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When it comes to grilling, we love our burgers and hot dogs, but we are definitely more partial to Lebanese style grilling, which includes grilled chicken kabobs, shish tawook and this Beef Kafta recipe. It’s perfect for grilling outdoors or on a grill pan and is so full of flavor, but only requires four basic ingredients: ground beef, onions, parsley and spices.
What is kafta?
We call it Kafta in Lebanon and it’s also widely known as Kofta in other Middle Eastern countries. It’s basically a meatball using either beef, chicken or lamb, mixed with herbs, Middle Eastern spices and onions. All you really need is 4 ingredients: ground beef, onions, parsley and a spice blend similar to all spice.
Traditionally it’s served on pita with hummus, or you can also serve it with cauliflower rice or rice pilaf and a salad as pictured here.
RECIPE VIDEO TUTORIAL
How do you make beef kafta?
Do all the prep in a food processor. It makes everything super fine and that way when it’s all mixed together, the flavors are more robust! Start with about ½ bunch of parsley, remove the stems, wash and dry them, and pulse in the food processor. You should get about ¼ cup chopped parsley.
Then, remove the parsley and set aside in a small bowl. No worries if some remain in the bowl of the food processor. Next, throw in one yellow onion in the food processor and pulse it until it’s also finely chopped.
Now, put everything together. The parsley comes back to the food processor with the onions and you can add in the ground beef and the Kafta spices. Pulse the food processor a few times until everything is well combined and forms a pasty meat mixture like this.
Time to form the patties! Well they’re not really patties. They have a unique beef kafta shape that’s oblong. When you shape the kafta, you can shape them around a wooden skewer to make grilling easier or just shape them with your hands if you’re grilling indoors.
The result is a juicy, flavorful protein packed beef kafta that is the hero to so many wonderful Lebanese side dishes.
What do you eat with beef kafta?
- Fattoush Salad – Great option if you’re doing low-carb or keto.
- Hummus – This works well for making sandwiches with the kafta.
- Lebanese Rice – It’s the classic and comforting side dish for kafta.
- Bulgur Pilaf – When you want some grains but not plain white rice.
Watch this video to learn how to make beef kafta.
Top tips to make beef kafta
- Use a good quality beef with 10-15% fat for this recipe. Making kafta is like making meatballs which requires some moisture to help it bind and stay juicy. The fat provides that much-needed moisture since we’re not using eggs.
- Pulse the beef only with the onions and parsley. It’s important to already have the parsley and onions chopped and then just pulse lightly with the beef in order to avoid over-mixing. Over-mixing can lead to overworked dry meat.
- Form the beef kafta into evenly sized shapes. This ensures that everything is finished cooking together making it all tender and juicy without anything being overcooked.
- Do not overcook the kaftas. They should be cooked to medium, this way they are more flavorful and aren’t dry. Keep in mind they’ll continue to cook when they’re resting off the grill.
Frequently Asked Questions
Cooked kaftas will keep in an airtight container in the fridge for about 3 to 4 days. They can be reheated or eaten cold. They also freeze well and will last for up to 3 months.
I love making kaftas with beef, but you can also use a ground lamb or ground chicken if you prefer. A lot of kaftas are made with a mix of beef and lamb mince for a really rich flavor.
Yes, these work really well in the oven. Bake at 350ºF for around 15 to 20 minutes until they are cooked through.I do prefer the flavor of the kafta when grilled though.
We love eating kafta with a salad, with Lebanese rice, in a stew or in. wrap. You can also eat it on its own with tahini sauce or cucumber yogurt sauce for dipping.
More Lebanese recipes
- Chicken Kafta
- Mujadara
- Chicken Shish Tawook
- Beef Shawarma Wrap
- Lebanese Chicken Fatteh
- Falafel Recipe
- Mujadara Hamra
If you’ve tried this healthy-ish feel good Beef Kafta recipe or any other recipe on FeelGoodFoodie, then don’t forget to rate the recipe and leave me a comment below! I would love to hear about your experience making it. And if you snapped some shots of it, share it with me on Instagram so I can repost on my stories!
