Meat, Maghreb and Middle East
Moroccan kefta skewers with salad and bread
Kefta skewers are ground beef and lamb patties seasoned with cumin and parsley, shaped onto wooden skewers and grilled. This recipe serves 4, takes 35 minutes, is very easy, and costs €2.70 per person. The key is packing the meat firmly around the skewers and grilling it without piercing it, so it keeps its juices.
Tonight I'm grilling kefta skewers seasoned with cumin and parsley, served with a fresh Moroccan salad and warm bread.
- Total time
- 35 min
- Difficulty
- Very easy
- Cost per person
- €2.70
- Calories per person
- 520 kcalcalculated by Kiloach, your weight coach
- Season
- Summer, Spring
- The kids
- They generally like it
Kefta is the elongated meatball of North African cooking, molded onto a wooden skewer before hitting the grill. Cumin and paprika season the meat, parsley and cilantro add freshness, and grated onion keeps the inside moist while the outside turns golden and slightly crisp.
This is a weeknight recipe that works just as well for a casual dinner with friends. Kids love eating it with their hands and dipping bread into the juices. The fresh, lemony Moroccan salad balances the grilled meat, and everything gets scooped up together in warm bread.
The ingredients
Butcher
- Ground beef and lamb 600 g
Fruits and vegetables
- Onion 2
- Flat leaf parsley 1 sprigs
- Fresh cilantro 1 sprigs
- Tomatoes 4
- Cucumber 1
- Lemon 1
Pantry
- Ground cuminoften in the pantry 2 tsp
- Paprikaoften in the pantry 1 tsp
- Olive oiloften in the pantry 3 tbsp
- Saltoften in the pantry 1 pinch
- Pepperoften in the pantry 1 pinch
Bakery
- Round bread 1
Allergens Gluten
The step by step recipe
-
Grate one onion, chop the parsley and cilantro, then mix with the meat, cumin, paprika, salt and pepper.
Squeeze the grated onion to remove the juice, the mixture holds together better.
-
Let the mixture rest in the fridge for 15 minutes so the flavors blend. 15 min
Chilling firms up the meat so it doesn't fall apart while cooking.
-
Shape the meat into logs around wooden skewers that have been soaked in water.
Soaked skewers won't burn on the grill.
-
Dice the tomatoes, cucumber and remaining onion, then season with the oil, lemon, salt and pepper.
Add salt at the last moment, the vegetables release less water.
-
Grill the skewers in a skillet or on the barbecue for 10 minutes, turning them, and serve with the salad and bread. 10 min
Don't pierce them to check doneness, they'll lose their juices.
Our tips to get it right
- Pick ground meat that isn't too lean, a bit of fat keeps the skewers juicy as they cook.
- Shape thin, even logs of meat so they cook quickly and evenly all the way through.
- Make the salad just before serving so it stays crisp and doesn't release too much liquid.
The variations
- Swap the beef and lamb mix for ground turkey for a milder tasting version.
- For a vegetarian version, shape the mixture from mashed chickpeas seasoned with cumin and pan fry the patties instead of grilling.
- For a quicker meal, shape the meat into small round meatballs instead of logs, they cook in just a few minutes in a skillet.
What to serve it with
- Warm pita or round bread
- Yogurt and mint sauce
- Iced mint tea
Storage
Raw meat mixture keeps for 1 day in the refrigerator in a sealed container. Cooked skewers keep for 2 days in the refrigerator and reheat well in a skillet over low heat. They can be frozen raw, already shaped on the skewers, and cooked straight from frozen.
Questions about this dish
Can kefta skewers be cooked in the oven?
Yes, place them on a rack and bake at 200°C for about 15 minutes, turning halfway through. They won't be as charred as on the grill but will still taste just as good.
Can the meat mixture be made ahead?
Yes, you can prepare it the day before and keep it in the refrigerator in a sealed container. Chilling actually deepens the cumin and paprika flavor.
How do you keep the meat from falling off the skewers?
Wet your hands well before shaping the meat, and let the mixture rest in the fridge before forming the skewers. A cold, firmly packed mixture holds together much better on the grill.
Can cilantro be left out if you don't like it?
Yes, just use flat leaf parsley alone and double the amount. The flavor will be a little less distinctive but still good.
How long does it take to make Moroccan kefta skewers with a fresh salad and warm bread?
Count 35 min in total, prep and cooking included. The recipe is rated “very easy”.
How many calories are in Moroccan kefta skewers with a fresh salad and warm bread?
About 520 kcal per serving, for a recipe meant for 4 people. Calories are calculated by Kiloach, your weight coach, the app that partners with Mon Chou.
How much does Moroccan kefta skewers with a fresh salad and warm bread cost?
About €2.70 per serving, or €10.80 for 4 people, based on average supermarket prices.
What allergens does this recipe contain?
This recipe contains gluten. Always check the labels of the products you buy.
Maghreb and Middle Eastern cuisine
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