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Lamb Kofta Kebabs with Yogurt Mint Sauce

by Meghan on May 2, 2016 42

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These Grilled Lamb Kofta Kebabs are spiced middle eastern meatballs that you can grill or bake in the oven!

These Grilled Lamb Kofta Kebabs are spiced middle eastern meatballs that you can grill or bake in the oven!

These Grilled Lamb Kofta Kebabs are spiced middle eastern meatballs that you can grill or bake in the oven!

Are you noticing a new theme here?  Pita, hummus, now kofta!  Have you ever had kofta?  Kofta is basically spiced meatballs on a stick.  You add a bunch of spices and herbs to the meat and then grill them, and when done right they are amazing.  There is a middle eastern restaurant that Mr. Briar and I have been to a few times.  Twice now I have ordered the lamb kofta, and both times I was just a little dissapointed with it.  Don’t get me wrong, the restaurant is great and I usually love everything I order there.  But for some reason the kofta is never quite as flavorful as I want. These Grilled Lamb Kofta Kebabs are spiced middle eastern meatballs that you can grill or bake in the oven!

Jump to recipe

So when I was working on this recipe I wanted to get the spice mixture right, and also add lots of other flavor enhancers.  The first time I made them I added waaaay too much onion. They were far too wet to hold together on the skewer, and we ended up grilling them like burger patties.  They still tasted great, but in order to keep these firm enough to hold up on the skewer I reduced the onion and liquid going into the mixture.

These Grilled Lamb Kofta Kebabs are spiced middle eastern meatballs that you can grill or bake in the oven!

The other thing that helps these hold together is forming them and then letting them chill in the fridge for at least an hour.  This makes a huge difference.  After they chill, you thread them onto the skewers.  I use metal skewers on the grill, but if you use wooden ones be sure to soak them in water first so they don’t burn.  If you don’t want to grill these, you can also make them in the oven!  You just “grill” them under the broiler.  The smokey flavor from actually grilling them is of course the best, but sometimes you just can’t get outside to grill so the broiler is the next choice.

These Grilled Lamb Kofta Kebabs are spiced middle eastern meatballs that you can grill or bake in the oven!

I served these with a yogurt mint sauce and of course some homemade pitas!  Now what are you waiting for?  Run down to your Fred Meyer (Kroger for you non PNW people!) and pick up these ingredients, then get grilling!

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These Grilled Lamb Kofta Kebabs are spiced middle eastern meatballs that you can grill or bake in the oven!

Lamb Kofta Kebabs

These Grilled Lamb Kofta Kebabs are spiced middle eastern meatballs that you can grill or bake in the oven!
5 from 8 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Dinners, Dips/Salsas/Spreads
Cuisine: Middle Eastern
Keyword: Game Day, Grilling Recipes, Summer Recipes
Prep Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 25 minutes
Servings: 6 Servings
Author: Meghan McMorrow | Fox and Briar

Ingredients

  • 1 pound ground lamb
  • 1/4 cup grated onion drained of extra liquid
  • 4 garlic cloves finely minced or pressed
  • 1/4 cup fresh mint leaves
  • 1/4 cup fresh flat leaf parsley
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon Aleppo pepper* see note
  • 1/2 teaspoon allspice
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground ginger

For The Mint Yogurt Sauce

  • 1/2 cup plain greek yogurt
  • 1/2 cup fresh mint
  • 2 ounces feta cheese
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice

Instructions

  • Place onion, garlic, mint, and parsley in a food processor and pulse until finely minced. (if you don't have a food processor, you can just finely chop everything). Drain off any excess liquid.
  • In a large bowl, add meat, onion herb mixture, and all other ingredients. Mix until incorporated.
  • Divide meat mixture into six portions, form each into an oblong shaped ball.
  • Place on a lined baking sheet and chill in the fridge for at least an hour. (*this is important in order for them to hold up on the skewer)
  • After meatballs have chilled, thread onto skewers*. Leave plenty of space between each meatball, about two meatballs per skewer.

To Make The Mint Yogurt Sauce:

  • Place all ingredients in food processor and pulse until smooth.

