Mediterranean Diet Friendly Beef Kofta Kebabs with Tahini Sauce

Total time1 hr 5 min

Prep time20 min

Cook time15 min

Mediterranean Diet Friendly Beef Kofta Kebabs with Tahini Sauce

These kofta skewers lean hard into the warm, earthy spice blend that defines great grilled Mediterranean cooking — cumin, coriander, smoked paprika, and cinnamon mingle with grated onion, garlic, and fresh parsley for a mixture that's deeply savory in every bite. A quick chill firms everything up before the skewers hit a screaming-hot grill, developing that essential deep char while staying juicy inside. The real showstopper is the tahini sauce: nutty tahini whisked with fresh lemon juice and garlic into a smooth, pourable drizzle that cuts through the richness of the grilled meat beautifully. Pile everything onto warm flatbread with extra parsley and a squeeze of lemon, and you've got a vibrant, herb-forward plate built on olive oil, citrus, and garlic — exactly the kind of fresh, whole-ingredient cooking this way of eating is all about. It's a satisfying, flavor-packed dinner that fits naturally into a Mediterranean diet rotation.

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Ingredients

4 servings

For the kofta

1 ½ lb ground beef (80/20)
Isernios Chicken Ground Chicken Tray Pack - 16 Oz Foster Farms® Fresh & Natural Cage Free Ground Chicken Breast Open Nature Ground Chicken - 16 oz Smart Chicken Organic Ground Chicken Mary's Organic 93% Lean Ground Chicken, 16 oz
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Chef's tip
Ground chicken is often leaner than ground beef and can dry out more quickly. When browning it, add a little oil if needed and keep the pan juices unless the recipe says to drain them. Cook just until it reaches 165°F (74°C).
½ medium yellow onion, grated
3 cloves garlic, minced
¼ cup fresh flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp ground coriander
½ tsp smoked paprika
½ tsp ground cinnamon
¼ tsp cayenne pepper
1 tsp kosher salt
½ tsp black pepper
1 tbsp olive oil

For the tahini sauce

½ cup tahini
3 tbsp fresh lemon juice (about 1 large lemon)
1 clove garlic, minced
¼ tsp kosher salt
3–5 tbsp cold water

For serving

warm flatbread or pita, for serving
Omit this
This ingredient likely doesn’t work for the diet.
fresh parsley leaves, for serving (optional)
lemon wedges, for serving (optional)

Instructions

1
If using wooden skewers, submerge them in water for at least 30 minutes so they don't scorch on the grill.
2
In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground beef, grated onion, 3 cloves minced garlic, parsley, cumin, coriander, smoked paprika, cinnamon, cayenne, 1 tsp kosher salt, and black pepper. Mix with your hands until the spices are evenly distributed and the mixture feels slightly tacky, about 1–2 minutes — do not overwork it. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes to let the flavors meld and the mixture firm up.

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