Lebanese Kafta Spiced Ground Meat (Printable Format)

Juicy spiced meat kebabs with Lebanese aromatics, grilled to perfection.

# What You Need:

→ Meats

01 - 1.1 pounds ground lamb or beef, or a combination

→ Vegetables

02 - 1 small onion, finely chopped
03 - 1/2 bunch fresh parsley, finely chopped

→ Spices & Seasoning

04 - 2 garlic cloves, minced
05 - 1 teaspoon ground allspice
06 - 1 teaspoon ground cumin
07 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
08 - 1 teaspoon salt
09 - 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
10 - 1/4 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes

→ To Serve

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

# How-To Steps:

01 - Place the ground meat, onion, parsley, garlic, allspice, cumin, cinnamon, salt, black pepper, and cayenne in a large bowl.
02 - Blend the mixture with your hands until completely combined and sticky.
03 - Divide the mixture into 8 to 10 portions. Form each into an oval patty or mold around skewers.
04 - Heat the grill, grill pan, or oven broiler to medium-high temperature.
05 - Grill or broil the kafta for 8 to 10 minutes, turning occasionally, until browned and completely cooked through.
06 - Present hot with pita bread, lemon wedges, fresh parsley, and tahini sauce.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The warm spice blend hits every comforting note while still feeling fresh and exciting
  • Mixing everything by hand takes just minutes and guarantees juicy, flavorful results every single time
02 -
  • Mixing the meat thoroughly until it feels sticky is the most important step for preventing crumbly kebabs
  • Letting the shaped meat rest for 10 minutes before cooking helps it hold together better on the grill
03 -
  • Use a mix of lamb and beef for the best flavor and texture combination
  • Squeeze fresh lemon over the kebabs the moment they come off the grill for maximum brightness

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