Greek Kofta Kebabs

3 months ago 33

This is simply a Greek lamb kofta kebab made utilizing a peculiar spice blend look fixed to maine by the proprietor of Kalimera Souvlaki Art, a precise fashionable Greek gyros store successful Melbourne, Australia. It’s simple, but unsocial and really, truly good!

Greek Kofta Kebabs

Today’s look is the effect of looking for thing a small antithetic to marque with a packet of lamb mince. And wow, it is good! It isn’t a strictly authentic mentation of Greek kofta kebabs, but it comes from a precise good respected Greek source. Specifically, a gyros store successful Melbourne called Kalimera Souvlaki Art based successful the bosom of the Greek assemblage successful Oakleigh.

To chopped a agelong communicative short, I was doing a communicative connected Kalimera for Good Food and managed to cajole the owner, Thomas Deliopoulos, into sharing this gyros marinade look with me. He’s Greek, successful lawsuit you didn’t conjecture (😅) and he’s a cook by background.

I didn’t realise it astatine the time, but Kalimera has a cult following, with the likes of Ben Shewry (one of Australia’s astir respected good eating chefs) and New York Times’ Sam Sifton raving astir it.

It besides has maine raving, and 1 time I volition stock his gyros look present connected my website too. Until then, you tin find it connected Good Food here and contiguous we’re utilizing the the Kalimera concealed gryos spice premix to marque outrageously delicious lamb kofta kebabs!

Ingredients successful Greek Kofta Kebabs

Here’s what you request to marque these Greek Kofta Kebabs.

For the kofta kebabs

As noted above, the spice premix utilized for the Koftas is based connected the chickenhearted gyros look from Kalimera Souvlaki Art, tweaked to marque it much suitable for lamb which has a stronger flavour than chicken. It’s a peculiar blend with a operation of spices I ne'er would person thought to usage for a Greek flavoured dish. But wow, it is thing special!

Skewers – Get shortish ones that volition acceptable successful the cookware connected the stove. I usage 18cm / 7″ ones. If you’re readying to navigator these connected the BBQ, a) I’m escaped to join; and b) soak the skewers successful h2o for 30 minutes earlier utilizing (so they don’t burn).
Lamb mince – The spice premix is designed to compliment lamb which has a stronger flavour than different proteins. And lamb is connected constituent for Greek food! However, I’ve tried it with beef excessively and it’s terrific. I deliberation it’s excessively beardown for chicken, turkey and pork.
Garlic – 3 large plump cloves. The Greek emotion ail – and truthful bash I!
Dried oregano – The Greek besides emotion dried oregano, truthful we’re utilizing rather a lot. 4 1/2 teaspoons, to beryllium exact! The operation of plentifulness of dried oregano and ail is simply a never-fail classical Greek combination.
Paprika and mustard pulverization – These adhd warmth and earthy flavour. I conscionable usage regular paprika (sweet paprika) though smoked paprika would besides beryllium lovely, I think.
Curry powder – The concealed constituent that adds layers of flavour and a beauteous lukewarm colour to the mixture. We lone usage 1 1/2 teaspoons, conscionable capable to adhd a hint of flavour but not capable to marque it sensation similar curry. I usage mild but consciousness escaped to usage blistery if you privation it spicy! Any regular marque of curry pulverization is fine, I usage Keens oregon Clives of India (common market store brands successful Australia).
Salt and capsicum – For seasoning.

Secret condiment for Greek lamb kofta kebabs

kalimera’s concealed sauce

The proprietor of Kalimera didn’t uncover the nonstop look for his concealed sauce. But helium did speech done what was successful it, truthful my member and I came up with a copycat ourselves. I person to say, I deliberation it’s beauteous similar! You’ll beryllium rummaging astir to find thing to dip into it – veggie sticks, crackers, chips!

Greek yogurt oregon Greek-style yogurt – Plain, unsweetened.
Mayonnaise – preferable full egg, which has a smoother flavour than non-whole-egg mayonnaise.
Extra virgin olive oil – For a spot of other richness and flavour.
American yellowish mustard – yes, the agleam yellowish American stuff! Another concealed constituent I ne'er would person thought of and mightiness look retired of spot successful a Greek sauce, but the beingness of which is validated knowing that Kalimera uses it. 😃 Totally works present for flavour and adding lukewarm colour to the sauce.
Spices – garlic powder, paprika (sweet/regular, not smoked oregon spicy) and salt

bready greek pita bread

And here’s the pita breadstuff I utilized to marque those large cosy overstuffed wraps you spot successful this post:

Pita breadstuff for Greek lamb kofta kebabs

Greek pita breads are thicker and breadier than flatbreads which are much pliable truthful you tin marque wraps i.e. you wrapper the breadstuff wholly astir the filling. I’m utilizing a marque called Golden Top Bakery (picture above) which is fashionable with Greek nutrient shops and restaurants crossed Sydney. The packet is labelled “souvlaki bread” and is astir 6mm/ 0.25″ thick. Not to beryllium confused with different merchandise they merchantability labelled arsenic “pitta bread” which is simply a thinner flatbread that is not arsenic bready (~4mm / 1/6″ thick), though this this would beryllium good to usage too.

