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Beef Kafta Kebabs

Beef kafta kebabs with spiced ground beef shaped on skewers and grilled until you get charred edges. A quick 30-minute chill helps the mixture firm up for clean log-shaped kebabs.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
chilling 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: Middle Eastern
Calories: 520
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Beef kafta
  • 2 lb ground beef (80/20)
  • 1 onion, grated and squeezed dry
  • 0.5 cup fresh parsley, finely chopped
  • 3 garlic, minced
  • 2 tsp cumin
  • 2 tsp paprika
  • 1 tsp allspice
  • 0.5 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 metal or soaked wooden skewers
Serving
  • 1 tahini sauce
  • 1 pita for serving
  • 1 fresh vegetables

Equipment

  • 1 skewers

Method
 

Mix the kafta
  1. In a mixing bowl, combine ground beef (80/20), onion, fresh parsley, garlic, cumin, paprika, allspice, cinnamon, salt, and pepper until evenly distributed, with no dry spice pockets visible.
Chill to firm
  1. Cover and refrigerate the mixture for 30 minutes, until it feels firmer and easier to shape.
Shape on skewers
  1. Divide the chilled mixture into 6-8 portions and press each portion onto metal or soaked wooden skewers into a log shape, making it compact so it holds together.
Grill
  1. Preheat the grill to medium-high heat and grill the kebabs for 4-5 minutes per side, turning once when charred edges appear and the beef is cooked through.
  2. Continue grilling 4-5 minutes per side until you see deep grill marks and the centers are no longer pink.
Serve
  1. Serve the beef kafta kebabs hot with tahini sauce, pita for serving, and fresh vegetables.

Notes

For the best texture, squeeze the grated onion very dry so the kafta doesn’t turn watery on the grill. Refrigerate shaped (uncooked) kebabs for up to 24 hours, and cook within that window; leftovers keep 3 days in the fridge. Freezing is yes—freeze uncooked shaped kebabs on a tray, then bag and use within 2 months. Dietary swap: use ground turkey in the same ratio if you prefer a lighter option.