This Beef Kafta recipe was originally published on September 2, 2018. I’m re-sharing it with more step-by-step photos and a recipe video. Here’s the original photo!
Beef Kafta
Video
Ingredients
- ¼ cup parsley
- 1 small yellow onion quartered
- 1 pound ground beef
- 2 teaspoons 7 spice
- ½ teaspoon cumin
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon coriander
- ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Place the parsley in the bowl of a food processor and pulse until finely chopped, remove and set aside.
- In the same food processor bowl used to chop the parsley, place the quartered onion and pulse until finely chopped. Drain the onions slightly to release excess moisture.
- Return the parsley back to the bowl of the food processor with the onions. Add the ground beef to the food processor in addition to all the spices. Run the food processor on pulse once or twice until ingredients are well combined and form a pasty meat mixture.
- Transfer the mixture from the food processor to a large bowl and form the Kafta into an oblong shape about 1 inch in thickness. You can form them on a wooden skewer or without.
- Grease the grates of a gas grill or indoor grill pan, and preheat it to medium high heat. When heated through, transfer the kafta to the grill. Grill for 4-5 minutes per side, depending on your preferred level of doneness.
- Serve hot off the grill with your choice of side.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information provided is an estimate. It will vary based on cooking method and specific ingredients used.
It’s so delicious. I loved.
Yay, so glad to hear it!! Thanks!
Is there a suitable sub for 7 spice? If I don’t have all the things such as all spice, ground cloves, etc, can I just add what I have in my pantry?
Hi Laura, I recommend you use as many spices that make up the 7 spice blend as possible, whatever you have on hand is great! Here’s my recipe for reference: How to Make 7 Spice
What’s the 7 spice?
7 spice is a popular Lebanese spice mix! You can make your own using my recipe: How to Make 7 Spice
This is the best kafta recipe! The season is balanced, the spices, wow. Thank you
Aww, thank you so much! So glad you liked it, Rocio!!
Hi so I want to make this but I don’t have a food processor. Do I really need one?
Yes, it will work okay without a food processor! Just be sure to mince your herbs and onion super fine.
I have been making this since 2018 and it’s been in my weekly rotation as a favorite since. I love eating them with hummus and pita chips. Thanks for the recipe!
A favorite since 2018? Wow!! I love that you’ve kept my beef kafta in rotation for so long—thank you!!
I followed this recipe exactly and did it for 3X the original—it was a hit! My kids 11, 8,&8 loved it. Only 5 of us and 3 lbs of meat was done to 4 pieces of the lady’s (small size like you made).
I’m Lebanese 1st generation born and this was as good as my mom’s recipe! Yum!
Aww, yay! Wow I’m so glad you and your kids liked my beef kafta recipe as much as your mom’s!! That is so sweet—thank you so much, Rita!!
What is the best GB/ fat ratio ?
You want to use a good quality beef with 10-15% fat. Enjoy!
Thank you so much for this recipe, I’ve been making it for a couple of years now and crave it after never eating Kafta in the past. I’ve been using half beef and half lamb. Beautiful, makes me wonder what else of yours I should be cooking… Thanks again
Aww, that makes me so happy to hear!! Thanks, Brenda!
This recipe is wonderful! I had kafta at a restaurant last week and it was so good I thought I would try to make it at home. I don’t have a grill so I air-fried it at 350F, and I would recommend somewhere between 12-16 minutes, flipping it once so both sides can get nice and brown. I had to make the 7 spice mixture and cut the parsley and onions by hand because I don’t have a food processor, and it all still came together in less than 20 minutes (aside from the cooking time, but you can just leave it alone while it does that). It was so good and I have leftovers to enjoy. It came out super juicy and delicious and I will definitely be making this again!
Yay, I’m so happy to hear you liked it!! Thanks for sharing your air fryer results!
I see the 7 Spice recipe contains some of the other spices listed in the Kafta recipe. Do you use both the 7 Spice plus the additional spices to make the Kafta?
