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Lebanese Kofta Meatballs

Savory Lebanese Kofta Meatballs with Cool Cucumber Mint Sauce

A delightful Lebanese Kofta Meatballs recipe paired with a refreshing Cucumber Mint Sauce for a savory meal.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Chilling Time 15 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings: 4 meatballs
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: Lebanese
Calories: 220
Ingredients Equipment Method Nutrition Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Kofta
  • 1 pound Ground Beef can mix with ground lamb for more flavor
  • 0.5 pound Ground Lamb optional, for authentic flavor
  • 1 medium Yellow Onion finely grated
  • 3 cloves Garlic minced or finely grated
  • 0.5 cup Fresh Parsley finely chopped
  • 0.25 cup Fresh Mint finely chopped
  • 1 teaspoon Ground Cumin
  • 1 teaspoon Ground Allspice
  • 0.5 teaspoon Ground Cinnamon use sparingly
  • 0.5 teaspoon Ground Black Pepper to taste
  • 1 teaspoon Kosher Salt
  • 0.5 teaspoon Cayenne/Aleppo Pepper optional
  • 2 tablespoons Olive Oil for cooking
For the Cucumber Mint Sauce
  • 1 cup Plain Greek Yogurt
  • 1 medium Cucumber grated and drained
  • 1 tablespoon Lemon Juice fresh
  • 1 clove Additional Garlic minced
  • 0.25 cup Fresh Mint finely chopped
  • 0.5 teaspoon Salt to taste
  • 1 tablespoon Olive Oil optional garnish

Equipment

  • Mixing Bowl
  • Skillet
  • Baking tray

Method
 

Step‑by‑Step Instructions
  1. In a mixing bowl, combine plain Greek yogurt, grated cucumber, fresh lemon juice, minced garlic, finely chopped mint, and a pinch of salt. Stir until well incorporated. Cover and refrigerate for at least 15 minutes.
  2. In a large bowl, combine ground beef (and ground lamb if using), finely grated onion, minced garlic, chopped parsley, chopped mint, and spices. Mix gently to combine.
  3. Shape the kofta mixture into meatballs about the size of a golf ball. Aim for 16-18 meatballs total and place them on a lined baking tray.
  4. For pan-frying, heat a skillet over medium heat with olive oil. Cook meatballs for 2-3 minutes per side until golden brown. For baking, preheat oven to 400°F (200°C) and bake for 18-20 minutes.
  5. Serve the meatballs with a generous dollop of the chilled Cucumber Mint Sauce on the side, alongside pita bread or a light salad.

Nutrition

Serving: 1meatballCalories: 220kcalCarbohydrates: 4gProtein: 20gFat: 14gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 75mgSodium: 300mgPotassium: 250mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 500IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 50mgIron: 2mg

Notes

Mix gently to avoid tough meatballs and shape uniformly for even cooking. Chill the sauce for better flavor.

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