Lebanese Kafta Easy Grilled Kebabs (Printable)

Juicy spiced meat kebabs with Middle Eastern flavors, ready in 35 minutes.

# What You'll Need:

01 - 1.1 pounds ground lamb or beef (or a mix)

02 - 1 small onion, finely chopped

03 - 0.5 bunch fresh parsley, finely chopped

04 - 2 garlic cloves, minced

05 - 1 teaspoon ground allspice

06 - 1 teaspoon ground cumin

07 - 0.5 teaspoon ground cinnamon

08 - 1 teaspoon salt

09 - 0.5 teaspoon ground black pepper

10 - 0.25 teaspoon ground cayenne or chili flakes (optional)

11 - Lemon wedges

12 - Chopped fresh parsley

13 - Pita bread

14 - Tahini sauce

01 - In a large bowl, combine the ground meat, onion, parsley, garlic, allspice, cumin, cinnamon, salt, pepper, and cayenne if using.

02 - Mix thoroughly with your hands until fully combined and sticky texture develops.

03 - Divide the mixture into 8-10 portions. Shape each into an oval patty or around a skewer for kebabs.

04 - Preheat grill, grill pan, or oven broiler to medium-high heat.

05 - Grill or broil kafta for 8-10 minutes, turning occasionally, until browned and cooked through.

06 - Serve hot with pita bread, lemon wedges, fresh parsley, and tahini sauce if desired.

01 -

The spice blend hits that perfect sweet-savory balance that makes people ask what's in it
Ground meat means no marinating time, just mix and grill
Lamb adds incredible richness but beef works beautifully if that's what you have

02 -

Mixing the meat thoroughly until it develops a sticky texture is the secret to kebabs that hold together on the grill
Letting the formed meat rest for 15 minutes in the fridge helps them firm up and keeps them from falling apart
Don't press down on the meat while cooking or you'll lose all those precious juices

03 -

Soak wooden skewers for at least 30 minutes so they don't burn on the grill
Grating the onion instead of chopping creates a more cohesive texture that holds together better
The cinnamon might seem unusual but don't skip it, that's what makes it authentically Lebanese