Levantine · Dinner

Beef kofta with tahini

Name: Beef kofta with tahini
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 1 h 15 min
Yield: 6 servings
Cuisine: Levantine
Ingredients: 1 slice day-old country bread, crust removed; 3 tablespoons water; 2 pounds 85-percent-lean ground beef; 1 small yellow onion, finely grated and squeezed dry; 1 cup finely chopped flat-leaf parsley, divided; 4 garlic cloves, finely grated and divided; 2 teaspoons ground cumin; 1 teaspoon ground coriander; 1 teaspoon ground allspice; 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt, divided; 1/2 teaspoon black pepper; 3/4 cup well-stirred tahini; 2 lemons, juiced, divided; 1/2 cup ice water, plus more as needed; 2 ripe tomatoes, chopped; 1 English cucumber, chopped; 1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced; 6 pocketless pitas; 12 metal or soaked wooden skewers

Parsley, onion, garlic, cumin, coriander, and allspice beef kofta with lemon tahini, warm pita, and a crisp tomato-cucumber salad.

About 1 hr 15 minTotal

About 45 minActive

$$Cost

ModerateDifficulty

Makes 6 servings

Equipment

Use matched long metal skewers; flat shafts keep the stacked food from spinning.
Best reusable skewer set
OXO Good Grips 6-Piece Grilling Skewer Set · 11308000
View at Amazon
Another workable path: Use matched long metal skewers; flat shafts keep the stacked food from spinning.
Paid links. As an Amazon Associate, Kwilt earns from qualifying purchases.
How we chose
Research-backed · reviewed Aug 2026
We matched the recipe's paired-skewer structure, then verified the flat stainless design, 13.5-inch length, six-piece count, model 11308000, current manufacturer identity, handling risk, and exact Amazon destination. Kwilt has not cooked al pastor with this set.
OXO Good Grips 6-Piece Grilling Skewer Set · 11308000: The flat 13.5-inch shafts hold the stacked pork and pineapple securely, while six skewers provide the paired supports the recipe calls for without forcing the cook to improvise with short wooden sticks. Trade-off: The metal becomes dangerously hot and the long skewers need drawer or hanging space; use tongs and heat protection throughout cooking and resting.
Another workable path: Use other long, flat stainless skewers in matched pairs; round skewers can work, but the stacked food is more likely to rotate while it browns.
Sources
OXO six-piece grilling-skewer specifications
Amazon exact product listing

Ingredients

1× recipe · Makes 6 servings

1 slice day-old country bread, crust removed
3 tablespoons water
2 pounds 85-percent-lean ground beef
1 small yellow onion, finely grated and squeezed dry
1 cup finely chopped flat-leaf parsley, divided
4 garlic cloves, finely grated and divided
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1 teaspoon ground allspice
1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt, divided
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
3/4 cup well-stirred tahini
2 lemons, juiced, divided
1/2 cup ice water, plus more as needed
2 ripe tomatoes, chopped
1 English cucumber, chopped
1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced
6 pocketless pitas
12 metal or soaked wooden skewers

Instructions

Soak bread in 3 tablespoons water and squeeze lightly. Mix gently with beef, grated onion, 3/4 cup parsley, 3 garlic cloves, cumin, coriander, allspice, 1 teaspoon salt, and pepper.
Divide into 12 portions and form each into a 5-inch log , pressing out cracks without compacting hard. Refrigerate 30 minutes so the kofta firms.
Whisk tahini with remaining garlic and the juice of 1 lemon; it will seize. Whisk in ice water gradually until pale and pourable, then season with 1/4 teaspoon salt.
Grill or broil kofta over high heat, turning carefully after the first side releases, until browned and 160°F in the center, 8 to 12 minutes. Rest 3 minutes.
Toss tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, remaining parsley, lemon juice, and salt. Warm pitas and serve two kofta per person with salad and generous lemon tahini.

LevantLevantine household and grill cooking

From the table

About this recipe

Levantine kofta combines ground meat with onion, parsley, garlic, and warm spices, shaped around skewers for fast high-heat cooking and served with tahini, salad, and bread.

Kofta names a broad family of seasoned ground-meat preparations across the Middle East and beyond. This Levantine-style version uses beef, onion, parsley, garlic, and warm spices, shaped on skewers and served with tahini; the familiar form is essentially a highly seasoned grilled meatball plate. This Kwilt version follows the reviewed household adaptation: Use the 4,800-rating desirability signal, retain the Levantine parsley-onion-spice profile, and specify shape, chill, and sauce controls for a familiar grilled family plate.

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