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Ground beef kabobs seasoned with Mediterranean spices and grilled to perfection: that’s these Lebanese Beef Kebabs with Garlic Cream Sauce! Ready in 30 minutes for a fun family dinner or party food.
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You know how much I love grilling, especially beef. I’m lucky to live where it’s grilling season almost year-round! These ground beef Lebanese kebabs, also known as kafta or kofta, are one of my favorite recipes to make on the grill.
Middle Eastern spices give the beef so much flavor. Top it all off with creamy garlic sauce and a side of couscous and Cucumber Feta Salad, and you have a perfect meal.
My family always comes back for seconds of this Lebanese beef kabob recipe!
What is kafta?
Kafta, also known as kofta or kefta, is a Middle Eastern meatball or meatloaf made with ground meat mixed with onions and herbs. The name comes from the Persian kufta, which refers to a rissole (a fried, rolled meat patty).
The difference between kofta and kafta is simply that kafta refers specifically to Lebanese kofta. How the dish is prepared depends on the country, but they are essentially very similar.
For example, a Turkish kebab recipe (kofte) would use more traditional Turkish seasonings, but is essentially a packed meat patty just like Lebanese kafta.
For this recipe, we’re making ground beef kabobs!
Can I make kebabs without a grill?
Yes. You can make this ground beef kebab recipe in the oven or on the stove.
- To make in the oven: Preheat oven to 350ºF. Bake on a greased baking sheet for 15 to 20 minutes until cooked through.
- To make on the stove: If you have one, use a grill pan over medium-high heat and grill on each side until browned and cooked through (140-145°F for medium). If you don’t have a grill pan, cook the beef kofta in a pan without skewers. Cast iron works best.
Seasoning for Kebabs
- sea salt
- ground white pepper
- red pepper flakes
- cinnamon
- ground ginger
- allspice
- white onion, chopped
- fresh parsley, finely chopped
- fresh mint, finely chopped
White pepper has an earthier, more mild flavor than black pepper. We recommend ground white pepper and not black pepper for these Lebanese kebabs.
Sauce for Kebabs
Lebanese beef recipes like these kofta kebabs pair well with traditional Mediterranean sauce recipes such as:
- Tahini
- Tzatziki
- Lebanese Toum (garlic sauce)
- Aioli
We serve ours with a delicious Creamy Garlic Sauce. This easy garlic parmesan sauce tastes incredible with this beef kofta kebab recipe. It is our absolute favorite!
🍽 Tools
How long do you soak skewers?
If you’re using bamboo skewers to make your ground beef kabobs, you’ll need to soak them first so they don’t burn on the grill. Soak them for 30 minutes up to 1 hour before grilling. Do not let them soak for over 3 hours.
⭐ Family Foodie Tips
- Use ground beef that is at least 80% to 85% lean. A little bit of fat helps keep the Lebanese kebabs moist and juicy.
- Make sure to size each log evenly so they all take around the same amount of time to cook.
What to Serve with Kebabs
- Cucumber Feta Salad – our favorite!
- Portuguese Butter Rice
- Lemon Couscous
If you love beef kebab recipes as much as we do, try our Portuguese Espetada Recipe. These steak kabobs are truly delicious!
Enjoy this dish as a part of a Tapas Menu!
Check out our Lebanese Beef Kabobs Web Story!
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📋 Recipe
Lebanese Kebabs
Equipment
- 8 metal skewers (if using wooden skewers, soak in water for 30 minutes)
Ingredients
Beef Kafta
- 1½ pounds ground beef 80 or 85% lean
- 1 tsp. sea salt
- ½ tsp. ground white pepper
- ½ tsp. red pepper flakes
- ¼ tsp. cinnamon
- ¼ tsp. ground ginger
- ½ tsp. allspice
- ½ white onion chopped
- 4 Tbsp. fresh parsley finely chopped
- 1 Tbsp. fresh mint finely chopped
Garlic Cream Sauce
- 4 Tbsp. butter salted
- 4 cloves garlic grated, or 1 tsp. minced garlic
- 2 Tbsp. all-purpose flour
- 2 cups half and half not fat free
- ⅓ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1-2 Tbsp. fresh parsley minced, or 2 tsp. dried parsley
Instructions
Lebanese Kebabs
- In a small bowl, combine sea salt, white pepper, red pepper flakes, cinnamon, ground ginger, and allspice. In a large bowl, add ground beef, parsley, mint, white onion, and the spice mix.
- Form ground beef mixture into about 8 logs. Skewer each log, packing the mixture evenly and tightly around each skewer. Pull the ground beef lengthwise from the tip of the skewer toward the handle, leaving four inches of skewer to hold the kebabs.
- Cover in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or overnight before grilling.
- Grill skewers over medium-high heat until cooked through and browned on all sides, approximately 2 minutes for each side. The internal temperature should reach 160°F on a meat thermometer.
Garlic Cream Sauce
- In a large skillet, melt butter over medium heat, then add garlic and cook for 30 seconds or until fragrant. Stir constantly so the garlic doesn't burn.Add in flour, stirring, and cook for about 1 minute, until lightly browned. Stir frequently.Whisk in half and half gradually and season with salt and pepper. Simmer until it thickens, about 1-2 minutes – keep stirring now and then. Whisk out any lumps that form. Cook the sauce just until it thickens. When it thickly coats the back of a spoon, it's ready.Stir in Parmesan and parsley, then remove pan from heat. Serve immediately for best results. It will thicken further off heat.
Notes
- Nutrition includes garlic cream sauce.
The best Lebanese Beef kabab i have had in years, very easy to prepare. I grew up in Lebanon as a child and that’s what I remember it tasting like. The smell and taste brought back beautiful memories. Thank you.
Joe, this is wonderful to hear. We are so incredibly glad you enjoyed it and that it brought back good memories for you. Thank you for your lovely comment!