Mediterranean Diet Friendly Beef Kofta

Total time1 hr 2 min

Prep time20 min

Cook time12 min

Ground beef takes center stage here, mixed with grated onion, garlic, and a handful of fresh parsley for brightness. The spice blend does the heavy lifting — warm cumin, coriander, smoked paprika, a whisper of cinnamon, and a kick of cayenne — giving these skewers that deeply savory, slightly smoky flavor the Mediterranean grill is known for. Shaping the mixture around skewers and getting a real char on the grill or under the broiler is what makes kofta so satisfying: crisp, blistered edges giving way to a juicy, well-seasoned interior. A short rest in the fridge before shaping helps everything hold together and lets the spices really settle in. Pile these onto warm flatbread with a cool, tangy yogurt sauce and a squeeze of lemon for a bright finish. It's an easy, flavor-packed dinner that fits naturally into a Mediterranean way of eating, whether you're grilling for a crowd or keeping it simple on a weeknight.

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Ingredients

4 servings

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).
1 small yellow onion, grated on the large holes of a box grater, excess liquid squeezed out
3 cloves garlic, minced
3 tbsp plain breadcrumbs
¼ cup fresh flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped
1 ½ tsp ground cumin
1 tsp ground coriander
1 tsp smoked paprika
½ tsp ground cinnamon
½ tsp cayenne pepper
1 tsp kosher salt
½ tsp black pepper
1 tbsp olive oil, for brushing

For serving

warm flatbread, for serving (optional)
Omit this
This ingredient likely doesn’t work for the diet.
plain yogurt or tzatziki, for serving (optional)
lemon wedges, for serving (optional)

Instructions

1
In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground beef, grated onion, garlic, breadcrumbs, parsley, cumin, coriander, smoked paprika, cinnamon, cayenne, salt, and black pepper. Mix with your hands until everything is evenly distributed and the mixture holds together when pressed — about 1 minute of mixing. Do not overwork.
2
Cover the bowl and refrigerate for 30 minutes to allow the mixture to firm up and the flavors to develop.

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