Lebanese Kafta Easy Middle Eastern (Printer-friendly)

Juicy spiced meat kebabs with onions, parsley, and aromatic Middle Eastern seasoning, grilled to perfection.

# What You Need:

→ Meats

01 - 1.1 lbs ground lamb or beef (or a mix)

→ 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 (optional)

→ To Serve (optional)

11 - Lemon wedges
12 - Chopped fresh parsley
13 - Pita bread
14 - Tahini sauce

# How to Make It:

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 sticky.
03 - Divide the mixture into 8–10 portions. Shape each into an oval patty or 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 Tips:

01 -
  • The spice blend hits something primal in your brain that says home even if youve never been to the Middle East
  • These come together faster than you can set a table and disappear just as quickly
02 -
  • Mixing the meat thoroughly until it develops a sticky texture is what keeps these from crumbling on the grill
  • Let the shaped kafta rest for 10 minutes before cooking, this helps them hold together better
03 -
  • Dont overwork the meat when shaping or theyll become tough, just enough to hold together
  • Check for doneness by cutting into one piece, the juices should run clear not pink

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