Name: Easy Grilled Beef Kofta
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 25 min
Ingredients: 2½ lbs Ground beef; 1 Onion (medium sized); 2 cloves Garlic; 1 cup Flat leaf parsley; ½ tsp Salt; ¼ tsp Pepper; 1½ tsp Pumpkin pie spice; 3 tsp Cumin

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Almost everywhere meat is consumed, people make meatballs. From the Mediterranean to Central and South Asia, people have been enjoying a meatball dish called kofta for thousands of years, being found in some of the oldest Arabic cookbooks. With so many people making it, kofta can be made from almost any meat into almost any shape. This recipe is inspired by the Turkish version made from beef.

If you don’t have much experience cooking Mediterranean cuisine, it is only natural to feel a bit intimidated by the prospect of cooking it yourself. I certainly felt that way! I loved eating koftas at restaurants, but I never dared to make them myself. The flavors were so sophisticated and exotic, I wasn’t sure I could ever replicate the taste.

But take heart; one reason kofta is so widespread is that it’s actually not that difficult to make. If you’ve made meatloaf or Italian meatballs, you can make kofta. Since facing my fears and making these delectable balls for the first time, I have discovered a hack that makes this recipe even easier than you could imagine! This recipe starts with ground beef, which is very familiar and accessible in the U.S. As for the spices, instead of putting in cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, ginger, and allspice separately, you can add just one ingredient: pumpkin pie spice. Pumpkin pie spice already blends all those wonderful spices in one easy-to-use jar!

While there are many different ways to cook the Kofta, my favorite method is grilling as it adds flame-broiled smokiness. But if you do not have an access to a grill, you can cook it on an indoor grill, stove top, or in the oven. This kofta dish is naturally gluten-free and takes less than 30 minutes to make from scratch. Scroll down to see how you can make this tasty dish in your own kitchen.

easy grilled beef kofta recipe (kafta, kefta)

Ingredients

2.5 lbs Ground beef
1 Onion, medium sized
2 cloves Garlic
1 cup Parsley, flat leaf
1/2 tsp Salt
1/4 tsp Pepper
1 1/2 tsp Pumpkin pie spice
3 tsp Cumin

Instructions

The first step in making the kofta is finely chopping the onion, garlic, and parsley. You can either use your knife to chop them, or use a food processor or a blender. Once the vegetables are chopped, add them to a large mixing bowl with ground beef, pumpkin pie spice, cumin, salt, and pepper. Combine all the ingredients and form meatballs that are 3-in x 2-in x 1/2-in.

Next, preheat the grill to 350–375°F and grill the koftas for 15 minutes, turning them over halfway through the cooking process. Remove the koftas from the grill once cooked through to an internal temperature of 170°F.

Follow the alternative instructions in the recipe card notes if you will be using something other than a grill to cook the koftas.

And that is it! The grilled beef koftas are now ready. You can pair the koftas with a fresh vegetable side, such as Mediterranean Lemon Parsley Salad or Tabbouleh, and a carb like Pita bread, Rice pilaf, or Couscous. Also, Cucumber-Dill Tzatziki Yogurt Sauce and hummus are must-have sides that are extremely quick to make, but much more delicious freshly homemade than store-bought.

easy grilled beef kofta kefta kafta recipe

If you like this recipe, you may also want to check out Perfect Salisbury Steak or Sweet and Savory Bulgogi Burger. Lastly, subscribe via email or follow on Instagram to receive even more recipes like this!

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