Beef Kofta Kebabs With Cucumber And Yoghurt Dip Recipes

KOFTA KEBABS

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.

BEEF KAFTA KABOBS

Steps:

• Place ground beef in a large bowl.
• Add onion, garlic and parsley to a food processor and process until very finely minced scraping down sides as needed. Mixture should almost start to liquefy (just past the point of a very fine mince).
• Transfer the onion mixture to the bowl with the beef and add all the spices.
• Mix well using clean hands until all the ingredients are fully incorporated. Place the bowl in the refrigerator for 10 minutes while you preheat the grill.
• Preheat an outdoor grill to medium high heat (450-500°F) and lightly grease the grates with a high smoke point oil like avocado oil.
• Remove the beef mixture from the refrigerator and form the beef into an oblong shape on skewers (*see note). Using 6 to 8 skewers, repeat until beef mixture is used up.
• Carefully place each skewer on the preheated and greased grill. Grill for about 6-8 minutes.
• Gently flip skewers when meat pulls away from the grates easily and grill marks have formed on the bottom. Grill on the other side for an additional 3-4 minutes until cooked through.
• Transfer the kabobs to a plate and let rest for a few minutes before serving.
• Pour any accumulated juices over the kabobs when serving and enjoy with your favorite sides.

CHEF JOHN'S KOFTA KEBABS

Steps:

• Cut toasted bread slice into thin strips on a cutting board; cut strips across into a small dice.
• Place onion, parsley, and garlic on top of diced bread on the cutting board; chop until mixture resembles tabbouleh.
• Season beef and lamb with kosher salt, black pepper, allspice, paprika, cardamom, nutmeg, and cayenne. Add onion mixture and water. Mix and mash with your hands until well combined.
• Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate until chilled, at least 1 hour, up to overnight.
• Remove meat from the refrigerator and roll ¼ of the mixture into a ball using wet hands. Pierce in the middle with a bamboo skewer. Shape meat into a uniform log, about 6 inches long and 2 inches wide.
• Meanwhile, preheat a charcoal grill until coals are very hot.
• Place kebabs on the hot grill until browned and cooked through, about 12 minutes, turning every 3 minutes or so. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center of a kebab should read at least 145 degrees F (63 degrees C). Serve.