Kefta Recipes

Steps:

• For the tzatziki sauce: Strain Greek yogurt through a paper-towel lined colander and let sit for 3 hours to thicken, refrigerated.
• Fold the yogurt with cucumbers, fresh lemon juice, mint, crushed garlic cloves, salt and pepper. Refrigerate until ready to use.
• For the harissa sauce: Char red bell peppers over an open flame, then remove seeds and clean the skin.
• Boil Fresno chiles in salted water in a pot on medium heat until the vegetables start to soften. Drain, then deseed and remove the membranes of the chiles.
• Toast cumin seeds, coriander and caraway seeds in a skillet until fragrant. Crush the toasted spices in a spice grinder with mint and salt until finely ground.
• Blend the spice mixture with the roasted red bell peppers, Fresno chiles, vegetable oil, garlic and lemon juice until smooth. Drizzle in olive oil while blending.
• For the tahini sauce: Blend tahini, water, lemon juice, salt and garlic.
• For the kebabs: Mix ground beef, allspice, nutmeg, salt, cinnamon, pepper, ginger, garlic, onion and parsley in a bowl by hand, then refrigerate overnight.
• Form the mixture into 4 to 6 balls, then put each on a metal skewer. Lengthen the meat into elongated kebab shapes and grill over medium heat, 2 to 3 minutes per side.
• Warm the pita with a little butter and swipe with the tzatziki sauce. Top with the kebab, then squirt with tahini sauce and harissa sauce.

Steps:

• Soak the cubed bread in water for 10 minutes; squeeze dry and pulse in a food processor with the walnuts, grated onion, paprika, cinnamon, mint, cumin, cayenne, salt and black pepper. Add the dill and parsley; pulse again until smooth.
• In a bowl, knead the paste and beef together. Form into 8 patties. Refrigerate for 10 minutes.
• Preheat grill to medium-high. Brush the patties with the olive oil. Grill 5 minutes first side, flip and finish cooking about 4 more minutes, or until the patties are cooked but not dried out.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• In a large bowl, mix together the parsley, onions, lamb, allspice, lemon zest, salt and butter until well blended. Use your hands for best results. Place in a baking dish, or pat into a 2 inch tall round on a baking sheet with sides. Arrange tomato slices on top.
• Bake uncovered for 50 minutes in the preheated oven, until no longer pink and the internal temperature has reached at least 160 degrees F (72 degrees C). Serve with pita bread or rice.

Steps:

• Preheat an outdoor grill for high heat. If using wooden skewers, soak in water.
• In a large bowl, mix together the ground beef, onion, parsley, cayenne, allspice, salt and pepper until evenly blended. Divide into 6 portions, and press around one end of the skewers to form a log shape approximately 1 inch thick and 6 inches long.
• Grill for 10 to 15 minutes, turning occasionally, until meat is no longer pink.

Steps:

• Smash the garlic cloves, sprinkle with a generous pinch of salt, and, with the flat side of a large knife, mash and smear mixture to a coarse paste. Mix the paste and the remaining 1 tablespoon salt with the meat, onion, parsley, and spices.
• Line a pan with aluminum foil. Divide the meat mixture into 28 rough balls. Mold each piece around the pointed end of a skewer (if you use wooden ones, soak them in water for 15 minutes before threading them), making a 2-inch oval kebab that comes to a point just covering the tip of the skewer. Lay the skewers on the pan, cover, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes and up to 12 hours.
• Heat a grill pan over medium heat or prepare a grill. Brush the pan lightly with olive oil. Working in batches, grill the kebabs, turning occasionally, until brown all over and just cooked through, about 6 minutes. Transfer to a serving platter and serve with tzatziki and flat bread.
• If you're using plain whole milk yogurt, line a small sieve with a coffee filter. Put the yogurt in it, set it over a bowl, and refrigerate 12 hours. Discard the expressed liquid and put yogurt in the bowl.
• Grate the cucumber on the large holes of a box grater into another bowl. Sprinkle with the 2 teaspoons salt and rub into the cucumber with your hands. Set aside 20 minutes, then squeeze the cucumbers to express as much liquid as possible.
• Smash the garlic, sprinkle with a generous pinch of salt, and, with the flat side of a large knife, mash and smear the mixture to a coarse paste. Stir the cucumber, garlic, olive oil, lemon juice, and mint into the yogurt. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving.

Steps:

• In a large bowl using your hands or a large spoon, combine the beef, onion and the juices, parsley, cilantro, mint, sweet paprika, cumin, salt, black pepper and cayenne.
• Take about 1/2 teaspoon of the kefta mixture, cook it (in a pan or in the microwave) and taste it to check the seasoning. Add more salt to the kefta mixture if necessary.
• Take about 2 1/2 tablespoons of the kefta mixture (slightly larger than a golf ball) and mold it onto a skewer to form a log. (If using a long skewer, form two logs on each.) Repeat until you've used all the kefta mixture. Place the skewers on a plate, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to cook.
• Heat your grill or grill pan to medium-high and cook for 3 to 4 minutes on each side, until cooked through, using a thin spatula to help turn if the kefta sticks. Serve immediately with bread and a side of vegetables or a salad.

Steps:

• Mix together all ingredients until blended.
• Chill for 45 minutes to 1 hour.
• If using bamboo skewers, soak them for 35 minutes to an hour.
• Oil your hands, and divide meat into 24 portions.
• Take one portion and shape into an elongated patty like a torpedo and run a skewer through it.
• Set on waxed paper until time to cook.
• Repeat with remaining meat portions.
• Grill for 6 minutes until cooked through.