Kofta Kebab Recipe

Kofta is a meat dish popular in countries around the world, and each country has its variation. In this Kofta recipe, ground lamb is mixed with an array of spices, a yellow onion, mint leaves, and parsley, is formed into long patties, and then grilled. 

The best part about this recipe is that you can grill the Kofta patties indoors or out, so you can enjoy it year round!

Kofta Recipe Ingredients

1 lb ground lamb 

¼ cup yellow onion, grated

2 teaspoon minced Garlic 

¼ teaspoon Ground pepper 

½ teaspoon Salt 

½ teaspoon Paprika 

½ teaspoon Cumin 

¼ teaspoon Cinnamon 

⅛ teaspoon Nutmeg

5 Mint Leaves, minced 

2 tablespoon packed Parsley, minced 

How To Make Kofta

Step 1: In a medium bowl, add all of the ingredients and spices. Use your hands or a wooden spoon to mix the ingredients until they are well combined. (If you are using wooden skewers, soak them in water for 2 hours before adding the meat to them.)

Step 2: After the mixture is combined, cover the bowl with plastic wrap and place it in the fridge for at least a half hour but up to 24 hours. The longer the mixture sits, the more flavorful it will be. 

Step 3: Once the meat mixture is done resting, divide it into eighths. Wrap each portion around a skewer, forming the meat so that it is more long than wide. 

Step 4: Once all of the skewers are prepared, warm up a grill to medium-high heat. You can use an outdoor barbecue grill or a countertop electric grill. 

Step 5: Add the meat skewers to the grill and cook, turning occasionally until the outside is brown and a meat thermometer reads an internal temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit (about 15 minutes). 

Step 6: Remove the kofta from the grill and serve with pita bread, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, hummus, or anything else that sounds good! Enjoy!

Variations & Substitutions

• You can use ground beef if you don’t like lamb. You can also do a half-and-half mixture if you prefer. 
• Some Kofta recipes are spicy, some are served with bread, and some are served with gravy. There are many ways to eat your kofta. Add or omit anything you prefer!
• Many Turkish recipes call for adding red sumac to kofta. You can add about ½ tablespoon of red sumac if you have it and would like to experiment with Turkish flavor. If you are making Turkish Kofta, you will need to make the kofta very long. 

Storage Instructions

• Store kofta in a ziplock baggie or an airtight container in the refrigerator and consume within 5 days.
• You can store kofta, cooked or uncooked, in the freezer for up to 6 months. 
• Make sure your meat is cooked all the way through before consuming it.

What To Serve With This Recipe

• Serve with a side of pita bread, cucumber, grape tomatoes, and hummus. 

Looking for more delicious meat recipes? 

These tender steak kebab skewers with peach salsa will not disappoint!