On The Grill:

  • Place kebabs on hot side of the grill and cook 4-5 minutes per side, or until cooked through.

In the Oven:

  • Move rack to the top position in the oven. Turn on broiler onto high.
  • Line a baking sheet with foil and fit with an oven safe rack. Place skewers on top of rack and place under the broiler. Broil for about 10 minutes or until cooked through.
  • Serve with mint yogurt sauce and pitas, if desired.

Notes

*Aleppo pepper is a great flavor, but it can be hard to find sometimes. If you can't find it, you can substitute paprika with a pinch of cayenne.
**Chilling is very important in order for the kofta to hold their shape.
***You may be tempted to add more onion or not to drain the liquid, but this may result in kofta that are too wet and will not be able to stay on the skewer. If you do end up accidentally making them too wet, you may be able to just grill them like hamburger patties.
****I used metal skewers, but if you use wodden ones be sure to soak them in water before grilling so that they don't burn.
Nutritional information is an estimate for your convenience. If you have strict nutritional needs, please do your due diligence to make sure this recipe fits your needs.
Did you like this recipe?Please comment, rate and share! And don’t forget to tag me on Instagram @foxandbriar AND #foxandbriar so I can see what you made!

Mint Yogurt Sauce Adapted from Martha Stewart

These Grilled Lamb Kofta Kebabs are spiced middle eastern meatballs that you can grill or bake in the oven!

Disclaimer: I partnered Fred Meyer for this recipe, however, my opinions, as always, are 100% my own.  Integrity is important to me, and I only share brands and products that I think are awesome. Thank you for supporting Fox and Briar!

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Linda says

    November 29, 2020 at 10:56 am

    5 stars
    This recipe is nice and easy, and yields tasty lamb kofta! I loved it and have even tried to recipe with lean ground beef and it’s definitely a keeper! Thank you!!

    Reply
    • Meghan says

      December 1, 2020 at 9:22 pm

      So glad to hear that Linda!

      Reply
  2. Linda says

    November 28, 2020 at 4:57 am

    5 stars
    This was super yummy and easy to make! I love all of the fresh ingredients and spices. The mixture smelled amazing before even cooking it! I had a friend try these and he’d never had lamb! He really liked them and requested them again. I was wondering if the herbs/spices would go well with ground beef? I’m probably going to be trying this tonight! Thanks, again for the recipe!

    Reply
    • Meghan says

      November 28, 2020 at 12:01 pm

      Hi Linda – yes, I think the spices would be great with beef too! I’m so glad the recipe was a hit!

      Reply
  3. Laura says

    September 5, 2020 at 11:11 am

    5 stars
    We had 2lbs of ground lamb to use, and immediately I wanted something like this! Absolutely delicious! Plus, when I saw something about Fred Meyer, I was excited to find out you were in the Seattle. Area. We live in Sweden, but my heart is in the PNW, so it was nice to be close to home so to speak 🙂

    Reply
    • Meghan says

      September 7, 2020 at 9:05 am

      Aww, I am so happy you loved it Laura! I hope you get to come back to the PNW soon!

      Reply
  4. Liat ankonina says

    May 14, 2019 at 8:21 am

    5 stars
    I don’t have a grill, so I tried to make this in the oven as stated in the notes. 10 min on broil was not enough, and the pan started to smoke significantly. We broiled the kabobs 10 m on 1 side, 5 min on the next, and then cooked them on 400F for 10 min. They turned out delicious, but I will try them on a grill once I buy one. also worth noting that this is my first time making lamb and my dog has a serious panic attack. She is a bomb proof German Shepherd and I had never seen her like this. After some research I learned this is a common reaction in dogs so if you want to make this in the oven and have a dog make sure you put them in another room or something…

    Reply
    • Meghan says

      May 15, 2019 at 7:52 am

      Hi Liat – thanks for your comment! I had no idea that was a reaction some dogs have. How strange! I’m glad they turned out tasty though!

