Buy Now → Beef Kofta (Middle Eastern Style Meatballs)
Traditionally made in long finger-shaped pieces, Kofta are the perfect shape for baby led weaning! A mixture of ground beef with Middle Eastern spices gets baked or grilled and is flavorful and nutritious for both baby and the whole family.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 8 meatballs 1x
- Category: main dish
- Method: baked
- Cuisine: Middle Eastern
Ingredients
Units
Scale
- 1 lb ground beef (or lamb or a mix of both)
- 1/2 small onion, any color
- 1 large clove garlic
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley
- 1/4 cup fresh mint
- 3/4 tsp EACH cinnamon, allspice, paprika, salt* and pepper
Instructions
- Heat oven to 425°F.
- Finely chop the onion, garlic, parsley and mint. I like to use a mini food processor to make it quick and easy.
- In a large bowl, mix the meat, chopped onion mixture, and spices. Combine well with your hands.
- Shape the meat mixture into 8 long, thick, finger-shaped meatballs. If baking, place them in a large cast iron skillet or on a baking sheet, spaced so that they don't touch.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until cooked throughout (they should reach an internal temperature of 165°F). You can stick them under the broiler for 1-2 minutes for nice color on the edges.
For grilling:
- Follow the instructions above, preparing the grill to medium heat.
- Thread the uncooked meatballs onto metal skewers or wooden skewers that have been soaked in water for at least 30 minutes.
- Grill kofta for 3-4 minutes per side, or until cooked through.
Notes
- *For babies under 12 months, you may choose to omit the salt.
- For the family, kofta is traditionally served with flatbread, chopped tomato, onion and parsley, and a sauce such as tahini sauce, hummus or yogurt sauce.
- Feel free to play with the herbs and spices. I've used fresh dill, oregano, and/or basil. You can also add sumac and/or nutmeg.
Find it online: https://babyledbliss.com/baby-beef-kofta/