Foodie Blogroll

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Kafta - Lebanese meatballs on a stick!


Since I made the Lebanese seven spice mix I just had to find something so I could use the spice in. It smelled so good with all the fresh ground spices all mixed together...I couldn't resist. So I decided to make some kafta, you know how good food on a stick is...and meatballs onre y a stick?...what could be better? :D I didn't use the grill this time, but I think next time I will. I've seen them shaped in patties, like footballs, cigars, eggs or hot dogs wrapped around the skewers...anyway you make them I am suou'll like them, so much flavor here.



Ingredients:

1 1/2 pound ground lamb (or you could use half beef)
4 green onions chopped
1 bunch parsley chopped
2 cloves garlic chopped (can you believe I ran out of garlic!.. so I used garlic chili paste instead)
a handful of mint chopped
1 tablespoon Lebanese seven spice or sometimes called mixed spice
1 tablespoon garlic-chili sauce (you can add your own heat preference or not, some like cayenne)
1 egg lightly beaten

Mix it all together (in a bowl of course) and cover and rest in the fridge for about 30 minutes to get the flavors merging all together nicely and the meatball will form easily. If using wooden skewers soak them for the same 30 minutes so they won't burn on the grill. I don't like to form the meatball too firm so it won't be too dense after cooking...just my preference.

You can grill them or make them on a, grill pan stove-top, I browned them on the grill pan first and transferred the pan to the oven and finished them off. You would grill them like you would burgers, just make sure the meat is cooked no longer pink, but try not to overcook them.


Serve with a warm pita and your favorite chutney, garlic tahini sauce or like I did a cucumber yogurt sauce...

( I almost didn't post this photo, but it was the only one with the sauce)


For the sauce I mixed some1 cup Greek yogurt, 1/2 cucumber shredded or chopped, 1/2 tsp dill more if using fresh, a dash of garlic powder and a squeeze of lemon juice.


They were tasty and so good hot, room temperature or cold, perfect for my bento box lunch.


Here is the bento that I made from the leftovers. I made enough to freeze the extra, but they were so good for lunches!

15 comments:

  1. Everything is better on a stick!

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  2. I love these...!! They must be perfect for BBQ too or inside kebabs :D)!!

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  3. I can see the meatballs did not dry out after grilling - which is great! Can I use the oven instead? Hmmm...thinking of the temperature and time now....?

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  4. These are SO good! What a combination of spices and flavors.

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  5. Looks amazing, even with fuzzy image at the end...the flavours sounds delicious!Easy to eat too!

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  6. Lyndsey, I cut out a recipe for Kaftas just today from Martha Stewart's Everyday Food magazine. Can't wait to make them!

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  7. love to try this but I need to lessen the chili. it is very impressing.

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  8. I love lamb, make the meatballs all the time, I just noticed you posted the spice how did I miss it? Off to check it out, got to have that recipe too! I have been searching forever... My lebanese aunt use to make something called Zatta it was a dough with some lemon topping I love do you know of that one? thank you for posting this !!!!!

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  9. Pam...you said it!

    GC...yes it's perfect to grill inside or out.

    tigerfish...yes the oven would work too, just like meatballs so many ways.

    Belinda...that's what I liked all the flavors.

    Jeannie...thanks you are always so nice to me! :D

    Brenda...that's funny...great minds heheh!

    Raquel...of course the chili sauce is adjustable, I always have to tone it down for my husband.

    Claudia...you won't be able to resist all the good aroma from the spice mix. I have not heard of zatta, but I do know they use sumac often and that has a lemon-like flavor. Hope you enjoy it.

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  10. Those kafta look so juicy and tender. Fun having them on a stick.

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  11. These sound fab - I love the yellow, spiral-topped skewers. I need to get into bento

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  12. This look juicy and yummy, nice to have them on a stick.

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  13. Love lebaneses meatballs look absolutely delicious!!! gloria

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  14. Thanks will look for the sumac. I called my cousin yesterday she said that extra spice is greek? I guess they never heard of it, so will keep looking let me know if you heard a a local place in Florida that carries it.. checked whole foods and world market.

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  15. These meatballs sure look good. I like the yogurt cucumber dip too. Will check out your spice mix.

    I don't know if my first comment went through as there was an error :(

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