Lebanese Kafta Easy (Printable View)
Flavorful grilled spiced meat patties with parsley, onions, and Middle Eastern spices.
# What You’ll Need:
→ Meats
01 - 1.1 lb ground lamb or beef, or a combination
→ Vegetables
02 - 1 small onion, finely chopped
03 - 0.5 bunch fresh parsley, finely chopped
→ Spices & Seasoning
04 - 2 garlic cloves, minced
05 - 1 tsp ground allspice
06 - 1 tsp ground cumin
07 - 0.5 tsp ground cinnamon
08 - 1 tsp salt
09 - 0.5 tsp ground black pepper
10 - 0.25 tsp ground cayenne or chili flakes
→ To Serve
11 - Lemon wedges
12 - Chopped fresh parsley
13 - Pita bread
14 - Tahini sauce
# Cooking Steps:
01 - Place the ground meat, onion, parsley, garlic, allspice, cumin, cinnamon, salt, pepper, and cayenne in a large bowl.
02 - Blend the mixture by hand until fully incorporated and develops a sticky texture, ensuring even distribution of spices.
03 - Divide the meat mixture into 8 to 10 portions. Form each portion into an oval patty or mold around skewers for traditional kebab presentation.
04 - Heat grill, grill pan, or oven broiler to medium-high temperature.
05 - Grill or broil the kafta for 8 to 10 minutes, turning periodically, until browned on all sides and cooked through completely.
06 - Present hot alongside pita bread, fresh lemon wedges, additional chopped parsley, and tahini sauce as desired.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The meat mixture comes together in minutes and grills up incredibly fast
- That perfect balance of warm spices feels like something special without any fuss
02 -
- Mixing the meat until it feels sticky is not optional—it is what keeps the kafta from crumbling
- Soak wooden skewers for 30 minutes if you use them, or they will burn on the grill
03 -
- Handle the meat gently when shaping—overworking makes it tough
- Let the kafta rest for a couple of minutes after grilling before serving