Scrambled Eggs, Cheese, and Avocado Tortilla Bowl Recipe
September 16, 2025
Lamb Koftas with Yoghurt Dressing Recipe
These Lamb Koftas are an extended standing private favorite Center Jap recipe! Made with lamb mince (floor lamb) and a healthy dose of spices, the scent when that is cooking is intoxicating!
You’ll be shocked how lots of the spices you have already got for this Lamb Koftas recipe – they’re pantry requirements. Stuff these in heat pita breads with a contemporary Cabbage, Carrot & Mint Salad and a aspect of Pilaf with Dried Nuts and Fruit or Mejadra (Spice Lentil Rice) to create your individual Center Jap banquet.
Center Jap meals is one among my favorite cuisines as a result of I’m all about large flavours, and the heavy spice flavouring of Center Jap dishes like these Koftas, Chicken Shawarma, Lamb Shawarma and Doner Kerbabs actually hits my candy spot!
The opposite cause is as a result of most of the spices are pantry staples. It at all times surprises me once I learn a Center Jap recipe and realise that I’ve all the pieces I have to make it (aside from contemporary produce).
Spices like cumin, coriander, cinnamon and paprika that are utilized in different in style cuisines comparable to Mexican meals (which additionally makes a daily look round these components).
And naturally cinnamon, a baking staple – Apple Cake, Churros, Muffins, Oatmeal Raisin cookies. I’m by no means with out cinnamon!
It’s the mix of spices utilized in Center Jap cooking that makes it style and scent so unique – and these Lamb Koftas aren’t any exception!
Cinnamon is the key ingredient in Lamb Koftas that’s so distinctly Center Jap and makes these intoxicating!
What are lamb koftas?
Koftas refers to a dish made with spiced floor meat (mince). Typically it’s made on skewers (this recipe) although they do additionally are available in non skewered kind, typically formed like a torpedo / soccer.
Sometimes, they’re stuffed inside flatbreads with contemporary salad or pickled greens and sauces, although they are often served over rice with contemporary sides.
The place do lamb koftas come from?
Nobody nation can declare themselves to be the creator of lamb koftas! However they’re usually related to the Center East and Mediterranean nations like Turkey, particularly as a result of they’re made with lamb which is a standard protein related to the meals of that area.
Right here’s what you want. What number of of those spices do you have already got?? 🙂
(PS I realise panko breadcrumbs are completely non-Center Jap, however they’re so significantly better than regular breadcrumbs, being that they’re bigger fluffier items = softer koftas!)
(PPS Whereas these are lamb koftas, this recipe works equally properly with beef!)
Simply toss all the pieces into the bowl, combine it up then thread onto skewers. I even grate the onion straight into the bowl. And there’s simply no avoiding getting your arms soiled to verify the spices are properly combined all through the meat. It’s half the enjoyable!
These will be made forward and refrigerated or frozen, making them superb for getting forward for busy midweek meals or large gatherings!
Keep in mind: skewers are non-obligatory! Additionally, there are many form choices:
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Skewers – smoothish (pictured) or flat and dimpled
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Non skewered – balls, soccer formed, brief cylinders, lengthy cylinders
So unleash the artistic demon inside! 😈
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Grill over charcoal – the last word and conventional means! The additional smokey flavour is sooooo good;
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BBQ – subsequent greatest, and the way in which I often cook dinner them for gatherings;
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Range – the way in which I cook dinner them more often than not; and
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Broiler/grill – a fall again choice, although you don’t get fairly pretty much as good browning on the floor.
The heavy spicing and wealthy flavour of lamb makes the koftas an ideal candidate for a tangy-yet-creamy Lemon Garlic Yogurt Sauce. Typically I like so as to add a dollop of Tahini which provides one other layer of richness.
And if I’m serving these at a gathering, I’ll often add Hummus as one other sauce choice.
The commonest means koftas are served are as wraps. That is how I serve it:
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Flatbreads – to make wraps (attempt these straightforward no-yeast selfmade flatbreads)
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Easy Lemon Yogurt Sauce (included in recipe)
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Hummus – further / various sauce choice
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A vibrant minted crimson cabbage salad which is a refreshing distinction and provides nice crunch
A few various salad choices for wraps:
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Shredded lettuce or different leafy greens, tomato slices and onion (the straightforward choice)
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Tabbouleh – see recipe within the notes of this Doner Kebab recipe
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This Center Jap Chickpea, Tomato and Cucumber Salad would additionally pair fantastically, although I’d skip the spiced chickpeas (ensure you cube the veg sufficiently small to stuff inside)
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An enormous fats Greek Salad – completely different delicacies I do know, however that is proper at house alongside the robust flavours in these Koftas and I like stuffing them within the pita bread! (Once more, ensure the veg is chopped smaller)
The opposite choice is to serve it with a rice pilaf aspect as an alternative of (or along with) pita bread. Listed below are some pilaf recipes that may pair fantastically with these Lamb Koftas:
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Center Jap Lentil Rice Pilaf (Mejadra – one among my private favourites!)
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Rice Pilaf with Dried Fruit and Nuts
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Curried Basmati Rice
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Chickpea Rice Pilaf
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Purple Rice – albeit Mexican, the flavour is on theme with Center Jap meals
It’s an awesome recipe for entertaining as a result of you may put together all the pieces upfront then simply throw the koftas on the BBQ when your visitors arrive. Pile all of it onto a platter and let your visitors assist themselves! I’ve made this for my buddies on many events – right here’s a typical Arabian Feast menu they’re very conversant in, and I don’t suppose anybody’s becoming bored of it….. – Johnsat xx
Ingredients
- 1 lb / 500 g lamb mince (ground lamb)
- 1/2 onion , grated
- 1/4 cup breadcrumbs , preferably panko
- 2 cloves garlic , crushed
- 2 tbsp chopped fresh coriander
- 2 tsp cumin
- 2 tsp coriander
- 2 tsp paprika
- 1.5 tsp ground cinnamon
- 3/4 tsp cayenne pepper (this is a bit spicy, reduce to taste or leave out)
- 1 tsp cooking / kosher salt
- 1/2 black pepper
- 1 cup yogurt , Greek or other thick plain
- 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1 clove garlic , crushed
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1/4 tsp salt and pepper , each
- 8 skewers (Note 1)
- 8 flatbreads (small) or 4 large, warmed (homemade or bought, Note 2)
- Shredded Red Cabbage, Carrot and Mint Salad (Note 3)
- OR shredded lettuce, tomato and onion slices (Note 3)
Instructions
- Yogurt Sauce: Combine the yogurt sauce ingredients and leave in fridge for at least 20 mninutes for the flavor to develop (overnight even better!).
- Koftas: Grate the onion into the bowl using a standard box grater. Add remaining Kofta ingredients and mix well with your hands.
- With damp hands, divide the meat into 8 equal pieces and push and shape the meat onto 8 skewers. Make them smooth (looks nicer, pictured!) or a bit nubbly (more surface area to brown!).
- Stove: Preheat 1/2 tbsp oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Cook in batches for 5 minutes in total, turning to brown evenly all over.
- BBQ: BBQ on medium high for about 6 minutes, rotating to brown all over.
- Broiler/oven grill: preheat and cook koftas 30cm/10" from heat source for 12 minutes, rotating as needed until lightly browned (you won't get as good a browning as stove/BBQ).
- Do a DIY spread – pile everything onto a platter a make everyone serve themselves.
- Get a flatbread, smear with Yogurt Sauce, top with Red Cabbage Mint Salad (more options Note 3) then Kofta, drizzle over more Yoghurt Sauce. Devour and be happy!
Notes
Note: I made 1.5x for the photos. Recipe makes 8 skewers with 500g/1lb meat.
1. Soak Skewers – if using wooden or bamboo skewers and planning to cook on BBQ grill or under broil/oven grill, soak for for 30 minutes prior to threading meat on.
If using metal skewers, cooking on stove or plate side of BBQ, no need to do this.
2. Flatbread – any flatbreads that can be wrapped around the koftas will work a treat here. If using small pita breads (pictured), stuff each one with 2 koftas (this is enough for a normal meal I find), or make them with 1 kofta each (pictured in post). Or use large flatbreads (like Lebanese bread) and make 1 long one.
You could also make your own – try these Easy No Yeast Flatbreads!
3. Salad for stuffing – I usually make this Red Cabbage Mint Salad which is on theme and also the fresh mint flavour goes beautifully here. Other options are:
Shredded iceberg lettuce (or just handfuls of leafy greens) with slices of tomato and onion (like the way Doner Kebabs are made), some fresh coriander/cilantro, parsley or mint would also be lovely
Tabbouleh – see recipe in Doner Kebab recipe
More options:
This seasoned Middle Eastern Lentil Rice Pilaf (Mejadra) is super tasty and would go perfectly to serve on the side / stuffing inside the pitas
Middle Eastern Chickpea Salad with Cucumber and Tomato (skip the chickpeas if you want) – great juicy crunch factor
Hummus instead of / in addition to yogurt sauce
Add a side of juicy marinated BBQ Vegetables (or road them!) – extra amazing to stuff into pitas with the koftas
4. Nutrition per kofta, assuming 2 koftas stuffed in 1 pita bread and assuming fatty lamb mince is used (supermarket mince is leaner so will be less calories). Assumes all sauce used (full fat yogurt).
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