Lamb Kafta Food

MIDDLE EASTERN LAMB KOFTA

Steps:

• Place the nuts in the bowl of a food processor fitted with the steel blade. Pulse until finely chopped but not pasty. Transfer the nuts to a small dry skillet over medium heat; cook, stirring frequently, until the nuts are lightly browned and fragrant, 5 to 6 minutes. Pour the nuts into mixing bowl large enough to hold all of the ingredients, and set aside to cool. (Don't leave the nuts in the pan, as the residual heat may cause them to burn.)
• Place the onion, garlic, bell pepper, jalapeño pepper, and cilantro in the bowl of the food processor (no need to clean it first). Pulse until the vegetables are finely minced but not puréed. Set a fine sieve over a medium bowl. Transfer the minced vegetables to the sieve and use a rubber spatula to press out as much liquid as possible. Add the strained vegetable mixture to the bowl with the nuts.
• To the veggies and nuts, add the lamb, cumin, cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, salt, and white pepper. Using your hands, mash the mixture together until evenly combined.
• Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil. Form the mixture into patties about 2 inches in diameter and ½-inch thick (they will puff up on the grill to look like meatballs). Place on the baking sheet and cover with plastic wrap, then refrigerate until ready to cook.
• Preheat the grill to medium-high heat and oil the grates. Place the kofta on the grill and cook, covered, until browned, about 4 minutes per side or until cooked through. Serve with tzatziki and hummus.
• Note: If you like your kofta spicy, reserve some of the seeds from the jalapeño pepper and add them with the vegetables. Also, be sure to wash your hands well after handling hot peppers, and do not touch your eyes while working with them.
• Make-Ahead: The patties can be made and refrigerated up to two days ahead of time.
• Freezer-Friendly Instructions: The uncooked patties can be frozen for up to three months. (Freeze the patties on a baking sheet or plate so their shape sets, then transfer them to a sealable plastic bag for easy storage.) Defrost the burgers overnight in the refrigerator prior to serving and then cook as directed.

LAMB KOFTA KEBAB RECIPE

Steps:

• Add the 1 tbsp of olive oil to a frying pan (or skillet) and heat over a medium heat.
• Add in the finely diced onion and fry for 4-5 minutes stirring occasionally until the onion softens and starts to caramelise.
• Add in the 2 cloves of minced garlic and cook for another 30 seconds stirring continuously.
• Place the onion and garlic in a bowl and allow to cool.
• In a mixing bowl add the minced lamb and the remaining kofta ingredients along with the cooled onion and garlic mixture.
• Mix together until thoroughly combined.
• Shape the mixture into koftas on skewers with wet hands (we're using wet hands to help ensure the mixture doesn't stick to you). Squeeze them quite tightly to the skewers (see note 1 and 2).
• Cook the koftas on a griddle or BBQ on medium to high heat for around 5-7 minutes, turning 3-4 times during cooking (see note 3). When turning it's a good idea to have a set of tongs handy, as the meat needs a bit of extra support when turning initially - as it's quite delicate.
• Remove from the heat and allow to rest for 3-5 minutes before serving.
• Serve with some flatbreads, yoghurt dip and a sprinkling of fresh coriander.

LAMB KOFTA WITH LABNEH DIP

Steps:

• Make the meatballs: Mix the lamb and beef with the onion, garlic, breadcrumbs, 1/4 cup water, the parsley, mint, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, the paprika, cumin, sumac, allspice and a few grinds of pepper until just combined. Form into 1 1/2-inch meatballs (about 20).
• Heat the olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the meatballs and cook, turning, until browned and cooked through, 12 minutes.
• Meanwhile, make the dip: Mix the labneh with the lemon juice in a bowl; season with salt. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with sumac. Transfer the meatballs to a platter and sprinkle with mint. Serve with the dip.

