I love a good grill out, but after a few, you need to jazz it up! Koftas are Turkish meatballs that you can either cook as a patty, meatball or a kebab that are loaded with spices and herbs. You can serve it with just about anything Mediterranean, but my favorite is with Grilled or Fresh Veggies, Pita and Tzatziki Sauce.
What is in this Kofta?
Spices Sumac, Cinnamon, Paprika, Cumin, Salt and Pepper give this Kofta a nice warm and smokey spice. The Sumac gives the meat a nice zesty flavor.
Armomatics Onion and Garlic give the foundation of flavor to the Kebab. Make sure the onion is minced or you will get large chunks of onion since they cook so quickly. Alternatively, if you have a grater, grate your onion to get small, uniform pieces of onion. I have substituted fresh onion and garlic for 1 Tablespoon of onion powder and 1 teaspoon of garlic powder before and it worked just fine, it just yielded a smaller kebab.
Herbs Parsley and/or Cilantro give the meat a fresh kick. If you don’t have fresh herbs, substitute 1 tsp Dried Parsley or Oregano.
Tzatziki This cucumber yogurt sauce is the perfect pairing to Kofta.
To make: Combine 1 cup greek yogurt, 1/2 cup grated cucumber, 1 clove of grated garlic, 1/4 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp pepper, 2 T chopped mint, 1 tsp lemon juice and 2 tsp olive oil. Stir until combined and season to taste. Cover and place in the fridge for 30 minutes to let flavors mend.
What to pair with Kofta Tzaziki is a necessity for spiced meat Kabobs. Roasted Potatoes and a fresh cucumber salad are the perfect pairing along Koftas. Grilled or Roasted Veggies like our Crispy Okra and a rice pilaf is a wonderful option too.
Drink Pairings A crisp white wine or rose would pair nicely with this Turkish dish. If you want red wine, a shiraz or cabernet would be a good fit.
Recipe
Spiced Beef Kofta Kebabs with Tzatziki
These Spiced Beef Koftas have the perfect blend of spice and smokiness to jazz up your next grill out. Top with with Tzatziki for the perfect pairing.
Ingredients
- 1 lb. Ground Beef
- 1 Egg
- 3 gloves of Garlic, minced
- 1/2 Onion, finely chopped or grated
- 2 T chopped Parsley, Mint or Cilantro
- 1 tsp. Sumac
- 1 tsp. Smoked Paprika
- 1 tsp. Cumin
- 1 tsp. Cinnamon
- 1 tsp. Kosher Salt
- 1/2 tsp. Cracked Black Pepper
- 8 Skewers, Metal or Wooden soaked in water
- **For Tzatziki**
- 1 cup Plain Greek Yogurt
- 1/2 cup Grated Cucumber
- 1 clove of Grated Garlic
- 1/4 tsp Kosher Salt
- 1/4 tsp Pepper
- 2T Chopped Mint
- 1 tsp Lemon Juice
- 2 tsp Olive Oil
Directions
- Step 1 Combine all Tzatziki ingredients in a medium bowl. Season to taste and then cover the bowl and place in the fridge until ready to serve.
- Step 2 Combine all of the Kofta ingredients together except the ground meat. Mix in the ground meat for a minute or two until fully combined.
- Step 3 Divide meat into 8 portions, roll them into balls and shape them into ovals. Push the skewers into the Koftas. Brush Koftas with oil.
- Step 4 Preheat Grill or Griddle to medium-high. Once the Grill is hot, cook Koftas on each side for 4-6 minutes or until cooked to desired temperature.
- Step 5 Serve with Tzatziki and Pita Bread.
About the Author
Lauren is a classically trained, professional chef. A culinary school graduate, she has spent time working organic farms in the Italian countryside and was the pastry/sous chef at a high profile restaurant in Dallas prior to becoming a full-time personal chef. Her cooking style is often referred to as “rustic.” Being a personal chef, she is not bound by a single type of cuisine and has had the opportunity to experiment with hundreds of regional recipes from all over the world.
1 thought on “Spiced Kofta Kebabs with Tzatziki”