Hi Lorene, great question! I use the 7 spice seasoning as well as the spices listed below it. Hope you enjoy!
Too much cinnamon for our taste, would make again with less.
Hi Patti, feel free to adjust the spices to your preferences next time!
I love your recipes! Can I make this without a food processor and if so, can you give me some tips, thank you!
Can you use dried parsley instead of fresh? If so, what would be the quantity of dried instead of fresh?
Thank you.
For the best flavor, I would recommend only using fresh parsley here.
These were soooo good. Much tastier than kibbee. Served with rice and toum.
Definitely going into our dinner rotation.
Thanks.
Can I make them in the oven or air fryer?
Yes! I think it would work well. I’d try 350˚F for about 15 -20 minutes.
If you don’t have a food processor and need to mix manually, will the mixture still taste the same?
Yes, it will be fine! Just make sue to mince your herbs and onion super fine.
Made this for my family and they LOVED it. The recipe is precise and easy to follow and the meal came together quickly. My family is of Balkan descent so the flavors for us were spot on. “So good!” Cannot wait to try another of her recipes
Yay! So happy to hear!
This was incredible. I shaped them like little meatballs, so good with a green salad. One of the best recipes I’ve tried from feel good Foodie. Thank you.
Alterations to make a more flavorful dish:
Add Sumac and substitute the yellow onion for red onion.
Don’t use the food processor. It releases too much liquid from the onion that you then drain, which would have kept the beef from drying out. Fine chop by hand.
Prep the day before you cook to give the flavors time to really sink into the kebabs.
Great recipe, thanks to the original poster.
Thanks for sharing these tips!
Every year I make things for my staff as gifts for the holidays. For my staff that follow Halal or Kosher requirements. This was perfect, a member from Algeria was so surprised as for him it was a true taste from home.
So thank you for posting this – it is now in my recipe book.
Cheers Ed
Awe, that means so much, thank you for sharing with your staff, Ed!
Made this last minute for dinner and so glad!! The meat was so delicious and tender. Cooked in a cast iron pan which gave a nice crust to the meat. Really wonderful and so flavorful!
Yay, so glad you enjoyed it!
I made this pretty much like the recipe except that instead of using a food processor, I chopped very very fine by hand.
I used a pound of minced beef and a pound of minced lamb and scaled appropriately. It made 13 kafta balls. I served two kofta each, on couscous.
It was fantastic. I will certainly make this again. My wife and I both liked it. Five stars. Way better than restaurant version.
Thanks for letting me know about the changes you made, I’m so happy you enjoyed this recipe!
I forgot to say that I cooked it in the oven, with convection, 350°F for 25 minutes.
We have lots of leftovers too enjoy!
We were going to go out to eat at an Arabic restaurant today. That has been delayed. This kofta is much better!
Hello!
Does this receipt require both the seven spices mixture and the listed spices below it?
or is it either just the spices individually or the seven spices on its own?
Hi Aalyah, great question! It uses the 7 spice seasoning as well as the spices listed below it. I hope you enjoy!
This is an amazing recipe. Followed it to the letter. Will be using again in future
Thank you so much!
Easy and delicious! After trying hundreds of recipes, I’ve only commented twice when I had something constructive to add. However, this recipe is soooo flavorful, I had to thank you for sharing it!
You’re so welcome! Thank you for making it!
This recipe does not mention how much 7 spice to use, and when to add it to the beef-veggie mixture….
Hi Bruce, if you scroll down to the recipe card all the measurements are listed as well as the full instructions. Hope you enjoy!
Can this be sautéd? I wonder if it will have the same flavor…
Great question! You can cook it on the stove top, it does miss out on that grilled/charred flavor but other than that it is still really yummy!
This was a huge hit for my boyfriend and I. I made them into smash burgers served in flatbread with lettuce, tomatoes, red onions, and a homemade creamy feta sauce. I also used your recipe for the 7 spice and I will make sure to always have this in the pantry! He requested to have this meal once a week lol. Thank you for this delicious recipe!
