly beaten); 1 teaspoon lemon juice; 3 tablespoons breadcrumbs; 1 cup tahini; 4 garlic (minced); 1/4 cup lemon juice; 1/4 teaspoon salt

This Turkey Kofta Kebab Recipe is the perfect Mediterranean meal that you can eat on its own, in a pita sandwich, hummus or rice bowls.

Prep15 min
Cook20 min
Total35 min
Makes4 servings
Calories583

Ingredients

4 servings

1 pound ground turkey ({I like 85% lean ground turkey})
4 cloves garlic (minced)
1/2 sweet onion
3 tablespoons parsley (finely chopped)
2 tablespoons mint (finely chopped)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon oregano
1/2 teaspoon coriander
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon allspice
1/4 teaspoon cloves
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (or cayenne red pepper {optional})
1 egg (slightly beaten)
1 teaspoon lemon juice
3 tablespoons breadcrumbs
1 cup tahini
4 garlic (minced)
1/4 cup lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon salt

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 minutes before you start grilling.
3
In a food processor chop the onion and garlic until finely chopped. Add the ground turkey, parsley, mint, salt, pepper, cumin, oregano, coriander, cinnamon, allspice, cloves, red pepper flakes, cayenne pepper, and give it a few pulses.
4
Add the egg and lemon juice and process until the turkey starts to become a thick mixture and everything is pretty well mixed together. Add the breadcrumbs and process until everything is combined.
5
Remove the turkey mixture from the food processor and put it into a large mixing bowl. If the mixture feels very wet and sticky and hard to work with you can add a bit more breadcrumbs so the mixture sticks together better.
6
Use your hands to form 1 to 1 1/2 inch thick kebabs or meatballs shaped kebabs around the skewers making them as long as you want. Do this using each of the skewers until your turkey is done.
7
Brush the grill with oil. Put the kebabs on the grill and grill them over the medium heat for about 4-5 minutes on one side, flip and grill another 4 to 5 minutes. Serve the kebabs with your favorite pita, hummus, tabbouleh and a drizzle of the tahini garlic sauce.
8
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.
9
Serve the kebabs with your favorite pita, hummus, tabbouleh and a drizzle of the tahini garlic sauce.

Notes

Keep in mind ground turkey is a much wetter ground meat to work with. You might have to add more breadcrumbs to the mixture if it seems too wet. These work great in many meals. Try adding them on top of Fattoush or alongside Tabbouleh. Make a pita sandwich out of the kebabs along with tomato, a scoop of tabbouleh, hummus and the tahini garlic sauce. Traditional chicken 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.