“Deconstructed” Spiced Lamb or Beef Kofta
This delicious, aromatic spiced lamb (or beef) recipe is basically a deconstructed beef kofta, but let’s be honest…we’re too lazy to shape it. Also, my pictures don’t really do it justice, but I can’t gatekeep this any longer.
What is kofta (or kofte)? It’s a broad category of meatballs or meat…logs that you’ll find versions of all over the world, from Turkey and the Middle East to the Balkans and even South and Central Asia. There’s typically ground beef or lamb and a number of spices, as well as sometimes onion, garlic, or herbs. The name is often used somewhat interchangeably with kebabs.
I’m most familiar with them from my travels in Turkey, and I absolutely love them. But I’m also lazy and am not shaping meat. So we’re going “deconstructed”…
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I’ve previously shared a simpler “hushwee” recipe, a fragrant spiced Lebanese-inspired beef that bears a lot of similarities to this one. The difference is in the spice mixtures.
While the hushwee relies on a mix of warm baking spices (cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg), this kofta beef has a longer list of spices that really packs a punch. We’ve got some of those same baking spices, but also things like cumin, coriander, and a tiny bit of cayenne. Plus loads of garlic. Trust me, your house will smell amazing!
How to make this deconstructed lamb or beef kofta
Heat a skillet on medium and add the oil. Add the diced onions and cook for a couple minutes, until they begin to soften. Add the garlic and stir for another minute.
Add the ground beef or lamb and break it up into small pieces. Cook it until mostly brown all over, and in small pieces.
Add all the spices and mix in evenly, then continue to cook the meat until it’s completely cooked through.
In a separate small pan (or the oven at 350 F), toast the pine nuts. This only takes a few minutes, and be careful that they don’t burn!
I admit that I’m often lazy and just carve out a small space in the meat pan once it’s done, and toast them there.
Sprinkle the pine nuts and chopped fresh parsley over the cooked beef.
You can serve however you’d like…my favorite options are over creamy hummus, my delicious turmeric rice, and on a loaded roasted sweet potato (with roasted cauliflower, feta, cottage cheese, and more).
This is such an easy, healthy recipe! I make this kofta beef constantly and like to keep it in the fridge to munch on whenever I need a hit of protein.
Other super easy, delicious weeknight meals:
- Hot Honey Lime Chicken with Coconut Rice
- Pineapple & Honey Beef with Coconut Rice
- Asian-Inspired Ground Chicken or Turkey…Perfect for Asian Chicken Bowls
- Middle Eastern Grilled Chicken Shawarma
- Lebanese Hushwee (Fragrant, Spiced Ground Beef with Toasted Pine Nuts)
- One-Skillet Thai Ground Turkey Curry with Rice
- Easy & Healthy Pakistani Kima (Spiced Beef & Veggies)
- Viral Tiktok Hot Honey Beef Bowl
- Miso Ginger Chuck Roast
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Deconstructed Beef or Lamb Kofta (Spiced Meat)
This delicious deconstructed beef kofta (or lamb kofta) is a perfect weeknight meal, packed with spices, onions, and garlic for flavor, and an easy protein to throw on top of rice, hummus, or veggies.
Ingredients
- 1/2 of a medium onion, diced
- 2 tablespoons of olive or avocado oil
- 1 lb of ground lamb (or beef)
- 1 teaspoon of kosher salt
- 4 cloves of garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon of ground coriander
- 1/2 tablespoon of ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon of ground cumin
- 1/4 teaspoon of ground ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon of ground allspice
- 1/4 teaspoon of black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon of cayenne pepper
- Optional: pine nuts
- 3 tablespoons of fresh parsley, roughly chopped
Instructions
- Heat a skillet on medium and add the oil. Add the diced onions and cook for a couple minutes, until they begin to soften. Add the garlic and stir for another minute.
- Add the ground beef or lamb and break it up into small pieces. Cook it until mostly brown all over, and in small pieces.
- Add all the spices and mix in evenly, then continue to cook the meat until it's completely cooked through.
- In a separate small pan (or the oven at 350 F), toast the pine nuts. This only takes a few minutes, and be careful that they don't burn! I often get lazy and just carve out a small space in the meat pan once it's done, and toast them there.
- Sprinkle the pine nuts and chopped fresh parsley over the cooked beef. Serve however you'd like...over hummus, rice, on a roasted sweet potato, or whatever else you little heart desires.
