Lebanese Beef Kafta Kebobs
Kafta aka kofta, kefta, kebab, kebob, kefka or kabob. A favorite in Middle Eastern countries and the world over! A sausage that is oblong shaped and made with ground beef, ground lamb, or ground chicken, and seven spices.
Seasoned with Baharat – Lebanese 7 Spice seasoning and fresh parsley and onions the kafta meat is juicy, fragrant and mightily delicious!
Related Recipes: Taboule Salad / Roasted Pumpkin Salad
Why You Will Love Them
Quick and easy – the kafta meat mixture is quick to make with just a handful of ingredients.
Gluten free – this Lebanese kafta recipe is gluten free and has no fillers.
Low Carb & Keto – suitable for a diabetic diet, coeliac and low carb and keto-friendly lifestyle.
Versatile – grill, bake in the oven, pan-fry or barbecue. They are just as easy to cook as they are to make.
The Ingredients
Scroll to the recipe card for the full list of ingredients to make this easy keto shish kafta recipe.
Ground Beef Minced Meat – use a good quality beef mince. I use an 80/20 beef-to-fat ratio. If you are using lean ground beef the texture will be drier and grainier. The extra fat provides flavor and helps the sausage patties to hold together as they have no binders or fillers.
Onion – use brown or white onions. Make sure they are finely minced using a food processor or grated. This adds a subtle flavor to the kafta kabobs.
Parsley – Italian parsley (also known as continental parsley) is the best parsley to use.
Kafta Spices – Lebanese 7 Spice is what is used in an authentic Lebanese kofta recipe. I have added a link to our Arabic 7 Spice seasoning (Baharat) and also a quick seasoning that you can make just for this recipe. The middle eastern spices include, ground cumin, coriander, cinnamon, allspice, black pepper, nutmeg and cloves.
How To Make Kafta
Step 1. MIX – Place onion and parsley into a food processor; pulse until finely chopped.
Step 2. MIX – Add remaining ingredients; pulse until combined or mix together in a large bowl.
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Step 3. SHAPE – Shape and squish the meat mixture into 6 equal oblong shape sausages roughly 2.5 cm (1 inch) thick. Thread onto metal skewers or if using wooden skewers. Season the outside of the kebabs well with salt flakes (this helps to form a crisp crust).
Step 4. GRILL – Heat grill, barbecue or griddle pan over very high heat. Grill 3-4 minutes on each side or until charred to your liking. Serve with garlic sauce for kebabs, taboule, guacamole, or your favorite choice of salad.
What To Serve With Kafta Kebabs
To complement the rich flavors of beef kafta, you might consider serving it with a combination of sides, sauces, and accompaniments that enhance its taste. Here are some delicious options:
- Hummus: A classic Middle Eastern dip made from chickpeas, tahini, lemon juice, and garlic. Hummus provides a creamy and tangy element that pairs well with the savory beef kafta.
- Tabbouleh: Try my insanely good Taboule Salad. No wheat or gluten. Fresh, light and so deliciously tasty!
- Grilled Vegetables: Charred and grilled vegetables like bell peppers, zucchini, and eggplant provide a smoky and slightly sweet contrast to the meaty kafta.
- Pita Bread: Serve warm pita bread as a vehicle for enjoying the beef kafta and dipping into the accompanying sauces. Serve with Keto Pita for a completely delicious keto beef kafta dinner.
- Pickled Vegetables: Pickled items like turnips, cucumbers, or radishes can add a tangy and crunchy element to your meal.
- Labneh: A strained yogurt cheese similar to cream cheese. It’s rich and tangy and works well as a spread or dip.
- Mint Tea: For a beverage, consider serving traditional mint tea, which is both refreshing and complements the spices in the beef kafta.
Recipe FAQS
Yes, absolutely! Place onto a parchment-lined tray and bake at 180°C fan/400°F for 15 minutes turning halfway through cooking time. Cook until browned and cooked through.
You can make the kafta with any ground meat you like. A comb nation of meats like pork and beef can work too.
More Recipes To Try
A few more keto beef recipes to enjoy for healthy main dishes to enjoy whatever day of the week.
