Grilled meat on a stick are among my favourite summer foods! Normally I like to grab some meat, like chicken breast, beef, lamb, etc., cut it into bite sized pieces, marinate it, skewer it up and grill it but you can also use minced/ground meat! There are a lot of different ways to eenjoy minced meat on a stick and my go to recipe is kofta kebab!
Kofta Kebab (aka Köfte kebap, aka shish köfte) is a dish of minced lamb and/or beef meatballs with onions, warm spices and herbs (like parsley and mint), on a stick that’s grilled. This is a really simple dish that’s pretty much just a meatball (or a burger) that’s pressed onto a stick instead of being formed into a ball or a patty. There are countless different versions of this recipe which means that you can make it just the way you like it! Either minced beef or lamb can be used and a combination of the two is also really nice! I like to include onion and garlic which I grate and mince, respectively. Next up is some fresh herbs and parsley and mint are two amazing choices. The spices are the final component and there are a lot that you can choose from! They are generally warm and aromatic and I like to go with a combination of cumin, coriander, cinnamon, sumac and a touch of aleppo pepper, along with salt and pepper. Once the seasoning has been mixed into the meat, it’s pressed onto skewers in a thin long shape before being grilled, traditionally over charcoal flame, but it can also be grilled over any flame, or under the broiler or in a pan.
Serve with a simple cucumber and tomato salad, and/or hummus, garlic yogurt tahini sauce, tzatziki, etc.
Kofta Kebab
Grilled minced beef/lamb seasoned with warm spices along with fresh mint and parsley on stick!
ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef (and/or lamb)
- 1 small onion, grated
- 2 cloves garlic, minced or grated
- 1 tablespoon mint, chopped
- 1 tablespoon parsley, chopped
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon ground coriander
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon sumac
- 1/2 teaspoon aleppo pepper (or cayenne to taste)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
directions
- Mix everything into the ground meat well.
- Divide the meat into 6-8 even portions, place them on skewers forming them into long thin cylinders.
- Grill over medium-high heat until cooked through, about 2-4 minutes per side.
Option: Use your favourite spices! Some other options include: fennel, paprika, nutmeg, cloves, ginger, allspice, etc.
Note: You can grill over open flame, on a grill, in a pan, or under the broiler.
Tips: Serve with a simple cucumber and tomato salad, and/or hummus, garlic yogurt tahini sauce, tzatziki, etc.
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