      Reply
  5. Gwen says

    March 5, 2019 at 9:55 am

    These kebabs were delicious! Every bite was full of flavor. I doubled the recipe to have leftovers, but otherwise followed the instructions and they came out amazing! Even my toddler loved them, broken up, and topped with the mint yogurt sauce! I will definitely make them again in the summer when I can use mint from my garden.

    Reply
    • Meghan says

      March 5, 2019 at 8:20 pm

      Yay! So happy you loved it Gwen!

      Reply
  6. Sandi (@fearless_dining) says

    May 9, 2016 at 5:27 pm

    I had never thought to make my own kabobs like this. They look like the perfect recipe for one of our pool parties.

    Reply
    • Meghan says

      May 9, 2016 at 5:44 pm

      Oh these would be perfect for a pool party! Thanks Sandi!

      Reply
  7. Jennifer A Stewart says

    May 9, 2016 at 7:59 am

    I haven’t had Kofta before but I love any meats on sticks! I am on a Greek food kick right now so this is right up my alley!!

    Reply
    • Meghan says

      May 9, 2016 at 9:10 am

      Thanks Jennifer! They are totally perfect then!

      Reply
  8. Dini @ The Flavor Bender says

    May 8, 2016 at 2:23 pm

    I am drooling right now! I LOVE lamb kofta! Seriously adore it! Definitely need to try your recipe too! It looks so good 😀

    Reply
    • Meghan says

      May 8, 2016 at 6:23 pm

      Thank you so much Dini! I do hope you try it!

      Reply
  9. shadi says

    May 8, 2016 at 8:58 am

    This dish is so close to my heart as I’m Iranian and lamb, yogurt and mint are some of my all time favorites! Lamb is just so delicious!!

    Reply
    • Meghan says

      May 8, 2016 at 6:23 pm

      Thank you Shadi! I agree, lamb is so good.

      Reply
  10. Naina says

    May 6, 2016 at 1:16 pm

    These kofta kebabs look and sound so incredibly delicious! Love that you came up with a much more flavorful version that the local restaurant 🙂

    Reply
    • Meghan says

      May 7, 2016 at 10:12 am

      Thank you Naina!

      Reply
  11. Christine | Mid-Life Croissant says

    May 6, 2016 at 7:46 am

    OK, I opened this post and immediately had to go get myself a snack. I just knew I’d never make it through if I didn’t have something in my mouth. Unfortunately, it was ham and cheese and not these amazing kofta. But that will change!! It was a good call, though, because without a snack, by the time I got to the yogurt mint sauce I would have been out cold on the floor.

    And THANK YOU for including oven directions. My NYC living, sixth floor apartment family really appreciates that.

    Reply
    • Meghan says

      May 6, 2016 at 11:19 am

      Haha! Thank you Christine! One of the perils of food blogging – looking at food all day! I’m glad the oven instructions were helpful!

      Reply
  12. Michelle @ Giraffes Can Bake says

    May 6, 2016 at 1:21 am

    These look soooo good, I love all spices so much flavour!
    Loving the middle eastern theme you have going on at the moment – so yummy!

    Reply
    • Meghan says

      May 6, 2016 at 11:05 am

      Thanks Michelle! I have been into these themes lately! Just can’t help myself!

      Reply
  13. Tracy says

    May 4, 2016 at 8:09 am

    5 stars
    I LOVE koftas!! I’ve never made them myself before and it’s time I fixed that! Your recipe looks great- can’t wait to try it!

    Reply
    • Meghan says

      May 4, 2016 at 12:52 pm

      Thank you Traci! It totally goes with your theme, I bet you would love it!

      Reply
  14. Julie at Hostess At Heart says

    May 3, 2016 at 2:43 pm

    This dish looks absolutely delicious! I can’t wait to try it Meghan!

    Reply
    • Meghan says

      May 4, 2016 at 12:48 pm

      Thank you so much Julie!

      Reply
  15. demeter | beaming baker says

    May 3, 2016 at 1:26 pm

    5 stars
    Meghan, how cool is it that you dine out, maybe try out a few dishes that aren’t up to par, and then go ahead and whip up something MUCH better at home? Few people have those skills, my dear! Meanwhile, I enjoyed hearing about your rounds of recipe testing–all of that labor just makes the final product so much tastier. As usual, your photos are ridiculously on point! Can’t wait to see whatcha cook up next. 😉

    Reply
    • Meghan says

      May 4, 2016 at 12:48 pm

      Aww, thanks so much demeter! You are the sweetest!

