Grilled Kafta
Kafta is the word used throughout Levantine cuisine for spiced ground meat shaped into various forms, from round meatballs to elongated skewer logs. The word's root comes from the Persian kufta, meaning to crush or finely chop, reflecting the essential preparation technique of fine chopping, almost to a paste-like texture. In Lebanon, skewered kafta, cooked directly over flame, is the most popular version, often served alongside tomatoes roasted at the same temperature. Lebanese families each have their own spice recipe, some adding dried mint, others Aleppo pepper, but the base combination — onion, parsley, cumin — remains remarkably constant across the country, making kafta one of the dishes that unites national culinary identity.
Spiced ground meat
A mix of beef and lamb, with finely chopped onion and parsley.
Warm spices
Cumin, cinnamon and black pepper give deep flavor.
Elongated shape
Shaped into a long sausage form, right on the skewer.
Served with tomatoes
Often cooked with tomatoes and onion in the same pan.
Ingredients 4 servings
- 600g ground beef
- 200g ground lamb
- 1 large onion
- 1 bunch parsley
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- Salt, black pepper
- 2 large tomatoes
- 1 onion for cooking
- Olive oil
How to make it
- 1CHOP FINELY: Finely chop the onion and parsley, almost to a paste.
- 2MIX MIXTURE: Combine the ground beef and lamb with the onion, parsley, cumin, cinnamon, salt and pepper, mixing well.
- 3KNEAD: Knead the mixture by hand for a few minutes, so it binds well and becomes elastic.
- 4SHAPE: Take portions of the mixture and shape them into an elongated form, directly on flat metal skewers.
- 5GRILL: Grill the kafta over medium-high heat, turning carefully, for 10-12 minutes until evenly browned.
- 6PREPARE TOMATOES: Meanwhile, sauté the sliced onion with the diced tomatoes in a little oil.
- 7SERVE: Serve the kafta hot over the sautéed tomatoes, with flatbread and salad on the side.
Nutritional info
per serving (~350 g)
Estimated nutritional values.
Pairs perfectly with
