Description
Kefta beef kabobs bring Middle Eastern grilling magic straight to your backyard barbecue, with tender spiced meat skewers that’ll make your taste buds dance. Packed with aromatic herbs and zesty spices, these kabobs turn an ordinary dinner into a flavor-packed feast that sparks conversation and celebrates regional cuisine.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 1 pound ground beef (80/20 blend)
Herbs and Spices:
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon ground coriander
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ cup fresh parsley
Supporting Ingredients:
- 1 small onion
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Skewers
Instructions
- Mix 1 pound ground beef with finely chopped onion, minced garlic, parsley, cumin, coriander, paprika, cayenne, salt, and black pepper in a large bowl until thoroughly combined.
- Soak wooden skewers in water for 30 minutes to prevent charring during grilling.
- Heat grill or grill pan to medium-high heat (around 400°F).
- Divide meat mixture into 4 equal portions, about 4 ounces each.
- Mold each meat portion around a skewer, creating elongated oval shapes and pressing firmly to ensure compact formation.
- Brush each kabob with 1 tablespoon olive oil to enhance grilling and prevent sticking.
- Grill kabobs for 8-10 minutes, rotating every 3-4 minutes to ensure even browning and internal temperature reaching 160°F.
- Remove kabobs from grill and allow them to rest for 3-4 minutes before serving.
- Plate with accompaniments like warm pita bread, tzatziki sauce, or crisp garden salad.
Notes
- Soaking wooden skewers prevents burning and keeps them from charring during grilling.
- Mixing ingredients thoroughly ensures even seasoning and helps kabobs hold their shape when forming on skewers.
- When shaping kabobs, press meat firmly and compact it to create dense, well-structured kabobs that won’t fall apart.
- For a leaner option, substitute ground beef with ground turkey or lamb, adjusting spices to complement the meat’s flavor profile.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 8-10 minutes
- Category: Beef
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: Middle Eastern
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 330 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 700 mg
- Fat: 26 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 3 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 20 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg