Gulf grill classic · Skewers or pan
Kafta Recipe (Emirati Spiced Grilled Kofta)
Grate and squeeze. Lots of parsley. Chill, then grill hot.
Recipe by Farwa ZeeshanTested in the NineFoods home kitchenKafta are fingers of minced meat with parsley, onion and baharat, grilled until charred outside and juicy within. They dry out or crumble when the mince is lean or the onion wet. The fix is mince with some fat, grated and squeezed onion, lots of parsley and chilling before a very hot grill.
The 3 laws of kafta
Why this recipe works
Lean mince
Fat keeps kafta juicy.
Wet onion
Water makes them fall apart.
Moderate heat
Fast cooking keeps them moist.
Shopping and prep list
Ingredients
Kafta
To serve
The NineFoods kafta gauge
Are they cooked?
Press a kafta and look at the juices.
Method · 3 stages
Step by step
Mix
- Knead mince with squeezed onion, parsley, garlic and spices until sticky.
Shape and chill
- Shape onto skewers or into fingers with wet hands and chill.
Grill
- Grill, turning every 2 minutes. Use the gauge above.
Chef's troubleshooter
What went wrong? Pick the symptom
Why
Lean mince or overcooked.
Fix next time
Use 20 percent fat mince and grill fast.
Why
Wet onion or warm mix.
Fix next time
Squeeze the onion and chill before grilling.
Why
Under-seasoned.
Fix next time
Fry a small test piece and adjust salt.
Why
Grill not oiled.
Fix next time
Oil the grates and wait for a crust before turning.
Swap smart
Ingredient roles and substitutes
| Ingredient | Job in the dish | Swap with |
|---|---|---|
| Lamb and beef | Main | All beef or chicken mince |
| Parsley | Freshness | Coriander and mint |
| Baharat | Spice | Allspice and cinnamon |
| Grill | Char | Grill pan or oven broiler |
After the meal
Serve, store, reheat
Serve with
Arabic bread, tahini, salad and batata harra.
Store
Raw: fridge 1 day, freezer 2 months. Cooked: fridge 3 days.
Reheat
Warm in a hot pan 2 minutes.
How we tested this recipe
Tested in a home kitchen, not a studio
Recipe developed and tested by Farwa Zeeshan, who cooks and tests every NineFoods recipe on a regular home stove.
- Cooked from start to finish with the exact quantities above for 5 servings, using both the metric and US cup measures.
- Every one of the 3 stages was timed at the stove; heat levels and the 'look for' cues are what we saw in the pan.
- The doneness check (are they cooked) and the troubleshooter come from batches that went wrong, and how we fixed them.
- Reheating and storage advice was checked on leftovers, not guessed.
Keep cooking
Related recipes and guides
Quick answers
Kafta FAQ
What is the difference between kafta and kofta?
They are the same dish; kafta is the Arabic spelling.
Can I bake kafta?
Yes, under a hot grill or at 230 C for 12 minutes.
Why do my kafta fall apart?
The onion was not squeezed or the mix was not chilled.
What do I serve with kafta?
Bread, tahini, salad and potatoes.