Description
Lebanese Kafta is a flavorful Middle Eastern dish featuring seasoned ground beef or lamb mixed with fresh herbs and spices, shaped into skewers or patties and grilled to perfection. It’s a delicious and easy-to-make main course perfect for gatherings or weeknight dinners, served traditionally with rice, pita, or salad and garlic sauce.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat Mixture
- 1 pound ground beef or lamb (or a mix of both)
- 1 small onion (finely grated or minced)
- 1/2 cup fresh parsley (finely chopped)
- 2 tablespoons fresh mint (optional, finely chopped)
- 1 teaspoon ground allspice
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
For Cooking
- 1 tablespoon olive oil (for brushing or grilling)
Instructions
- Prepare the Meat Mixture: In a large bowl, combine the ground meat with the grated onion, parsley, mint (if using), allspice, cinnamon, black pepper, salt, and cayenne pepper. Mix thoroughly with your hands until the mixture is fully combined and slightly sticky, which helps with shaping and flavor distribution.
- Shape the Kafta: Divide the meat mixture into 8 to 10 equal portions and shape each into an oval patty or form around metal or pre-soaked wooden skewers into traditional log-shaped kafta, making sure they hold together firmly.
- Preheat and Cook: Preheat your grill, grill pan, or skillet over medium-high heat and brush it lightly with olive oil to prevent sticking. Cook the kafta skewers or patties for about 4 to 5 minutes per side until they are browned and cooked through with an internal temperature safe for ground meat.
- Serve: Serve the kafta hot alongside rice, pita bread, or over a fresh salad, accompanied by garlic sauce or tzatziki for added flavor and moisture.
Notes
- You can also bake the kafta at 400°F (200°C) for 18–20 minutes, flipping them halfway through for even cooking.
- Use ground meat with a bit of fat content (around 85% lean) to ensure juicy and flavorful kafta.
- Fresh herbs and spices are crucial for authentic taste—avoid dried if possible.
- If using wooden skewers, soak them in water for at least 30 minutes before threading the meat to prevent burning.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: Lebanese
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 kafta skewers
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 480mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 3g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 22g
- Cholesterol: 75mg