You’re so welcome! I am so happy to hear that you both enjoyed it! I love the idea of making it into burgers!
Hi, I’m absolutely loving your site and all you delicious recipes!
I was wondering, could I make these in an air fryer instead of a grill?
If so, what would your suggestion be on time and temperature?
Thanks for sharing such yummyness!
Yay, so glad to hear it! I’ve actually never made the beef kafta in the air fryer. But it would totally be easy to do so. I would recommend 400ºF for 8-10 minutes.
I’m confused on the 7 spice.
Do you use the 7 spice AND the other measured spices? Or are the other spices used if you don’t use the 7 spice?
Thank you – I’m getting ready to make this.
Yes, that is correct – you use the 7 Spice and the other measured spices. Hope you enjoy the recipe!
Thank you for getting back to me.
I doubled my recipe so we would have leftovers and used lamb. I only used the 7 spice (I made it before your reply) It turned out very good! However, I would add the others measurements of spice next time. All in all, it was a hit with our family. I’m new to your recipes and I’m enjoying reading and watching the videos. Next on the list is the feta-tomato pasta! 🙂
Of course! I’m glad it was a hit with your family. Can’t wait to hear what you think about other recipes on my website!
I love the simplicity and the healthiesh. Good work
Yay! You’re so welcome!
I had trouble with the kafta staying together. I formed them and put them in the freezer for 15 minutes. Greased the indoor grill like you said, and they still feel apart. Any recommendations?
Did you use a good quality beef with 10-15% fat for this recipe? The moisture helps it bind and stay juicy!
Old school wisdom – is to mix the meat with salt in order to make it hold together, do it by hand. There may be too much moisture coming from the onion and parsley, squeeze out some of the moisture before mixing with the meat.
Great advice, Max! Thank you for sharing!
Easy to follow and really great flavor, thanka!
Yay! You’re so welcome!
I absolutely love this recipe and so does my whole family. I highly recommend everyone to try this recipe ❤️❤️❤️
Thank you so much! That makes me incredibly happy to hear!
This recipe is absolutely delicious. I couldn’t say which recipe here is my favorite because I haven’t been disappointed with any of the ones I’ve tried. But there’s something about the flavor in this Kafta that left me thinking about it next next day, craving for more. It was so juicy and the combination of the flavor is well balanced. I served it with a shawarma salad and Naan bread. The next day, I made a melt in a Quinoa Wrap topped with salad. I couldn’t stop talking about it. Out Of This World.
Thank you so much! This makes me so happy to hear. Such a great meal! Yum!!
This is one of my go to recipes. It is simple to make. Everyone loves it. Sometimes I use ground turkey and I bake them. So delicious. I would rate this recipe higher if I could.
I love that! Thank you. That means so much to me!
The proportions on this recipe are perfect. I have used different meats and spices while following the steps and measurements and it’s always delicious! I love it for lamb or sheep meat.
Thank you! That’s amazing!
I had a meal kit from Sunbasket with meat and seasoning to make the “kafta.” I thought there had to be more to make it tasty, so I searched and found your recipe. The addition of onion and parsley made a big difference. Thanks!
So glad this recipe was helpful! You’re so welcome!
Howdy!
I needed to incorporate some more spice in my life and of course introduce the kids to “other” meatballs. At first, I was skeptical about the cinnamon (never put cinnamon in meat before). But I followed your way to the T and made two batches that my family of 4 chowed down same day! I also made your baba ganoush. Now, I just need help with Basmati rice bc it still comes out sticky’ish.
So glad you went through with it and enjoyed! That sounds like a perfect meal. Be sure to check out my How to Cook Brown Rice post!
Just a question, I just purchased Kafta spice in a jar, how mush would you use of a premade spice in this recipe?
I would use around 1 teaspoon if you’re just planning to add that spice to the recipe and not use it to replace any of the spices that are already in the recipe.
This recipe was fantastic. We formed them into burgers and put them in pita with other fixings. This is definitely going in our dinner rotation. Thank you!
Thank you! That sounds delicious. You’re so welcome!
I used your recipe, but used Moroccan Kefka spice… I love spicy, and a little heat!
That sounds like such a delicious way to switch it up!
Sooo good! Tastes like home. I moved to Dallas from Michigan and it’s so hard to find good and authentic Lebanese Kafta here but my husband was soooo happy and said “this is the best kafta I’ve had in such a long time!” So thank you for sharing your recipes ❤️❤️
Thank you! That’s amazing! Always happy to share!
Check out DiMassi’s restaurants. They have several locations around DFW (and beyond). They are cafeteria style AYCE, but their Middle East/Mediterranean fare is absolutely authentic and delicious!
Just 4 ingredients … Beef, onions, parsley and about 7 different spices … I think your maths is off
Yes! Four basic ingredients: ground beef, onions, parsley, and a blend of Middle Eastern spices.
Made it w lamb tonight and I highly recommend it! Thanks for a great recipe
Yum!! You’re so welcome!
Excellent recipe! I had very lean ground beef so I added a little olive oil to the onions and parsley in the food processor. They were juicy and very flavorful.
Thank you! Great idea. So glad to hear it!
Made beef Kafta! It was easy and delicious! It was mid week so I cooked it in my air fryer. Will definitely make again 👍
That makes me so happy to hear. Thank you!
I’ve done this recipe with ground beef, ground Turkey and ground venison, all were so good . The venison was an experiment that went very well. It’s a lean wild game that tends to dry out easily, but with this recipe it’s unreal. *Tip for Venison is take it off the grill at 140 degrees ish : medium/medium rare and let it rest. It will cook past pink during the resting period of 10 minutes . It’s amazing!!! Making my Lebanese wife very happy! Thanks Yumna!
Added plus is the homemade hummus recipe , really brings the whole thing together 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
I’m so glad to hear it works with all those options! You’re so welcome!
This was absolutely delicious, dinner last night was a total success! I truly enjoy watching your stories on IG, I have never ever like a foodie page so much!
My favorite foods are Mediterranean , middle eastern, I am definitely going to be trying a lot of the Lebanese recipes you have here on your page.
Thank you so much! I appreciate all the support!
This was very delicious! Made it with the rice and toum sauce! Unbelievable, thanks for sharing!
Thank you! Such a great combo! You’re so welcome!!
Your Recipes are never a fail in my house. This was absolutely delicious. It was such a hit in my house. Like you say “ SO GOOD” ❤️❤️ Thank you for always sharing the best Recipe’s with us all. We Really appreciate you!
That’s perfect! Yay!! Always happy to share!
My family enjoyed it!
That’s great to hear!
This recipe is soooo bomb! Better than the Lebanese restaurant near me! I made my own 7 spice seasoning. Delicious!
Wow, thank you so much! Yay!!
i dont know what 7 spice is but we do have Zataar at the grocery store does this work for kafta? thanks
if not what would be good substitutes?
I have the recipe for How to Make 7 Spice on my website (https://feelgoodfoodie.net/recipe/how-to-make-7-spice/). If you can’t find 7 Spice, substitute All Spice.
Loved this recipe.
made it a day ahead and I think the flavours really came out even better, every bite had flavor.
Food processor was perfect.
Whole family loved it.
made with hummus, rice and cucumber salad.
Thank you! I’m so happy you all enjoyed it!
Do you add the 7 spice mixture and the other spices? It seems like a lot.
Yes, you do!
This kafta recipe turned out perfectly. The spices are perfectly balanced. We had it with pita and hummus but I can’t wait to make it again with another side. I really appreciated the suggestion to use a food processor… made it super easy.
Thank you! That sounds wonderful!!
These were so flavorful and moist! Grilled them on a charcoal grill. Great recipe!
That’s perfect! Thank you!!
OBSESSED with each and every recipe ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
That means so much to me! Yay!!
This was really tasty. I made it in the broiler, came out great. Thanks!
Yay! I love that! You’re so welcome!!
Spiced to perfection !! Yum!
Thank you!
Tried many different kafta recipes this is the best one yet.
I’m so glad you enjoyed it that much!
Hi Yumna
Thank you! love your recipes! I just wanted to ask you in the video they show sort of a colander where you put the parsley stem through the hole and snap it off, I believe it is the quickest way! is it a regular colander or a special one for herbs? Thanks
Thank you so much! That truly means a lot!! It’s a regular colander.
Excellent taste & recipe
Thank you
Yay! You’re welcome!
Hi Yumna
I feel embarrassed asking, but want to make this recipe…very excited to do so!
The recipe says 2 teaspoons 7 spice (I went to your link for this!)
then..
½ teaspoon cumin
½ teaspoon cinnamon
½ teaspoon coriander
⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper to taste
Are all the 1/2 tspn spices in addition to the 2 tspns of 7 spice?
Thank You for clarifying,
Benny
Hi, Benny! Yes – the 1/2 teaspoon spices are in addition to the 2 tablespoons of 7 Spice.
Thank You Yumna! Now, I can make with confidence and enjoy.
Hope your day is a great one,
Benny
You’re so welcome! I absolutely love that. Thank you!
Benny, please don’t be embarrassed! i was wondering the same thing so i decided to scroll through the comments to see if anyone had asked before i sent a message. thanks for doing it first, lol!
I’ve made this kafta recipe three times,on the outdoor grill,indoor grill,and in the oven and it has been so delicious every time. I like it as much as the mediterranean restaurants where I’ve had it. Thanks for the recipe and your site. I’m enjoying it so much.
I love that so much! Yay!!
Hi Yumna! This is awesome. Wondering if I can make it in the oven, and if so, how long and at what temp should I bake it? Thanks!
Thank you! Yes, these work really well in the oven. Bake at 350ºF for around 15 to 20 minutes until they are cooked through.I do prefer the flavor of the kafta when grilled though.
This is a very informative blog, thanks for sharing about beef kafta . It will help a lot; these types of content should get appreciated. I will bookmark your site; I hope to read more such informative contents in future… great post!!
Thank you so much! Hope you continue to enjoy!
I am so happy I found your blog and I absolutely love your information about beef kafta and the tips you have shared are awesome. I liked and it is wonderful to know about so many things that are useful for all of us! Thanks a lot for this amazing blog!!
Thank you so much! I’m so glad to hear it!
We discovered frozen kafta dinners during the week of the Texas freeze. Most stores were closed and roads were iced over. I was able to walk/slide to a neighborhood Halal meat market and bought anything I could that wouldn’t take much to prepare. My family enjoyed the kafta so much that I searched the web for a traditional recipe, and found yours. Thank you for sharing – these were delicious and juicy and quite easy to make. Kafta and your website are happy discoveries! We’ll be exploring many more of your recipes.
I’m so glad you came across this recipe! You’re so welcome!!
Thank you for sharing the recipe, Yumna! Wonderful flavours, juicy, great texture. I am a busy mom, simplified the preparation by pulsing only onion/parsley and cooking kafta in the oven on the cookie baking sheet. Still great!
You’re so welcome! I love that!
Can these be cooked in an air fryer?
I have yet to try it!
My picky kids really enjoyed this beef kafta. I followed the recipe exactly and just doubled it to have leftovers. The flavors (spices) are amazing (used your 7 spice recipe) and the kafta came out really juice. Cooked on indoor grill. Will definitely be a repeat in my house. Thank you! 😊
That makes me so incredibly happy! Yay!!
Quick question
Dont you think 2 teaspoons in 1 pound minced beef would be little strong taste. But still i will try same and see. just a thought . Thanks
It might be, but for me it always works well. Give it a try.
Yumna I can’t wait to try a veganized version of this recipe…Beyond Meat and the “fake pork” bran Pure Farmland both produce grease and fat which you say is important without a binder. I’m really excited and I can’t wait!
Cool! Let me know how it is!
Love making this beef kafta recipe! thank you so much
Great recipe! I hate cooking but really wanted Kefta and it turned out amazing! Defiantly the best recipe out there for good Kefta 😉
So glad to hear it! Thanks so much!
This was absolutely delicious! I used lamb and it was super juicy and flavourful. The spices compliment the meat and add a beautiful flavour with little need to add much salt. Definitely make this one again!
Thanks for the recipe!
I’m about to make this for the second time tonight. I’m not sure that I’ve ever commented on a recipe before, but I have to endorse this one. Loved it last time, looking forward to round 2.
Yay!! So happy for your endorsement and that you’re making the recipe twice in on day! Woohooo!
Do you use the Baharat plus the additional spices that you listed, so more cinnamon, more cumin?
Yes I do, but you can adjust it based on your taste preference! Sorry for the late reply, I was moving 🙂
I have hard time finding 7 spices
Can I just make my own
Sure! Here’s how I make mine 🙂
1 tablespoon Allspice
1 tablespoon ground coriander
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1 ½ teaspoons ground black pepper
1 ½ teaspoons ground cloves
1 ½ teaspoons ground cumin
1 ½ teaspoons ground nutmeg
We literally just had this for dinner. So yummy and has made it on the “make again” list. Super easy too. We cooked them on the Kamado grill and they had beautiful grill marks. Thanks for this great recipe!
Ohhh that’s perfect!! So glad it made the rotation list!! Thank you 🙂
Do you have a recipe for the rice 🍚
Yes, it’s right here:
https://feelgoodfoodie.net/recipe/lebanese-rice/
Here you go: https://feelgoodfoodie.net/recipe/lebanese-rice/
This is awesome. The spice level is just right.
So glad to hear it. Thanks so much!
I made this for dinner tonight and it was delicious! Good, easy to follow recipe. I pan fried instead of grilling – medium high heat for about 3.5 mins per side.
So glad you enjoyed it! And thank you for the pan-friend instructions for others to try too!
Very good, my family loved it. My Sito didn’t put cayenne in and I’m sure she made her own “7 spice” but this was delicious. I used 1/2 beef and 1/2 lamb.
So glad to hear you loved it! Thanks so much for sharing. Bet your sito makes it so good! Sito recipes are the best!
I was hoping to make this today, but I am confused about the spices. I have 7 Spice. Do you use 2 teaspoons of 7 Spice in addition to all of these spices?
½ teaspoon cumin
½ teaspoon cinnamon
½ teaspoon coriander
⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper to taste
Or do you only use the listed spices (cumin through black pepper) if you don’t have 7 Spice? Those are all ingredients in my 7 Spice, so it’s kind of confusing to me.
These measurements are instead of the 2 teaspoons of 7 Spice so you can make your own if you don’t have it 🙂
Thanks for the reply! We ended up making this last night. We hadn’t yet heard from you, so I used 2 teaspoons of 7 spice plus the additional spices listed and it was perfect!
However, I’m still confused. The way it’s written, it sounds as though “Kafta spice” would be used in place of ALL the spices listed, including the 7 spice and the list of individual spices that come after.
If that’s the case, your response to my question sounds as though you’re saying “Just use 7 spice and don’t add any of these other spices. The other spices are just used if you don’t have 7 spice.”
The recipe was fun and tasty, but if I’d gotten your response prior to making it, I would have only seasoned it with the 7 spice, which I think would have been disappointing.
Hi Debbie! Thank you so much for clarifying! I made a mistake in my response to you. So the measurement is 1.5 tablespoon of kafta spice OR all the spices I listed including the 2 teaspoons 7 spice. I think I was sleepy when I answered you. You did it perfectly and you interpreted it correctly! I will make sure to clarify that in the recipe.
Thank you for clarifying! The recipe is wonderful, and we had leftovers for dinner tonight. We served it with a lemon parsley rice. Your recipe hit the bullseye, and we will definitely keep this in the rotation!
These are so good and easy to make. Any instructions to make them in the oven??? Thanks!!
Glad to hear it! To make them in the oven, bake at 350ºF for around 15 to 20 minutes until they are cooked through.
We prepared this Beef Kafta recipe yesterday for dinner. it was delicious! We had the Kaftas with tabuleh salad and rice with lentils. This is such a great recipe, thanks for sharing!
So glad to hear that you made it and loved it. Thank you so much!
Really easy to Follow, and tasted very authentic of all the food I’ve had from this region. Thank You!!!
So glad to hear that you enjoyed it. Thank you so much!
Good instructions. Made the Kafta yesterday. Had it with hummus and pita bread. Super delicious and filling. Thanks for all your recipes.
I’m so glad to hear that. Thank you!!
Good recipie. Easy to prepare, most good rendition.
Awesome! Glad to hear it!
What is 7 Spice. How can I do it and store it.
Arabic seven spice includes 1 tablespoon each of ground black pepper, paprika, ground cumin, ground coriander, ground cloves, ground nutmeg, and ground cinnamon.
I made these for my husband who is Lebanese and he was very impressed and jokingly question if I really cooked them (bc I am Filipino). The recipe is so easy, I made extras and froze them for later.
Yay! I’m so happy to hear that!! It’s always nice when your spouse can taste the authenticity!
If we want to cook it in the oven, what temperature is best and how long?
Sure, you can bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes.
I added some peanutbutter to mine, fresh garlic as well as paprika, toasted sesame seeds and chipotel spice, I then made fresh hommus and served with greek yoghurt and a salad of avo, tom, cucumber and red onion on a warm wrap, was just devine
Oh wow I love how you changed it up and also how you served it. Sounds amazing!
why the peanut butter?
Doubled the recipe last night and made a 7 spice blend from a recipe I found online. Broiled these, turning so each side would brown/cook. My family loved it. I did find the cayenne a little much but nobody (including my picky eater) said anything. We served them with salad, falafel, tahini, hummus and greek yogurt.
What a yummy dinner and I’m so glad that you enjoyed it. Good to know about the cayenne. I’ve heard that from a couple others, so I’ll make it optional in the recipe.
Hello, why are there 2 different recipes for this? My recipe says 1/2 tsp cayenne and 7 spice or all spice and my husbands says less cayenne and no suggestion for all spice in place of 7 spice.
Hi Tara – your recipe was the original one but I just made it again recently and realized the cayenne was too spicy for my kids so I decreased it to 1/8 teaspoon. For simplicity, I made the ingredient just say 7 Spice instead of 7 Spice or All Spice, but I note in the blog post that you can substitute the All Spice for 7 Spice. Are you still seeing the old recipe somewhere?
I love this recipe! My husband and I have made kafta before but for some reason never used the food processor. That made it so much easier!!
So glad you liked it! Yeah, the food processor makes it so easy!
Love it, it’s my second time doing it and it’s delicious. Thank you for sharing ❤️
Yay! I’m so glad to hear it. Thank you!!
It turned out delicious. So easy using food processor. The spices and aroma while grilling was heaven. Thank you for the recipe. Can’t wait to try Muhammara ?
So excited to hear you liked the recipe! And I hope you enjoy the Muhammara next!
Appreciate the recipe very much. The muxture of meat n onion n parsley tend to crumble, I added in 1 egg or breadcrumbs from 2 slices of bread as a ‘binder’ agent. Do you have other suggestion to overcome crumbled meat nixture? Thank you
I think your solution was perfect. Traditionally though, we don’t put eggs in the mixture. So what I would recommend is less parsley and grating the onions so they are super fine. You can even drain them in a colander before mixing with the meat to release any extra liquid. It’s possibly that you used too much parsley or the parsley was too wet or the onions were too wet. I’ve adjusted recipe to provide more exact measurements and these tips. If you still run into a problem, I would just add 1/2 tablespoon of flour to the mixture and that should do the trick. Hope that helps!
This is definitely one meal I need to try.
Ground beef should be 70/30, no more than 80/20… if you put everything in a bowl and mix with your hands and form them. Can make balls and fry on stove with very little oil.
Yes, I agree the fat helps to hold it together. I usually don’t have a problem with the mixture being crumbly as long as everything is finely chopped.