Chef John's Kofta Kebabs

Name: Chef John's Kofta Kebabs
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Lebanese, Turkish
Ingredients: 0.5 tsp Black Pepper; 0.25 tsp Cayenne Pepper; 0.5 whole Diced Yellow Onion; 0.5 tsp Ground Allspice; 8 oz Ground Beef; 0.25 tsp Ground Cardamom; 4 oz Ground Lamb; 0.13 tsp Ground Nutmeg; 0.33 cup Italian Ice; 4 cloves Minced Garlic; 0.5 tsp Paprika; 1.25 tsp Salt; 4 sticks Shrimp Skewers; 2 tbsp Water; 1 whole Whole Grain White Bread

Dinner 🍽️Lunch 🥪 Lebanese 🇱🇧Turkish 🇹🇷 High-Protein 💪Carnivore 🥩

Chef John's Kofta Kebabs feature juicy ground beef and lamb blended with parsley, onion, garlic, and warm Middle Eastern spices like allspice, paprika, and cardamom. Grilled over high heat, they develop a smoky char with a tender, aromatic interior. Perfect for a backyard cookout or weeknight dinner, they shine with flatbreads, yogurt sauce, and fresh salads.

Prep15 mins
Cook15 mins
Serves4
DifficultyEasy

1

Gather all the ingredients.
2

On a cutting board, slice the toasted bread into thin strips; then cut the strips crosswise into a small dice.
3

Place the onion, parsley, and garlic over the diced bread on the cutting board; chop everything together until finely diced.
4

Season the beef and lamb with kosher salt, black pepper, allspice, paprika, cardamom, nutmeg, and cayenne. Add the onion mixture and the water. Mix and mash with your hands until thoroughly combined. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate until chilled, for at least 1 hour and up to overnight.
5

Take the meat out of the refrigerator and, using wet hands, roll 1/4 of the mixture into a ball. Pierce the center with a bamboo skewer. Shape the meat into a uniform log, about 6 inches long and 2 inches wide.
6

Meanwhile, preheat a charcoal grill until the coals are very hot.
7

Grill the kebabs on the hot grate until browned and cooked through, about 12 minutes, turning every 3 minutes or so. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should register at least 145 degrees F (63 degrees C).
8

Serve and enjoy.