Easy Beef Kofta Recipe - 30 Minute Meal!

Tender and moist, this easy Beef Kofta Recipe is perfect for a quick 30 minute meal. They are easy to make, use only a few spices, and are so satisfying! 

As someone who married into a Lebanese family, there is something about Middle Eastern cuisine that keeps everyone returning for more!

I mean, have you ever just stopped at one bite of a shawarma? No, right? Enjoy it with a side of crunchy French fries or a Spinach Fatayers, what a winner! 

These beef koftas belong to the same league! Whether you wrap them in pita and layer them with my Lebanese Garlic Dip or Spicy Red Pepper Hummus or toss them in a Fattoush Lebanese salad, you'll never get enough of them. 

And the best part? They are a breeze to make ahead and store in the fridge for up to 3 days. They also freeze like a charm - perfect for meal prep and busy weeknights when you want a quick yet flavorful meal.

Why You'll Love This Recipe

Uses Super Simple Ingredients: You know what's awesome about Middle Eastern dishes? They take basic kitchen staples you probably already have and turn them into the most flavorful and aromatic meals. Seriously, you've likely got at least five of the seven ingredients for this recipe in your pantry or fridge! You can easily find the rest at your nearest grocery store!

Crazy Versatile: Serve these delicious beef koftas wrapped in pita bread with tahini sauce or on top of jeera rice with a chutney - they always taste great! You can also use the leftovers on top of salads, in sandwiches, or even as a pizza topping! 

An Easy Crowd-Pleaser! You don't have to make something over-the-top fancy to make everyone at the dinner table happy. Sometimes, all it takes is lean ground beef flavored with warm spices and wrapped on wooden skewers. Even my kiddo will eat these up, no problem!

Easy to Add a Personal Touch: Ground meat is flexible - flavor it as you like. Try squeezing some lemon juice for a bit of tang, add poppy seeds for more crunch, or red chili powder for more heat! 

Perfect for Meal Prep: Whip up a big batch of these beef koftas and store them in the fridge or freezer for an easy grab-and-go meal throughout the week. Reheat and munch!

Ingredients for Beef Kofta Recipe

Ground Beef: The star of the show, you can use any kind of ground beef for this recipe - lean, medium, or even fatty. It's all about personal preference and what you have on hand.

Yellow Onion: We're using yellow onion because it's mild and will add a nice crunch to your koftas. There's no hard rule here, though. You can use red onion, too. Just make sure you dice the onion first. Finely chopped onions give the koftas a delicious sweetness and help keep them moist.

Allspice: Flavor your meat mixture with allspice powder. If you're out of it, you can grind whole spices like cinnamon, pepper, cloves, and nutmeg in your food processor and use that.

Dry Mint: Mint is a staple ingredient in Middle Eastern food. It balances the warmth and richness of the other spices. I use dry mint to keep the texture smooth, but you can also use fresh mint if that's what you have on hand.

Fresh Parsley: Chop and add to your kofta mixture. I prefer fresh parsley for its brightness. You can also use dried parsley, but it's not quite the same.

All the other details are mentioned in the recipe card at the bottom. Check it out!

Step By Step Instructions

Step 1: Mix the ground beef, onion, parsley and spices together in a mixing bowl.

Step 2: Use a measuring cup to measure out the kofta mixture.

Step 3: Shape the kofta mixture with your hands into oblong burgers.

Step 4: Over medium high heat, grill the burgers on a grill or grill pan for 5 minutes on the first side then flip and grill an additional 3-4 minutes.

Step 5: Plate and garnish with parsley, mint, and serve with strained yogurt.

Serving Suggestions

This Middle Eastern dish is a favorite at my home! We've tried it in a dozen different ways and loved it each time! (I even make a Chicken Kofta Burger!) I often serve it on special occasions, paired with my favorite side dishes like:

• Warm pita bread, hummus, and tzatziki sauce
• Grilled veggies with a drizzle of balsamic glaze
• Greek salad with feta cheese and olives
• Cucumber yogurt sauce

Tips and Tricks

Although this Middle Eastern dish is as simple as it gets, a few things can give you a tough time. If you're trying this new recipe for the first time, you'll need these tips:

• Soak your wooden skewers in water for about 30 minutes before threading your meat onto them. This prevents the sticks from burning while cooking.
• Chill your kofta mixture in the fridge so it firms up and becomes easier to work with. Resting time also makes it tastier!
• Mix all ingredients together until combined, but don't overwork the mixture. Overworking can lead to tough and chewy koftas.
• If you're using lean ground beef, add a tablespoon of olive oil to the kebab mixture for more moisture.
• For perfectly shaped koftas, wet your hands with water before forming them. This prevents the meat from sticking to your palms. 

Variations to Try

Swap the Ground Meat: This kofta recipe works wonderfully with ground lamb, minced chicken, or ground turkey. You can even mix two kinds! 

Make Meatball Curry: Instead of shaping your koftas into kebabs, make them into small balls and add them to a curry sauce. Cook over medium heat for 20 minutes or until done. Serve with basmati rice. Malai kofta curry and paneer kofta are a hit at my home! 

Add More Veggies: Add grated zucchini or carrots to your meat mixture for more nutrition, moisture, and flavor. You can also sneak in finely chopped spinach or kale without changing the taste of the koftas too much.   

Make It Vegan: Swap ground meat with chickpeas, mashed tofu, or cooked lentils. Add more spices and fresh herbs for a flavor boost!

Frequently Asked Questions

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