Ingredients
2 pounds ground beef (85/15 fat content recommended; you can substitute ground lamb, chicken, or turkey)
2 tablespoons grated yellow onion
1 clove garlic, minced
3 tablespoons finely chopped fresh parsley (flat-leaf or curly)
3 tablespoons finely chopped fresh mint (plus extra for garnish)
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 tablespoon sumac
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
2 tablespoons crushed dried mint
About 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
1-First, in a large bowl, gently mix 2 pounds of ground beef with 2 tablespoons grated yellow onion, 1 clove minced garlic, 3 tablespoons finely chopped fresh parsley, 3 tablespoons finely chopped fresh mint, 2 teaspoons kosher salt, about 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, 1 tablespoon sumac, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, and 2 tablespoons crushed dried mint. Use your hands to blend it all together, but don’t overdo it overworking can make the meat tough, and we want juicy kebabs!
2-Next, cover the mixture and chill it in the fridge for at least 1 hour, or up to 24 hours, to let those flavors meld. While that’s resting, preheat your grill to medium heat and oil the grates thoroughly to avoid any sticking mishaps. Now, shape the mixture: take about 1/2 cup at a time and form it into oblong shapes around skewers aim for 6 inches long and 2 inches wide. If you’re using wooden skewers, soak them in water for 30 minutes first to prevent burning.
3-Place the skewers on the grill and cook covered for about 3 minutes until they get those lovely char marks, then turn and cook for another 5 minutes until they reach 135°F internally for a perfect medium doneness. Finally, take them off the heat, brush with a little olive oil if you like, sprinkle extra fresh mint, and serve right away for the best texture. For alternative methods, you can bake them at 325°F for 16-18 minutes or pan-fry in a hot, oiled skillet for about 8 minutes per side options that keep things flexible for your kitchen setup.
Last Step:
Please leave a rating and comment letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business to thrive and continue providing free, high-quality recipes for you.Notes
🔥 Use ground meat with 10-15% fat to ensure moist and tender kebabs.
❌ Avoid overworking the meat mixture to keep the texture light.
🧊 For lean meats, add olive oil, melted butter, or milk-soaked breadcrumbs to retain moisture.
- Prep Time: 1 hour
- Chilling: 1 hour
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: Lebanese, Middle Eastern
- Diet: Gluten-Free
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 kebab
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 0g
- Sodium: 420mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 2g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 20g
- Cholesterol: 80mg
