Moroccan · Lunch & handhelds

Kefta sandwich

Name: Kefta sandwich
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 1 h 45 min
Yield: 4 sandwiches
Cuisine: Moroccan
Ingredients: 3/4 pound 80%-lean ground beef; 3/4 pound ground lamb; 1 small yellow onion, coarsely grated and squeezed dry; 1/4 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley; 1/4 cup chopped cilantro, divided; 2 teaspoons sweet paprika; 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin, divided; 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt, divided; 1/2 teaspoon black pepper; 1/4 teaspoon cayenne; 1 large ripe tomato, cut into 1/2-inch slices; 1 small red onion, cut into 1/2-inch rounds; 1 tablespoon olive oil; 2 Roma tomatoes, seeded and diced; 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice; 4 small Moroccan khobz or sturdy pita breads

Charcoal-seared Moroccan beef-and-lamb kefta tucked into warm khobz with grilled tomato and onion, a fresh chopped tomato salad, cumin, and herbs.

About 1 hr 45 minTotal

About 45 minActive

$$$Cost

ModerateDifficulty

Makes 4 sandwiches

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 4 sandwiches

3/4 pound 80%-lean ground beef
3/4 pound ground lamb
1 small yellow onion, coarsely grated and squeezed dry
1/4 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley
1/4 cup chopped cilantro, divided
2 teaspoons sweet paprika
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin, divided
1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt, divided
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon cayenne
1 large ripe tomato, cut into 1/2-inch slices
1 small red onion, cut into 1/2-inch rounds
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 Roma tomatoes, seeded and diced
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
4 small Moroccan khobz or sturdy pita breads

Instructions

Knead beef, lamb, grated onion, parsley, half the cilantro, paprika, 1 teaspoon cumin, 1 teaspoon salt, pepper, and cayenne until evenly seasoned and slightly tacky, 1 to 2 minutes. Shape into twelve short logs around and refrigerate 1 hour.
Brush sliced tomato and red-onion rounds with olive oil. Grill over medium-hot charcoal until marked and tender, 2 to 3 minutes per side; transfer to a plate.
Grill kefta, turning carefully, until deeply browned and the ground meat reaches 160°F, 6 to 8 minutes. Warm khobz briefly over the coals, then cut a pocket into each without splitting through the base.
Toss diced Roma tomatoes with lemon juice, remaining cilantro, cumin, and salt. Slide three kefta into each bread and add grilled tomato, grilled onion, and a spoonful of fresh salad. Serve immediately.

MoroccoMoroccan butcher-grill and household cooking

From the table

About this recipe

Kefta is Morocco's seasoned ground beef or lamb, commonly grilled as small kebabs and served with Moroccan bread, tomato, and onion in butcher-grill and street settings.

Kefta is Morocco’s seasoned ground beef or lamb and appears as grilled kebabs, patties, and meatballs. Butcher-grill culture and street service commonly pair grilled kefta with Moroccan bread, tomato, and onion. This version uses the sandwich form without adding non-Moroccan tahini or tzatziki. This Kwilt version follows the reviewed household adaptation: Center the Moroccan butcher-grill sandwich pattern—seasoned fatty kefta, khobz, tomato, and onion—while omitting generic Mediterranean sauces that blur its identity.

Sources

Dinner does not stop at the recipe