Kafta (Lebanese Beef Kebabs)

A close up of kofta kebobs on a white narrow platter.

5 from 62 votes!

I think a lot of us love a good Lebanese kebab, right? Whip up a batch of the epic beef kafta kebabs with just 4 ingredients in a matter of minutes. Grill them, pan fry or barbecue. Whichever way you cook them this is an easy meal without all the fuss.

Prep Time10

Cook Time10

Total Time20

Course: Lunch or Dinner

Cuisine: Lebanese

Diet: Diabetic, Gluten Free

Recipe Category: Low Carb

Servings: serves (2 kofta per serve)

Calories: 242kcal

Author: Megan Ellam

Equipment

Food Processor
Metal Skewers

Ingredients

0.5 onion
0.5 cup fresh parsley
500 g beef mince see notes
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 ground black pepper
0.5 tsp ground cumin
0.5 tsp ground coriander
0.25 tsp Allspice
A pinch ground cinnamon and nutmeg

Metric - US Customary

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

INGREDIENTS FOR BEEF KAFTA RECIPE

I use 80/20 meat-to-fat beef mince (the higher fat will add flavour). You can use any mince or make your own.

I use metal or pre-soaked wooden kebab skewers. I actually prefer to cook first the kafta first then insert a skewer for easy eating. This way the skewers don't get hot or messy and if cooking in a pan the kafta fit better.

Swap Za'atar Spices or Chermoula Spice Blend in place of Seven Spices for another tasty option.

MIXING BEEF KAFTA

When mixing the mince in a food processor, choose a pulse function to avoid “over-blending” the meat. You can mix well in a large mixing bowl if you do not have a food processor. This mixture also makes terrific burgers. Just shape them into large patties and grill or barbecue.

Shape with a premade kebab mold (optional)

BEEF KOFTA THERMOMIX

This recipe is so easy to whip up koftas with a Thermomix.

STORAGE AND FREEZING

Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. Beef kafta sausages can be frozen raw or cooked.

This recipe yields approximately 6 servings. The actual number of servings will depend on your preferred portion sizes.

To calculate the weight of one serving, prepare the recipe as instructed. Weigh the finished recipe, then divide the weight of the finished recipe by 6. The result will be the weight of one serving.

Nutritional values shown are guidelines only. They are for 1 serving using the ingredients listed.

If you have any queries, or questions or are unsure of substitutions, please scroll up to the blog post for more information.

For more keto beef recipes try our Cote de Boeuf, or amazing Italian Meatballs.

Nutrition