Beef Koftas (Ground Beef on Skewers)

Submitted by Nif_H

"A yummy recipe that features finely ground beef cooked on skewers. You can have these on rice or pita bread with cucumber and tomatoes or any other way that sounds good! If you don't have all of the spices, you can do without. Enjoy!"

 

• Ready In: 25mins
• Ingredients: 9
• Serves: 6

ingredients

• 2 lbs ground beef
• 2 onions, chopped
• 1 slice soft bread
• 1⁄2 cup milk
• salt, pepper
• 1⁄2 teaspoon cumin
• 1⁄4 teaspoon chili powder
• 1 pinch allspice
• 6 bamboo skewers (or metal)

directions

1. If using bamboo skewers, soak in water for at least 1 hour.
2. If you can, run the beef and onions through a food grinder twice. If you don't have a grinder, pulse the onion in a food processor until chopped finely and then add the beef and pulse until it reaches quite a fine consistency. Place in a bowl.
3. Soak bread in milk and add to meat together with the seasonings.
4. Mix well and form into football shaped meatballs 2-3 inch in diameter. About 2 or 3 meatballs should fit on each skewer. You can shape them right on the skewers.
5. Grill on skewers until cooked through.

Reviews

[JackieOhNo!]

These were pretty tasty but a little problematic in execution. I made this exactly as posted, using the food processor for the beef and onions, and it really produces a wet, soft mixture. It was pretty difficult to form around the skewers, so I ended up forming the footballs and then threading the skewers through them. I knew they would not hold up around the skewer once I lifted them so I put them in the refrigerator for about an hour to firm up . I oiled the grill really well and then used a spatula under them to transfer to the grill. I let them cook for about 5 minutes before again using the spatula for assistance in flipping them over. They cooked very nicely but were still very soft after cooking. I would say next time I would go heavier on the spices as the onion was most pronounced. Served over naan with lemon garlic yogurt sauce. Everyone liked them, so it was all worth it! Made by a fellow Feed Bag for Susie’s World Tour 2019.

 

[K9 Owned]

Great flavour but I messed up. I had 1 1/2 lbs of ground but used the full recipe. They formed easily around the skewers but were very soft and a bit wet making them seriously difficult to handle. We put a cast iron grill pan on the grill and I asked DH not to try to lift them but to roll them over using a spatula. Even doing that many fell off the skewer and were more 'chunks' of meat than football-shaped. Next time I will reduce the milk and bread proportionate to the amount of meat. They didn't look pretty but the taste was all there! Made for World Tour 2019

 

[mickeydownunder]

These are really easy to make,<br/>Simple to grill or bake,<br/>Combined finely diced onion with beef too,<br/>Then pulse it in food processor as had not read the recipe to do onions first TRUE! DOH!<br/>Pulsed away, perfect consistancy for me!<br/>AFter making footballs, molding them on the bamboo sticks is the key!<br/>Don't have the be gentle, I "pressed" and boxed each side,<br/>I can say I made these with pride!<br/>THANKS!<br/>Used sour dough bread as had on hand today!<br/>These are very versatile and can tailor them your own way!

 

[madeingermany]

such a simple recipe packs such a great flavor - thank you!

 

[Tea Jenny]

We love koftas, and the ones we eat are usually lamb, so this was a nice change. I must confess to putting in more spice than the recipe, as my DH loves them really hot, and I mean really really hot. I made some small round patties, and some on bamboo skewers, and served them with salad. we liked them and would make them again. Thank you for posting. Made for ZWT#6 2010.