      Reply
  16. Adina says

    May 3, 2016 at 10:04 am

    Looks really delicious, I love Middle Eastern food. I’ve made koftas quite often, unfortunately not with lamb, I like lamb but have never seen it minced around here. And I don’t have a “mincing mashine” (I know that’s the wrong word for it, but I cannot remember the right one). 🙂 But I am sure this recipe would be delicious with beef as well.

    Reply
    • Meghan says

      May 4, 2016 at 12:47 pm

      I bet these would be great with beef too. Ground lamb is actually a little harder to find around here too, but I can usually find it at some stores. We also have used our food processor to grind meat before we started using the kitchen aid attachment! Thanks so much Adina!

      Reply
  17. Tina Marie says

    May 3, 2016 at 6:48 am

    5 stars
    Wow! Sounds amazing and delicious. Your mint sauce looks divine. I’ll have to check with out local grocer to see if he can get us some ground lamb in and give this a try. I also see you have some delicious hummus on the side – one of my favorite things.

    Reply
    • Meghan says

      May 4, 2016 at 12:45 pm

      Thank you Tina! Yes, ground lamb can be harder to find but that is a great idea to ask the butcher, they usually have the connections to get it done 🙂

      Reply
  18. Lisa @ Chocolate Meets Strawberry says

    May 3, 2016 at 2:14 am

    I’m loving this Middle Easter theme, Meghan! I spy that delicous hummus and those pita breads in the corner of these photos – I bet they would be soooo good with these koftas. Honestly, when you can make food this good at home, why go out to a restaurant?! I’ve been in that same situation as you, when I go out and have worked up a dish in my head to be amazing but it turns out to be mediocre, or good, but not quite good enough to justify the price. I have been seeing so many lovely Middle Eastern dishes pop up on my feed lately, and it is making me want to try my hand at some at home. Thank you for the delicious inspiration! 😀

    Reply
    • Meghan says

      May 4, 2016 at 12:45 pm

      Thank you Lisa! I agree, sometimes it is better to cook at home! I hope you are inspired to try some new dishes, let me iknow what you come up with!

      Reply
  19. E.A. says

    May 2, 2016 at 8:33 am

    These sound delicious! I love how you experiment to get your recipes just right before sharing~~(and having yummy meals along the way~??)
    The combo with the mint sauce & pita sounds genius!! Your photos make me want to get right in the kitchen and create these recipes~
    Once the Spring rains stop, we can try it on the grill~~love the options of oven or grill!
    Thank you~?
    ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

    Reply
    • Meghan says

      May 2, 2016 at 2:16 pm

      Summer is almost here! I bet you guys will love these!

      Reply
  20. Dawn @ Girl Heart Food says

    May 2, 2016 at 7:50 am

    Spiced meatballs on a stick? Yes please! That’s even fun to say and I bet even better to eat! Great spice mixture in these! Sounds delicious. And, it’s always so awesome (and better) when you can make a tastier version of what you love to eat at home, isn’t it? Oh, and that mint yogurt sauce sounds divine! Love the feta in there 🙂

    Reply
    • Meghan says

      May 2, 2016 at 2:17 pm

      Thank you so much Dawn!

      Reply
  21. Megan @ Meg is Well says

    May 2, 2016 at 7:16 am

    5 stars
    I love how you just created a whole meal for me over the week! I’ve never made lamb kofta kebabs but I have some chickpeas soaking in water for hummus so I’m on it!

    Reply
    • Meghan says

      May 2, 2016 at 2:18 pm

      Yay! Thank you Megan, I hope you have a marvelous feast!

      Reply

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About Me

Hello! I'm Meghan and I am so glad that you are here! I am the recipe developer, photographer, and writer here at my blog Fox and Briar. I am a passionate, self-taught home cook and believe that most things are better homemade and that good food doesn’t need to be complicated.
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