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Kafta (Lebanese Beef Kebabs)
Equipment
- Food Processor
- Metal Skewers
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Ingredients
- 0.5 (0.5) onion
- 0.5 cup (½ cup) fresh parsley
- 500 g (1 lb) beef mince see notes
- 2 teaspoons (2 teaspoons) Lebanese 7 Spice or use the seasoning below
- Salt flakes black pepper, and chili flakes (if you like it spicy)
OPTIONAL QUICK LEBANESE SPICE
- 0.5 tsp (½ tsp) ground black pepper
- 0.5 tsp (½ tsp) ground cumin
- 0.5 tsp (½ tsp) ground coriander
- 0.25 tsp (¼ tsp) Allspice
- A pinch ground cinnamon and nutmeg
Instructions
CONVENTIONAL METHOD
- MIX – Place onion and parsley into a food processor; pulse until finely chopped. Add remaining ingredients; pulse until combined.0.5 onion, 0.5 cup fresh parsley, 500 g beef mince, 2 teaspoons Lebanese 7 Spice
- SHAPE – Shape and squish into 6 equal sausages roughly 2.5 cm (1 inch) thick. Thread onto a metal skewer if using. Season the outside of kebabs well with salt flakes (this helps to form a crisp crust).
- GRILL – Heat grill, barbecue or griddle pan over very high heat. Grill 3-4 minutes on each side or until charred to liking. Serve with kebab garlic sauce, taboule or your favorite choice of salad.
THERMAL METHOD
- CHOP – Place onion and parsley into mixer; chop 3 sec/speed 7. Scrape down sides of bowl.0.5 onion, 0.5 cup fresh parsley
- MIX – Add remaining ingredients and season well. Mix 10 sec/speed 3. Scrape down sides of bowl and repeat 10 sec/speed 3.500 g beef mince, 2 teaspoons Lebanese 7 Spice
- GRILL – Heat grill, barbecue or griddle pan over very high heat. Grill 3-4 minutes on each side or until charred to liking. Serve with kebab garlic sauce, taboule or your favorite choice of salad.
Notes
Your Own Notes
Nutrition
32 responses to “Kafta (Lebanese Beef Kebabs)”
WOW.Simple and tasty. I used lam b mince and the garlic kebab sauce with a modified Taboule⁰.I am so happy you enjoyed it Vicki. I hope you enjoy more of the tasty recipes we have coming up.
Great recipe to try it out. Absouletely loving ll the spices you have used to make kafta. Thanks for sharingYou are very welcome
I love Lebanese flavors. This Kafka recipe has my mouth tingling with anticipation. Such a great spice mixture. Thank you!Enjoy them Jenny!
I’ve never had this before and it sounds so delicious! I love all of these flavors and ingredients so I can’t wait to try it!Enjoy!
Oh, I love beef kabob’s! I can’t wait to try these on the BBQ they look delicious!I hope you love them!
These look so simple to make and so tasty! I definitely want to try them!I hope you give them a try and love them Ashley.
These were super delicious! I made them in the air fryer, because I was short on time. I am so happy to find a new ground beef recipe! Will definitely make these again!Yay! I am so happy you enjoyed them Ann.
Lebanese is one of my favorite cuisines so I really enjoyed these! I just wish I made a bigger batch, they disappeared so quickly!They disappear quickly here too.
I love how good and tasty this dish is.
I made this, and my husband loves it!Yay! So happy to hear!
Love this recipe, its very simple. Will definitely try it!Awesomeness!
Growing up in a Lebanese family, we’d have Kafta often and this recipe is spot on. I love your simple variation of seven spices!!Thank so much Rachael and I am glad you enjoyed it.
Great recipe! Very authentic and easy to make. I made exactly as instructed and it turned out tender and flavorful. Will make again!Yay! I am so happy you enjoyed it Karen.
Thanks for the quick lebanese spice mixture…I had everything I needed in my pantry…it was delicious.You are very welcome
These can be great as an appetizer or main dish. Always a hit with dinner guests too. Presentation perfect.Absolutely!
I served these kafta with my tabbouleh and a mint yogurt sauce for dinner last night and everyone in the family fell in love. They were so easy to make, juicy, and full of delicious flavor.Yay! So good to hear!
I am making these tonight with lamb mince I just got out of the freezer! You need me on your testers team Megan. bahahahaaha!Enjoy! Maybe you will make a tester yet!
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