LAMB KOFTAS

Steps:

• Mix together all the ingredients until well blended. Divide into eight balls, then roll each ball on a board with a cupped hand to turn them into ovals. Thread onto four metal skewers and brush with oil.
• To cook on a griddle: heat the pan until you can feel a good heat rising and cook for 3-4 mins each side. Don't turn until they are well sealed or the meat will stick to the grill or pan.
• Season if you want, and set aside. Serve the koftas with yogurt and spiced flat breads.

LEBANESE LAMB KOFTA RECIPE (KAFTA/KOFTA KEBABS)

Steps:

• Finely chop the onion and parsley. The smaller the onion pieces, the better!
• Add all of the ingredients to a large bowl and mix until well incorporated.To save time, you could do this in a small food chopper/processor (as the pieces don't need to be even). First, pulse the onion and parsley separately until finely chopped, then add the remaining ingredients and pulse until combined into a homogenous meat paste. If the processed onions are very "wet," squeeze them lightly to remove excess liquid.
• To prepare the skewers, first transfer the lamb kofta mixture to the fridge to chill for 30 minutes. Then, divide the mixture into portions of around 3-3.5 oz/85-100 g (around a fistful). Then thread each portion onto skewers in a sausage shape, around 1-inch thick, pressing firmly). Be careful to make them even-sized, so they'll cook evenly.If you're using wooden skewers and plan to make the lamb kofta immediately, then first soak the skewers for 30 minutes (that way, they won't burn on the grill). Also, keep water nearby to dip your hands in while shaping the ground lamb kebabs - if they become too sticky.
• To grill the lamb kofta: transfer the kofta kebab to a pre-heated and oiled grill (or charcoal BBQ) and cook for 3-4 minutes on each side until browned and cooked through (usually about 10 minutes total for well-done, 6-8 minutes for medium).Grill Pan: using an indoor grill pan is relatively similar to the above. Add a little oil to the pan and heat over medium-high heat. Then add the lamb kofta kebab and pan-fry for several minutes, then flip and cook on each side until evenly cooked.Baked: to bake the lamb kafta, lay them on a parchment-lined baking sheet brushed/sprayed with a little oil. Bake in the oven at 350ºF/175ºC for between 15-20 minutes, or until cooked through. Feel free to broil at the end for extra browning.You could also broil the lamb kafta, turning to evenly cook.
• Make ahead: you can prepare and form the kofta kebabs patties in advance and store them covered in the fridge for 2-3 days or in the freezer for up to three months. Then, allow them to thaw in the refrigerator overnight before cooking. Storing: store any leftover kafta in an airtight container in the fridge for between 3-4 days OR in the freezer for up to 3 months (freeze on a tray until solid, then transfer to container/Ziplock bag, to avoid sticking). Reheating: you can reheat the kafta on a hot grill for several minutes or in the oven at 350ºF/176ºC until warmed through (7-10 minutes).

MUSHROOM-LAMB KOFTA

Steps:

• Heat a medium nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the olive oil and heat until shimmering. Add the mushrooms, season with salt and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender and any liquid released from the mushrooms has cooked off, 4 to 5 minutes. Transfer to a plate and refrigerate until cooled.
• Soak twelve 6-inch wooden skewers in water (or use metal skewers). Preheat a grill to medium high. Combine the lamb, parsley, onion, garlic, cumin, sumac, oregano, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and a few grinds of pepper in a medium bowl. Add the cooled mushrooms and mix well with your hands. Divide the mixture into 12 roughly shaped ovals. Press each oval onto a skewer and form into a 1/2-inch-thick rectangular log (about 4 inches long and 1 inch wide) around the skewer. Transfer to a plate or small baking sheet.
• Brush the grill lightly with olive oil. Grill the skewers, turning once, until the meat is marked and just cooked through, about 2 minutes per side. Serve with hummus, baba ghanoush, pita, tabbouleh and/or yogurt.

KOFTA KEBABS WITH TZATZIKI

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.