Chef John's Kofta Kebabs
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
easyChef Pro health score
Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in Chef John's Kofta Kebabs, not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.
- Glycemic ImpactFair
- 56 / 100
- Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
- Nutritional DensityPoor
- 16 / 100
- Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
- Energy DensityFair
- 52 / 100
- Calories by weight. Higher means more food for fewer calories.
- NOVA Unprocessed or minimally processed
- 1 / 4
- Processing level, 1 (whole) to 4 (ultra-processed). Lower is better.
How it scores for each health goal
The same recipe scores differently against different goals, because the goal changes the calculation rather than filtering a list. Set your goal in easyChef Pro and every recipe is scored against it.
- 24
- Heart Health
- 41
- Metabolic
- 53
- Digestive
- 24
- Inflammatory
- 37
- Performance
- 39
- General Wellness
- 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.
- Calories 586.01 kcal High 29%
- Protein 27.41 g Good Source 55%
- Carbohydrate 73.45 g 27%
- Total Fat 21.61 g High 28%
- Saturated Fat 7.67 g High 38%
- Trans Fat 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Cholesterol 60.84 mg High 20%
- Sodium 756.91 mg High 33%
- Dietary Fiber 8.91 g Good Source 32%
- Total Sugars 9.35 g --
- Added Sugars 5.28 g Moderate 11%
- Calcium 235.03 mg Moderate 18%
- Iron 4.88 mg Good Source 27%
- Potassium 255.83 mg Low Source 5%
- Vitamin A 2.34 mcg Low Source 0%
- Vitamin C 2.34 mg Low Source 3%
- Vitamin D 0.0 mcg Low Source 0%
Values are per serving. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
- Shellfish 🦐
- Wheat 🌾
- Gluten
- Garlic 🧄
- Onions 🧅
About This Recipe
Chef John's Kofta Kebabs is made with 15 ingredients and serves 4. It takes about 30 mins and is rated easy. Key ingredients include Black Pepper, Cayenne Pepper, Diced Yellow Onion, and Ground Allspice. Each serving provides about 586.01 kcal, and is a good source of protein.
Recipe Questions
- What is Chef John's Kofta Kebabs made of?
- The main ingredients are Black Pepper, Cayenne Pepper, Diced Yellow Onion, Ground Allspice, Ground Beef. The full list of 15 is above.
- How long does it take to make Chef John's Kofta Kebabs?
- About 30 mins in total: 15 mins to prepare and 15 mins to cook.
- How many calories are in one serving?
- One serving provides about 586.01 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
- Is Chef John's Kofta Kebabs easy to make?
- This recipe is rated easy, with 15 ingredients and 8 steps.
- Is Chef John's Kofta Kebabs healthy?
- Chef John's Kofta Kebabs has an easyChef Pro health score of 44/100. Per serving, it provides 586.01 calories and 27.41 g of protein, or 55% of the Daily Value. It is a good source of dietary fiber and iron. Worth noting per serving: sodium at 756.91 mg (33% of the Daily Value), saturated fat at 7.67 g (38% of the Daily Value) and added sugars at 5.28 g (11% of the Daily Value). It contains Shellfish, Wheat, Gluten, Garlic and Onions, so it may not be suitable for people with those allergies or dietary restrictions. Whether it fits your goals depends on your complete meal plan and nutritional needs. Remix it in easyChef Pro to adjust the ingredients and generate fresh nutrition and scores.
How easyChef Pro scores recipes and products
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The calculation evaluates nutrients, calorie density, processing level, and how well the food supports your selected health goal. Protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals and other beneficial nutrients can strengthen the score. High amounts of sodium, saturated fat, added sugar and other nutrients may lower it.
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