Ingredients
1 pound ground beef (or a mix of beef and lamb)
¼ cup parsley
1 small yellow onion, quartered
2 teaspoons ground allspice
½ teaspoon ground coriander
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon ground black pepper
⅛ teaspoon ground nutmeg
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper or to taste
1 tablespoon sumac (optional)
1 clove garlic (optional)
Instructions
1. Pulse parsley in a food processor until finely chopped, then set aside. Finely chop the onion and drain any excess moisture.
2. In a large bowl, combine ground meat, chopped parsley, onion, and spices. Mix evenly using your hands until well combined.
3. Shape the meat mixture into oblong forms or patties. For skewers, ensure the ends are sealed to prevent the mixture from falling off.
4. Preheat your grill to medium-high and grease the grates. Grill the kafta for 4-5 minutes per side or until desired doneness.
5. Alternatively, bake in a 350°F oven for 15-20 minutes or cook in a skillet with a bit of oil.
6. Serve hot with sides like pita, hummus, tabbouleh, or rice pilaf, or in a wrap with tahini sauce, tomatoes, and pickles.
Notes
🍖 Use ground meat with 10-15% fat for optimal juiciness and flavor.
👩🍳 Avoid over-mixing the meat mixture to prevent the kafta from becoming tough.
💦 Dip your hands in water while shaping the kafta to avoid sticking and ensure even portions for uniform cooking.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Grilling Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: Middle Eastern
- Diet: Non-Vegetarian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 of recipe
- Calories: 290 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 360 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 5 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg