453 – Lamb kofta – Ground meat skewers / كفتة لحم الضأن

Ingredients :

Kefta ingredients:

• 500 grams (1 pound) lamb ground meat
  
• 1 cup of finely chopped parsley and cilantro, mixed
  
• 4 large mint leaves
  
• 1/2 medium onion, grated
  
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
  
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
  
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  
• 1 teaspoon sweet paprika
  
• 1 teaspoon coriander powder
• Salt and pepper, to taste

For the yogurt sauce:

• 1/2 cup plain yogurt
  
• 1 heaping teaspoon minced herbs (mix of parsley, cilantro, and mint)
  
• 2 teaspoons lemon juice, or to taste
  
• Salt and pepper, to taste
  

Directions :

Step 1: Make the Yogurt Sauce
1- In a small bowl, combine the yogurt, herbs, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Cover and place in the refrigerator until ready to serve.

Step 2: Make the Kefta
1- In a large bowl, combine all the kefta ingredients together. Mix well with your hands until well incorporated.
2- Cover the bowl and chill in the fridge for 30 minutes before grilling.
3- To shape the kefta, take a handful of meat, and form a sausage-like shape. Repeat with remaining meat.
Note: you can also shape the kefta into hamburger patties, or meatballs
4- Cook on hot charcoal (bbq) for 3-4 minutes on one side, then flip to the other side and continue cooking for another 3-4 minutes. Do not overcook otherwise the kefta will be dry.

Step 3: Serve the Kefta
1- Serve the kefat immediately, hot, with the yogurt sauce on the side. In Morocco, we eat kefta with Moroccan bread, mint tea, and a tomato cucumber fresh salad!