Description
Kafta Kebabs are flavorful Middle Eastern grilled skewers made with a mixture of ground beef, fresh parsley, onions, and aromatic spices. These juicy and tender kebabs are perfect for a quick weeknight dinner or a weekend barbecue, offering a delicious blend of spices with a smoky grilled finish.
Ingredients
Units
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Kafta Mixture
- 1 medium yellow onion, quartered
- 1 cup fresh parsley, washed and patted dry
- 600 grams lean ground beef
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon seven spice blend
- 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper (more to taste)
Instructions
- Prepare the Herb and Onion Mixture: In the bowl of your food processor, add the quartered yellow onion and fresh parsley. Pulse the ingredients until they are finely chopped but not pureed, creating a uniform mixture.
- Mix the Kafta Meat: Transfer the finely chopped onion and parsley mixture to a large mixing bowl. Add the ground beef along with salt, black pepper, seven spice, and cayenne pepper. Using your hands, mix everything thoroughly to combine all the flavors evenly.
- Form the Kebabs: Take portions of the mixture and mold them around skewers, making sure the meat layer around each skewer is about one to one and a half inches thick, shaping them evenly for consistent cooking.
- Preheat and Prepare the Grill: Prepare a charcoal or gas grill. If using a gas grill, preheat it to medium-high heat and lightly brush the grill grates with oil to prevent sticking.
- Grill the Kafta Kebabs: Place the skewers on the hot grill. Cook each side for approximately 4 minutes, ensuring the meat is cooked through with a nicely charred exterior. Use tongs to carefully turn the skewers to avoid breaking the kebabs.
- Serve: Remove the kebabs from the grill and serve immediately while hot and juicy. They are great accompanied by flatbreads, salads, or dipping sauces like tzatziki or tahini.
Notes
- If using wooden skewers, soak them in water for at least 30 minutes before grilling to prevent burning.
- Seven spice is a common Middle Eastern spice blend available at Middle Eastern markets; if unavailable, allspice makes a good substitute.
- If you don’t have skewers, shape the kafta mixture into 1-inch thick patties. These can be grilled or baked and served as kafta burgers or oval-shaped patties.
- For those without a grill, you can bake kafta in a preheated oven at 375ºF (190ºC) for 15-20 minutes or until cooked through. Larger patties may need extra baking time.
- Leftover kafta can be refrigerated for 3 to 4 days or frozen up to 3 months. Defrost overnight in the refrigerator and reheat before serving.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 skewer (approx. 120g)
- Calories: 178 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 554 mg
- Fat: 6 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 3 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 26 g
- Cholesterol: 74 mg
