Mediterranean Beef Kofta

A meatball by any other name is still the same—and every bit as delicious. This Mediterranean-spiced beef kofta variation goes great with hummus, rice and tzatziki sauce.

Cook Mode

Ingredients:

  • 1 pound Ground Beef (93% lean or leaner)
  • 1/2 cup minced onions
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon allspice
  • 1/4 teaspoon dried mint leaves
Serving Suggestions:
  • Serve koftas on warmed pita bread with rice, hummus and prepared tzatziki sauce as desired

Cooking:

  1. Combine ground beef, onion, oil, salt, coriander, cumin, cinnamon, allspice and mint leaves in a large bowl, mixing lightly but thoroughly.
  2. Cook's Tip:

    Kofta is a meatball or meatloaf consisting of minced or ground meat mixed with spices and/or onions. 

    Beef mixture can be prepared in a food processor. Add onion to food processor and pulse until onion is minced. Add beef, oil, salt and spices.; blend until well mixed and mixture forms a ball.

  3. Shape quarter of beef mixture around 8-inch bamboo skewers leaving approximately 1 to 2 inches at bottom of skewer. Make small indentations in beef mixture with fingers approximately 1 inch apart along the kofta. Repeat with remaining beef mixture and 3 skewers.
  4. Refrigerate beef at least 10 minutes.
  5. Cook's Tip: When grilling koftas, do not turn them until you can do so without koftas breaking apart.
  6. Place koftas in center of grid over medium, ash-covered coals or over medium heat on preheated gas grill. Grill, uncovered, 12 to 14 minutes or until instant-read thermometer inserted horizontally into thickest part of koftas registers 160°F, turning occasionally.
  7. Cook's Tip: Cooking times are for fresh or thoroughly thawed Ground Beef. Ground Beef should be cooked to an internal temperature of 160ºF. Color is not a reliable indicator of Ground Beef doneness.

Nutrition Information

Safe Handling Tips

Beef Checkoff

Bourbon Blueberry & Brie Bacon Cheeseburger

Brian Capps of Louisville, KY, has been crowned the 2021 Derby Burger Champion in the 10th Annual Derby Burger Challenge. Capps’ burger, made with 100% Kentucky Cattlemen’s ground beef is packed with flavor. The patty is topped with brie, thick-cut bacon, a blueberry bourbon sauce and arugula - all on a brioche bun.

Ingredients

  • 1 pound Kentucky Cattlemen’s Ground Beef
  • 4 Slices Bacon, thick sliced
  • 1/4 inch Sliced Brie Cheese, rind removed
  • 1 pint Fresh Blueberries
  • 1 Lemon, halved
  • 1/8 cup White Sugar
  • 2 tsp. Cornstarch
  • 1 1/2 tsp. Bourbon
  • 2 Brioche Buns
  • 2 Tbsp. Salted Butter
  • Arugula 
  • ¼ tsp. Kosher Salt
  • ¼ tsp. Black Pepper

Recipe

1. Form Two Patties and Set Aside.

2. Preheat your skillet over medium high heat. Add butter, and sliced buns. Cook until golden brown, set aside.

3. Salt and pepper both sides of the burger patty, cook over medium high heat. Cook until internal temperature of 160°F (USDA recommended), add cheese before taking off heat until melted.

4. Add blueberries, sugar, and lemon juice into a small pot. Cook on medium to low heat for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally. Mix cornstarch with water to make a slurry. Slowly add your slurry mixture to thicken blueberry sauce. Remove mixture from heat and stir in your bourbon.

5. Build your burger. Place your burger patty with melted cheese, cooked bacon, blueberry sauce on the bottom bun. Top the burger with arugula and add the top bun.

6. Enjoy!

Find more delicious recipes and other ways to be involved in the Derby Burger Challenge HERE!