Mediterranean Beef Kofta

Ingredients

• 1 pound Ground Beef (93% lean or leaner)
• 1/2 cup minced onions
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon allspice
• 1/4 teaspoon dried mint leaves

• Serve koftas on warmed pita bread with rice, hummus and prepared tzatziki sauce as desired

Instructions

1. Combine ground beef, onion, oil, salt, coriander, cumin, cinnamon, allspice and mint leaves in a large bowl, mixing lightly but thoroughly.

   Cook's Tip:

   Kofta is a meatball or meatloaf consisting of minced or ground meat mixed with spices and/or onions. 

   Beef mixture can be prepared in a food processor. Add onion to food processor and pulse until onion is minced. Add beef, oil, salt and spices.; blend until well mixed and mixture forms a ball.

2. Shape quarter of beef mixture around 8-inch bamboo skewers leaving approximately 1 to 2 inches at bottom of skewer. Make small indentations in beef mixture with fingers approximately 1 inch apart along the kofta. Repeat with remaining beef mixture and 3 skewers.

3. Refrigerate beef at least 10 minutes.

   Cook's Tip: When grilling koftas, do not turn them until you can do so without koftas breaking apart.

4. Place koftas in center of grid over medium, ash-covered coals. Grill, uncovered, 12 to 14 minutes or until instant-read thermometer inserted horizontally into thickest part of koftas registers 160°F, turning occasionally.

   Cook's Tip: Cooking times are for fresh or thoroughly thawed Ground Beef. Ground Beef should be cooked to an internal temperature of 160ºF. Color is not a reliable indicator of Ground Beef doneness.