Lebanese Kafta Easy (Printable)
Juicy spiced meat kebabs with Lebanese flavors, ready in 35 minutes
# What You'll Need:
→ Meats
01 - 1.1 lbs ground lamb or beef, or a combination
→ 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
→ To Serve
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 the mixture becomes sticky.
03 - Divide the mixture into 8–10 portions. Shape each into an oval patty or mold 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 Pointers:
01 -
- The spice blend hits that perfect balance between warm and bright, making these kebabs utterly addictive
- Mixing everything with your hands connects you to the food in a way that feels primal and satisfying
- They cook in minutes but taste like you spent all day planning something special
02 -
- The mixture needs to be sticky to hold its shape on the grill, so do not skip mixing it thoroughly with your hands
- Soak wooden skewers for 30 minutes beforehand or they will burn and char before the meat is done
- Letting the formed kafta rest in the refrigerator for 15 minutes helps them hold together better during cooking
03 -
- Do not overwork the meat once you have added the spices, just mix until combined
- Make a tiny test patty and cook it first to check the seasoning before shaping the rest