Kofta Kebabs

The recipe uses common spices that you can find at any grocery store. The most affordable way to purchase the spices is in bulk online or either or an Asian or Middle-Eastern market.  Often they may even have the meat already seasoned and ready for use in the freezer section. 

They are simply amazing, served with a chili sauce and tangy yogurt, naan(flat bread), lettuce, tomato and cucumber.

Ingredients

• 8 cloves garlic, minced

• 1 teaspoon kosher salt

• 1 pound ground lamb

• 3 tablespoons grated onion

• 3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

• 1 tablespoon ground coriander

• 1 teaspoon ground cumin

• 1/2 tablespoon ground cinnamon

• 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice

• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper

• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

• 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

•  25 bamboo skewers, soaked in water for 30 minutes

Preparations

1. Mash the garlic into a paste with the salt using a mortar and pestle.

2. Mix the garlic into the lamb along with the onion, parsley, coriander, cumin, cinnamon, allspice, cayenne pepper, ginger, and pepper in a mixing bowl until well blended. Form the mixture into 25 balls. Form each ball around the tip of a skewer, flattening into a 1 x 3 inch oval; repeat with the remaining skewers. 

3. Place the kebabs onto a sheet pan, cover, and refrigerate at least an hour or overnight

4. Preheat an outdoor grill for medium high heat, and lightly oil grate.

5. Cook the skewers on the preheated grill, turning occasionally, until the lamb has cooked to your desired degree of doneness, about 6 minutes for medium.

6. Serve with Garlicky Yogurt and Naan grilled with Zatar

Urban Cowgill March 2019 (updated 2024)