The Best Kofta Kabob Recipe

kofta kabob

The Best Kofta Kabob Recipe

Kofta, also called Kafta or Kefta, is traditional Moroccan ground meat usually seasoned with onion, cumin, paprika, garlic, and fresh herbs. It is used for various Kofta dishes, such as kabobs, patties and meatballs. One of my favorite dishes growing up in Morocco was the Kofta, especially when it was barbecued in a charcoal brazier. It also tastes AMAZING when it’s cooked in a grill or in the oven. You can even fry it in a skillet. Once you try my family traditional recipe, it will become your go-to Kofta Kabob recipe to make, I promise!

What Is Kofta?

Moroccan butchers use beef or lamb for Kofta or a mixture of the two types of meat. They combine it with some added fat and desired herbs and spices in the mincer. People either bring it home to make delicious homemade Kofta dishes or take it to a nearby grill where the ground meat is cooked and eaten as street food.

Grilled Kafta can be used in many ways. It can be stuffed into Moroccan bread with some onion salad and tomato to make a mouthwatering sandwich that will warm your heart. Or, it can be used to make kebabs and enjoyed right from the skewer.

Even though you can find seasoned Kefta that’s ready for the stove or grill, making it from scratch is always the best option, especially if you are looking for the traditional Kefta recipe!

Here is the Kefta recipe we used to make in my house in Morocco. It’s easy to make and will taste like heaven. The secret for the perfect Kofta Kebab dish is in the spices and herbs you use, they need to be of the best quality you can put your hands on. Once you mix your grounded meat with the aromatics, you can shape your Kafta into patties and cook them however you’d like: grilled, fried in a skillet, or in the oven.

kofta kabob

Kofta Recipe – Moroccan Kebab Recipe

Use this Kofta recipe to make seasoned minced meat that can yield dishes that will make your taste buds go crazy.

Moroccan Kofta Kebab Recipe

Traditional Kefta Recipe that will blow your taste buds
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Resting time10 minutes
Total Time35 minutes
Keyword: ground meat, kafta, kefta, kofta
Servings: 4 people

Ingredients

  • 1 pound ground meat (beef or lamb)
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tsp paprika
  • 1 tsp cumin
  • ½ tsp black pepper
  • ½ tsp coriander powder
  • 1 tbsp fresh coriander minced
  • 1 tbsp fresh parsley minced
  • 1 small onion diced

Instructions

  • In a large bowl, mix your ground beef with all the ingredients until well-combined. Place it in the refrigerator and let it marinate for at least 10 minutes (1 hour is best)
  • Remove the excess moisture from the meat mixture using a colander
  • One way to use your homemade Kefta is to shape it into patties. My favorite way is to use skewers. If you use wooden skewers, watch closely to make sure they don’t burn.
  • Use the top rack of the oven and preheat the broiler. Line a sheet pan with foil and place a wire rack on it. Place the patties on the wire rack and broil for 10-15 minutes, or until cooked through and browned. If you have a grill, use it! It will make the tastiest Kafta. You can also fry your patties in a pan or skillet
  • You can serve your Kefta with fresh bread and a few salads
  • This Kefta can be frozen for your busy days. Just place the patties in a freezer bag and freeze for up to 2 months

Safaa, founder of moroccanzest

From design and decor to food and travel, moroccanzest is the space where I share what I loved growing up in Morocco, and more. It’s your destination for everything beautiful, artistic, and made the Moroccan way with love. Learn more about me here.