Kofta Kebab Recipes

SPICY MINCED LAMB KOFTA KEBAB RECIPE (GIAOURTLOU)

Steps:

• To prepare this minced lamb kofta kebab recipe, heat a saucepan over medium high heat, add the olive oil, the chopped onion and garlic and sauté, until tender. In the meantime, add in a large bowl the minced meat, the spices and the tomato puree. Season well with salt and pepper and mix the mixture well, squeezing the ingredients with your hands (or a food processor). Add the chopped parsley and the sautéed onions and garlic. Using your hands mix all the ingredients together until combined.
• Place the mixture for the lamb kofta kebabs in a bowl, cover with plastic wrap and leave in the fridge to rest for 1 hour. (If you have the time it's best to leave the kebabs in the fridge overnight).
• To assemble the kofta kebabs, cut the wooden skewers to fit your griddle pan and soak them in water. (This will prevent them from burning). Gently squeeze the meat around the skewers to form log-shaped kebabs, each about 10-12cm long. Make sure the meat is spread to an even thickness. Refrigerate the kebabs until you are ready to grill. If you have time, it is best to chill 30 minutes to let flavours mingle and firm up meat. (The ingredients for this lamb kebab recipe are enough for 6 skewers).
• Preheat a grill or griddle pan on a high heat. Brush the kofta kebabs with live oil and cook for about 8 to 10 minutes, turning occasionally, until nicely coloured on all sides and cooked through.
• While your lamb kofta kebabs are cooking, prepare the pita breads. Preheat the oven to 250C. Use a cooking brush to lightly oil the pita breads on both sides and season with salt and oregano. Place a large oven tray at the bottom of the oven and place the pita breads on top of the tray. Bake for 2-3 minutes.
• you can serve the kofta kebabs with tomato sauce and Greek yogurt (kebab giaourtlou).
• To prepare the tomato sauce for the lamb kebabs melt the butter in a sauce pan, add the chopped tomatoes, the garlic and seasoning and simmer for 5-10 minutes.
• Layer a pita bread on a plate, top with the lamb kebabs, add two full spoons of the tomato sauce, 1 tbsp yogurt and garnish with sliced red onions.

KOFTA KEBABS WITH TZATZIKI

Steps:

• Smash the garlic cloves, sprinkle with a generous pinch of salt, and, with the flat side of a large knife, mash and smear mixture to a coarse paste. Mix the paste and the remaining 1 tablespoon salt with the meat, onion, parsley, and spices.
• Line a pan with aluminum foil. Divide the meat mixture into 28 rough balls. Mold each piece around the pointed end of a skewer (if you use wooden ones, soak them in water for 15 minutes before threading them), making a 2-inch oval kebab that comes to a point just covering the tip of the skewer. Lay the skewers on the pan, cover, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes and up to 12 hours.
• Heat a grill pan over medium heat or prepare a grill. Brush the pan lightly with olive oil. Working in batches, grill the kebabs, turning occasionally, until brown all over and just cooked through, about 6 minutes. Transfer to a serving platter and serve with tzatziki and flat bread.
• If you're using plain whole milk yogurt, line a small sieve with a coffee filter. Put the yogurt in it, set it over a bowl, and refrigerate 12 hours. Discard the expressed liquid and put yogurt in the bowl.
• Grate the cucumber on the large holes of a box grater into another bowl. Sprinkle with the 2 teaspoons salt and rub into the cucumber with your hands. Set aside 20 minutes, then squeeze the cucumbers to express as much liquid as possible.
• Smash the garlic, sprinkle with a generous pinch of salt, and, with the flat side of a large knife, mash and smear the mixture to a coarse paste. Stir the cucumber, garlic, olive oil, lemon juice, and mint into the yogurt. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving.

GRILLED GROUND LAMB KOFTA KEBAB RECIPE

Steps:

• Soak the bamboo skewers in water for 30 minutes. Pat dry.
• Meanwhile, in a large bowl, stir together all ingredients except the lamb. Add the lamb and mix until just combined. Do not over-mix.
• Divide the meat into 16 sections. Mold each section of meat around a bamboo skewer, making it a few inches long and about 1 inch (2.5 cm) thick. You'll fit 2 sections of meat per skewer, about 1-2 inches apart.
• Preheat the grill to medium-high heat and oil the grates lightly. Place the skewers on the grill and cook for 3 minutes. Flip and cook for 3-5 more minutes, to desired level of doneness. Time on the second side will be about 2 minutes for medium rare, 3 minutes for medium, 4 minutes for medium-well and 5 minutes for well done.

SPICY KOFTA KEBABS

Steps:

• Place 4 wooden skewers in a tray of water to soak.
• Place the lamb and spices (if using) into a big bowl, pick in the thyme leaves and finely grate in the lemon zest, then scrunch and mix together well.
• Divide the mixture into 4 equal pieces. With damp hands, shape the meat around and along each skewer, pressing little indents into the meat as you go, for a nice texture.
• Grill the kebabs on a barbecue for 8 to 10 minutes, or until golden and cooked through, then push to the cool side and warm your tortillas next to them for 30 seconds (you can cook everything on a griddle pan or under the grill, if you prefer).
• Transfer the tortillas to plates and top each with a little lettuce. Drizzle with olive oil and a squeeze of lemon juice, if you like.
• Slip the meat off the skewers and break it up, add a dollop of yoghurt and drizzle over any resting juices. Finely chop and sprinkle with chilli (deseed if you like) for an extra kick, then tuck in. Delicious!

