Beef Kafta Meatballs

Beef Kafta Meatballs make a great dinner or an appetizer at a party. Ground beef {or you can use ground lamb} is mixed together with garlic, onion, parsley, mint and warm, rich spices. These meatballs make a great addition to a rice bowl with your favorite Mediterranean ingredients or paired with Lebanese Green Beans. 

BEEF KAFTA MEATBALLS

One of my favorite things to order at Mediterranean restaurants is beef kafta {otherwise known as Lebanese Beef Kebabs}. If you have ordered them at a restaurant you most likely have seem them in the form of kebabs. Sometimes they are grilled and other times they are baked. They are the perfect thing to put into a pita with hummus, yogurt and tabbouleh.

There is something so satisfying about beef mixed with warm spices. Today’s Beef Kafta Meatballs are inspired by all of those meals and my love for meatballs. Yes, I said my love for meatballs. Weird? Hear me out! I love the fact that meatballs are small little bite sized appetizers or can be paired together with other ingredients to create a meal. You can also freeze meatballs and have them ready for a busy night. They make the perfect kid-friendly finger food and are really easy to make.

If you want to serve these as an appetizer I suggest you serve it with hummus or this Tahini Yogurt Dressing for dipping. These make a nice finger food along side a platter of hummus and veggies. My favorite way to eat these meatballs is for dinner in a rice bowl or with Lebanese Green Beans.

I am a huge fan of rice bowls during the week because I can make the protein {or even a batch of these Crunchy Chickpeas} and then set out a variety of other ingredients to top on the rice bowl.

Here are some ideas when using these Beef Kafta Meatballs to create your rice bowl:

1. Start with your grain. Some ideas are brown rice, jasmine rice, quinoa, bulgur, farro or sorghum.
2. Next add your protein. In today’s case add the Beef Kafta Meatballs but these Crunchy Chickpeas, this Chicken Shawarma or these Mediterranean Turkey Meatballs all work great also.  
3. Load on the vegetables. I love adding traditional Tabbouleh or this Kale Quinoa Tabbouleh to my rice bowls. Other options including diced tomatoes, fresh herbs, greens like spinach or kale, bell peppers, red onion and carrots. 
4. Another great option is to grill a batch of vegetables to add to your rice bowl. You could try these Moroccan Roasted Carrots, Curry Roasted Cauliflower or this Roasted Garlic Parmesan Cauliflower. 
5. Finish off that bowl with some cheese and sauce. I love adding a little sprinkle of feta cheese along with a dab of hummus or a drizzle of Yogurt Tahini Sauce. 

Note: This post may contain affiliate links; view my Disclosure Policy for details. I earn a small percentage from any purchase you make by clicking on these links. This helps me keep my kitchen stocked with the ingredients I need to create delicious, healthy recipes for you!

Items that will help you make these Beef Kafta Meatballs:

 

Print