Whatever you use, lukewarm it up! It’s truthful overmuch nicer. Also for pita bread, it’s indispensable truthful the breadstuff doesn’t interruption erstwhile you fold it. I’ve popped directions for reheating successful the look card.

the vegtables

Here’s what I utilized for the vegetables – tomato, lettuce and reddish onion. Classic options offered astatine souvlaki shops successful Australia. Though actually, successful Greece, it’s communal to bypass caller veg and worldly with blistery chips instead! Carb connected carb perfection.😊 (But for the involvement of making this a sensible meal option, I’m enactment for immoderate greens instead).

How to marque Greek Kofta Kebabs

You could skip the skewering to prevention time. But for a small Greek spirit, it’s worthy the effort!

1. Sauce first

Make the condiment first, truthful the flavours person a accidental to meld portion you marque the koftas. Just premix the ingredients up past acceptable speech connected the counter.

2. MAKE THE Kofta kebabs

Good regularisation of thumb truthful you don’t implicit enactment the nutrient and marque your koftas pugnacious – halt erstwhile the spices are mixed done the meat.

Mix all the kofta ingredients successful a vessel utilizing your hands. Yes, you’ve gotta get successful determination and get your hands dirty, there’s nary different way! Just premix until the spices are evenly dispersed throughout. I usage a benignant of scrunching question with my hands, I find that’s the astir effective.
The soiled hands successful question, hard astatine work! 🙂

Shape – Portion into 8 past squeeze/roll into logs astir 13cm/5″ long. Thread onto skewers past flatten to 1.25cm / 0.5″ thick so you person a bully aboveground country that tin beryllium cooked into a gorgeous aureate crust much easy than cylindrical logs. They besides navigator faster and much evenly.
Cook – Heat lipid successful a non instrumentality cookware implicit mean precocious heat, oregon connected a BBQ for a much authentic experience. Cook fractional the koftas for 2 minutes connected each side, past conscionable 30 seconds connected the bladed edges conscionable to get a spot of colour connected them. Lower the vigor if they are browning excessively quickly. Because of the spices, they volition navigator up a beauteous heavy aureate brownish colour if you power the vigor properly. If not, they volition burn!!
Remove cooked koftas onto a sheet past navigator the 2nd batch. You won’t request much lipid due to the fact that you’ll get abdominous retired of the lamb.

3. SERVING AND ASSEMBLING

Serving – To serve, heap the koftas connected a platter with the lettuce, tomato, onion, condiment and warmed breads connected the side. Let everybody assistance themselves!
Making kofta kebab wraps – This is however I marque the wraps. There’s a precise circumstantial order! Firstly, dispersed condiment down the mediate of the pita breadstuff / flatbread. Top with lettuce – the condiment volition glue it successful place. Then spot 2 koftas connected apical (remove the skewers). Well, I’m greedy truthful I usage 2. If you’re not, you tin usage 1.
Place herb connected the side, sprinkle with bulb past dollop with much sauce. Fold (or rotation to enclose, if utilizing flatbreads). Then bite! It’s truthful satisfying. 🙂

I emotion meals that are assemble-yourself situations, truthful this 1 rates highly successful my books. Less enactment for me! If I person much than 8 radical implicit for a luncheon oregon dinner, I tin beauteous overmuch warrant it volition beryllium a DIY statement alternatively than à la carte. Who has the clip to sheet up and service 8 people? Not me! Put your ain repast together! 😂

It’s besides appealing that this is fantabulous cooked connected the barbecue, making it perfect for outdoor gatherings during warmer months. And the odor erstwhile these koftas are cooking is phenomenal!

Leftovers support well, truthful don’t beryllium acrophobic to err connected the broadside of caution and standard up. Make bowls for luncheon tomorrow, past Greek “tacos” for meal the nighttime after. Or chop them into wound size pieces, and flip into your greeting omelette arsenic I did. – Nagi x

PS If you’re aft a accepted Greek lamb mince kofta recipe, I suggest utilizing this one from the website My Greek Dish which is simply a large assets for authentic Greek recipes. The spicing includes cinnamon truthful determination are similarities to Middle Eastern lamb koftas.

Watch however to marque it

Greek Kofta Kebabs

Recipe video above. This Greek Kofta kebab features a concealed spice premix from a good known Melbourne souvlaki store called Kalimera Souvlaki Art. The proprietor gave maine his chickenhearted gyros look for a communicative I did for Good Food. I utilized the aforesaid blend for lamb mince koftas – it's spectacular! The concealed constituent is simply a hint of curry powder, which adds warmth and extent without a curry taste. Genius!

Served with my mentation of his Secret Souvlaki Sauce, crafted from clues helium gave me. It's truthful good, I usage it to dunk crackers, veggie sticks and blistery chips.

Course Mains

Cuisine Greek

Keyword Greek koftas, kofta kebabs, lamb mince recipe

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 10

Servings

Calories 508cal

Author Nagi

Ingredients

Kofta kebab:

500g/ 1 lb lamb mince (or beef, oregon 50/50 beef/lamb, Note 1)
3 large ail cloves , crushed utilizing ail property oregon finely grated
2 tsp paprika (regular/sweet, not smoked)
2 tsp mustard powder
4 1/2 tsp dried oregano
1 1/2 tsp curry powder , not spicy, immoderate marque good (Kalimera concealed ingredient! Note 2)
3/4 tsp cooking brackish / kosher salt
1/4 tsp black pepper

For cooking:

1 tbsp olive oil
8 skewers , optional (I usage 18cm/7.5")

Secret Sauce (Note 3):

3/4 cup plain yogurt , preferably Greek (full-fat best)
2 tbsp mayonnaise , preferably whole-egg
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 tbsp American yellowish mustard (ie the agleam yellowish American stuff!)
1 1/2 tsp garlic powder
1 1/2 tsp paprika (sweet/regular, not smoked oregon spicy)
1/2 tsp cooking brackish / kosher salt

Serving:

4 Greek pita bread , pockets oregon flatbreads, warmed (TIPS – Note 4!)
2 tomatoes , halved and sliced
1/2 red onion , finely sliced oregon chopped
Iceberg lettuce , finely sliced (or different leafy greens)

Instructions

Sauce – Mix the ingredients successful a vessel and acceptable speech to fto the flavours meld portion you marque the kofta kebabs.
Kofta kebabs – Put each the ingredients successful a vessel and premix good with your hands until the spices are mixed through. Divide into 8, signifier into 13cm/5″ logs. Thread onto skewers past flatten somewhat to astir 1.25cm / 0.5″ heavy (Note 5).
Cook – Heat 1 tbsp lipid successful a ample non instrumentality cookware implicit mean precocious heat. Cook fractional the koftas for 2 minutes connected each broadside until golden, past astir 30 seconds connected each abbreviated borderline (just for a spot of colour). Reduce the vigor if they’re browning excessively fast. Transfer to a serving plate, loosely screen with foil to support warm. Cook the remaining koftas. (Scrape retired escaped burnt bits, if any. You shouldn’t request other oil.)
Serve and assemble! Pile the lettuce, herb and bulb connected the sheet and enactment the condiment successful a bowl. To assemble, instrumentality a lukewarm pita breadstuff and smear immoderate condiment down the middle. Top with lettuce and 1 oregon 2 koftas (removed from the skewers), tuck herb down the broadside and sprinkle with onion. Fold and EAT!

Notes

1. Lamb is connected constituent present for a Greek dish, and the spice blend has been tailored for lamb which has a stronger flavour than different proteins. However, it’s besides large with beef! Spice premix is simply a small excessively beardown for chicken, pork and turkey, successful my opinion. I’ll bash chickenhearted koftas different time!

2. Curry powder – See intro for explanation, it’s the concealed ingredient! Use immoderate marque curry pulverization adjacent from regular market stores. I usage mild but consciousness escaped to usage blistery if you privation it spicy!

3. Sauce – Copycat of Kalimera Souvlaki Art’s signature sauce! It’s utilized for their gyros and souvlaki arsenic good arsenic a dip for blistery chips. The proprietor was coy astir providing the nonstop look but provided clues for what was successful it and I deliberation this is beauteous close. The colour and flavour from the paprika and mustard are cardinal here!

4. Bread – Pictured pita is 18cm/7″ wide, Golden Top marque which is wide utilized by the Greek hospitality manufacture present successful Sydney. Thick, bready pita breadstuff needs to beryllium warmed VERY good truthful they don’t interruption erstwhile folded, and a sprinkle of h2o helps. Here’s my method: Wet insubstantial towel connected plate, brush/spray/sprinkle each pita breadstuff lightly with h2o (both sides), stack, screen with different bedewed insubstantial towel. Microwave 1 infinitesimal oregon until mediate pitas are hot. Use hot!

Easier option – thinner flatbreads, pita pockets etc. Homemade, store bought (Lebanese breadstuff is great) oregon adjacent tortillas.

5. Kofta signifier – Flattening somewhat alternatively than making them cylindrical makes them a small easier and faster to cook, positive you get a larger aboveground country that goes aureate (= flavour!). Note that they volition get fatter and shorter arsenic they cook.

Leftover koftas volition support for 3 – 4 days successful the fridge. Sauce volition support for a week astatine least, you mightn’t usage it all. Prep up – Uncooked koftas tin beryllium shaped and near successful the fridge for a mates of days, oregon adjacent frozen past thawed and cooked connected demand.

Nutrition per serving, koftas, veg and condiment lone (calories successful breadstuff varies truthful overmuch depending connected type).