Beef Kofta with Cucumber Sauce (Printable Version)

Spiced beef skewers served alongside a fresh cucumber yogurt sauce with herbs and lemon.

# What You'll Need:

→ Beef Kofta

01 - 1.1 lb ground beef (85% lean)
02 - 1 small onion, finely grated
03 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
05 - 2 tbsp fresh cilantro, chopped
06 - 1 tsp ground cumin
07 - 1 tsp ground coriander
08 - ½ tsp ground cinnamon
09 - ½ tsp ground allspice
10 - ½ tsp smoked paprika
11 - ¼ tsp cayenne pepper (optional)
12 - 1 tsp salt
13 - ½ tsp black pepper
14 - 1 tbsp olive oil (for brushing)

→ Cucumber Sauce

15 - 7 oz Greek yogurt
16 - ½ cucumber, peeled, seeded, and finely grated
17 - 1 small garlic clove, minced
18 - 1 tbsp fresh dill, chopped
19 - 1 tbsp fresh mint, chopped
20 - 1 tbsp lemon juice
21 - ½ tsp salt
22 - ¼ tsp black pepper

→ To Serve

23 - 4 pita breads or gluten-free flatbreads (optional)
24 - Sliced tomatoes, lettuce, and red onion (optional)

# Directions:

01 - In a large bowl, gently mix ground beef, grated onion, minced garlic, parsley, cilantro, cumin, coriander, cinnamon, allspice, smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper until evenly blended without overworking the mixture.
02 - Divide the mixture into 8 equal portions and, with damp hands, mold each around a skewer, pressing firmly for adherence.
03 - Preheat a grill, grill pan, or broiler to medium-high heat and lightly brush koftas with olive oil.
04 - Cook the koftas for 10 to 12 minutes, turning occasionally, until evenly browned and fully cooked through.
05 - Squeeze excess moisture from grated cucumber using a clean towel. In a bowl, combine cucumber, Greek yogurt, minced garlic, dill, mint, lemon juice, salt, and pepper, mix thoroughly, then chill until serving.
06 - Present hot kofta skewers alongside the chilled cucumber sauce, offering pita or flatbreads and fresh salad vegetables as accompaniments if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • They come together in under 40 minutes—perfect for those nights when you want something restaurant-quality but refuse to order takeout
  • The cucumber sauce is so refreshing and cooling, it's like a gentle embrace after each spiced bite
  • Ground beef makes this approachable and budget-friendly, yet the spice blend makes it feel sophisticated and special
  • Naturally gluten-free if you skip the pita, making it a crowd-pleaser for everyone at your table
02 -
  • Don't skip squeezing the moisture from the grated cucumber for the sauce—I learned this when a well-intentioned batch turned into cucumber soup instead of a proper sauce
  • The spices need to be fresh and aromatic. Old spices make old-tasting food, no matter how perfect everything else is. If your cumin doesn't smell warm and inviting, buy new
  • These koftas are actually forgiving about being cooked a few minutes longer—overcooked is still delicious here, which has saved many of my dinner parties
03 -
  • If you're using wooden skewers, soak them for at least 30 minutes before grilling—this small step prevents them from becoming charred sacrifices to the grill gods
  • The difference between good koftas and transcendent ones is often just that moment where you stop mixing. Trust your instincts and your hands, and remember that slightly undermixed is always better than overmixed

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