KOFTA KEBABS

Steps:

• Mash the garlic into a paste with the salt using a mortar and pestle or the flat side of a chef's knife on your cutting board. Mix the garlic into the lamb along with the onion, parsley, coriander, cumin, cinnamon, allspice, cayenne pepper, ginger, and pepper in a mixing bowl until well blended. Form the mixture into 28 balls. Form each ball around the tip of a skewer, flattening into a 2 inch oval; repeat with the remaining skewers. Place the kebabs onto a baking sheet, cover, and refrigerate at least 30 minutes, or up to 12 hours.
• Preheat an outdoor grill for medium heat, and lightly oil grate.
• Cook the skewers on the preheated grill, turning occasionally, until the lamb has cooked to your desired degree of doneness, about 6 minutes for medium.

KAFTA RECIPE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400ºF (200ºC) or grill.
• Soak wooden skewers for at least twenty minutes so they don't catch fire in the oven.
• Mix all the ingredients in a large bowl.
• Using your hand make fist sized balls.
• Shape the kaftas as you put the meat on skewers.
• Place on a tray if going in the oven otherwise put the skewers directly on your grill.
• It will take roughly 20 minutes turning once. Maybe a bit quicker on the grill.

KOFTA KEBAB

Steps:

• Place all the ingredients into a large bowl, and knead well for 10 minutes.
• Cover the bowl with cling film and place in the refrigerator for 6 hours, kneading the mixture for 3 minutes every hour.
• Divide the meat into 12 equal portions and roll them up.
• Then form into 12 uniform sausage shapes.
• Skewer each, and shape tightly by squeezing the meat along the length of the skewer (leaving roughly 6" / 15 cm for a "handle").
• Cover the skewers with cling film and refrigerate for 2 hours before grilling.
• Grill the koftas on the barbecue, in the oven or on a preheated griddle on all sides for about 5 minutes or until the desired doneness is achieved.
• Sprinkle with parsley and serve immediately, accompanied by pita, arayes bread, tahini sauce, hummus, raw salad, and / or baba ganoush.

LAMB KOFTA KEBABS

Steps:

• Preheat your barbecue half an hour before you start cooking. If using a cast-iron griddle pan, heat it over a high heat, then lower the heat slightly before cooking. Cover eight bamboo skewers with cold water and leave them to soak.
• Put the minced lamb into a bowl with the onions, garlic, chilli flakes, parsley, one teaspoon of salt and some freshly ground black pepper. Mix together with your hands until bound together. Divide the mixture into eight and mould it into long sausage shapes around the drained bamboo skewers.
• For the minted yoghurt, mix the yoghurt with the mint, half a teaspoon of salt and some pepper and set aside.
• For the salad, finely shred the carrots and kohlrabi, on a mandolin or on the coleslaw setting of your food processor so you get nice long, thin, crunchy strips. Put these in a bowl with a large pinch of salt and mix together well.
• Heat the sunflower oil in a small pan, add the cumin seeds and, as soon as they start to sizzle, add them to the vegetables with the lemon juice and toss together.
• Brush the kofta generously with oil and lightly oil the bars of the barbecue or griddle. Cook for five minutes, turning occasionally, until browned all over and cooked through.
• Spread the minted yoghurt over one large or four individual serving plates. Lay the kofta on top, garnish with the sliced tomatoes and serve with the salad.

MOROCCAN KOFTA KEBAB RECIPE

Steps:

• In a large bowl, mix your ground beef with all the ingredients until well-combined. Place it in the refrigerator and let it marinate for at least 10 minutes (1 hour is best)
• Remove the excess moisture from the meat mixture using a colander
• One way to use your homemade Kefta is to shape it into patties. My favorite way is to use skewers. If you use wooden skewers, watch closely to make sure they don't burn.
• Use the top rack of the oven and preheat the broiler. Line a sheet pan with foil and place a wire rack on it. Place the patties on the wire rack and broil for 10-15 minutes, or until cooked through and browned. If you have a grill, use it! It will make the tastiest Kafta. You can also fry your patties in a pan or skillet
• You can serve your Kefta with fresh bread and a few salads
• This Kefta can be frozen for your busy days. Just place the patties in a freezer bag and freeze for up to 2 months

KOFTA KEBABS

Steps:

• For the tzatziki sauce: Strain Greek yogurt through a paper-towel lined colander and let sit for 3 hours to thicken, refrigerated.
• Fold the yogurt with cucumbers, fresh lemon juice, mint, crushed garlic cloves, salt and pepper. Refrigerate until ready to use.
• For the harissa sauce: Char red bell peppers over an open flame, then remove seeds and clean the skin.
• Boil Fresno chiles in salted water in a pot on medium heat until the vegetables start to soften. Drain, then deseed and remove the membranes of the chiles.
• Toast cumin seeds, coriander and caraway seeds in a skillet until fragrant. Crush the toasted spices in a spice grinder with mint and salt until finely ground.
• Blend the spice mixture with the roasted red bell peppers, Fresno chiles, vegetable oil, garlic and lemon juice until smooth. Drizzle in olive oil while blending.
• For the tahini sauce: Blend tahini, water, lemon juice, salt and garlic.
• For the kebabs: Mix ground beef, allspice, nutmeg, salt, cinnamon, pepper, ginger, garlic, onion and parsley in a bowl by hand, then refrigerate overnight.
• Form the mixture into 4 to 6 balls, then put each on a metal skewer. Lengthen the meat into elongated kebab shapes and grill over medium heat, 2 to 3 minutes per side.
• Warm the pita with a little butter and swipe with the tzatziki sauce. Top with the kebab, then squirt with tahini sauce and harissa sauce.