Getting tired of your go-to dishes for Ground Lamb and Beef? Try bringing some Middle Eastern flavors into your kitchen with these kofta meatballs.
Kofta (aka Kefta) is traditionally grilled on skewers, but we wanted to create a version that any cook can make at home in the oven. Combining pasture-raised meat, onion, and a variety of Middle Eastern spices creates meatballs with an explosive, but approachable, flavor. Make a pita sandwich, or create a summery platter to share.
These meatballs are gluten-free and dairy-free.
Lamb or Beef Kofta Meatballs
Serves 3-4
Ingredients
1 lb Ground Lamb, Ground Beef, or a Combination of the Two
1/4 cup Red Onion, Grated
1/4 cup Cilantro, Chopped Fine
1/4 cup Parsley, Chopped Fine
3 Cloves Garlic, Minced or Grated
1 tsp Kosher Salt
1 1/2 tsp Ground Cumin
3/4 tsp Paprika
1/4 tsp Black Pepper
1/8 tsp Nutmeg
1/8 tsp Cayenne (add more for additional heat)
Preparation
Step 1
Preheat oven to 450°. For easy cleanup, line your rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
Step 2
Combine all ingredients in a bowl and stir to incorporate. Pro-tip: go ahead and use your hands (ideally with gloves) to make things easy, they're about to get messy anyway.
Step 3
Use your hands to roll 1.5-2 inch balls. 1 lb of ground meat should yield about 16 small meatballs. Space evenly on your tray.
Step 4
Bake for 12 minutes. If you would like them to be more brown, finish under the broiler for 1-2 minutes.
Step 5
Have fun making a sandwich or platter. We suggest lots of hummus or tahini, lettuce, red onion, cucumber, kalamata olives, feta, and pita.
