Description
Discover the rich flavors of Lebanese cuisine with this one-pan Lebanese Kafta recipe, featuring spiced ground beef or lamb patties seared and baked alongside vibrant roasted vegetables. This easy, flavorful dish is perfect for a wholesome family meal and can be served with rice or quinoa for added heartiness.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat Mixture
- 1 pound ground beef or lamb
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon ground coriander
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Vegetables & Cooking
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 bell pepper, sliced
- 1 zucchini, sliced
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
Optional Serving
- 2 cups cooked rice or quinoa
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Set your oven to 400°F (200°C) to prepare for baking the kafta and vegetables.
- Prepare Meat Mixture: In a large bowl, combine ground beef or lamb with finely chopped onion, minced garlic, fresh parsley, ground cumin, coriander, smoked paprika, cinnamon, salt, and pepper until all ingredients are well incorporated.
- Shape Kafta: Form the meat mixture into oval-shaped patties approximately 1 inch thick, ensuring they hold together well for cooking.
- Sear Kafta: Heat olive oil in an oven-safe skillet over medium heat. Add the kafta patties and cook for about 5 minutes on each side until they develop a nice brown crust.
- Add Vegetables: Push the seared kafta to one side of the skillet. Arrange sliced bell pepper, zucchini, and halved cherry tomatoes around the meat patties.
- Season Veggies: Drizzle the vegetables lightly with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper to enhance their flavor.
- Bake: Place the skillet in the preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the kafta is fully cooked through and the vegetables are tender.
- Rest: Remove the skillet from the oven and allow the dish to rest for 10 minutes to let the flavors settle.
- Serve: Serve the kafta and roasted vegetables either on their own or over cooked rice or quinoa for a more filling meal.
- Garnish: Sprinkle additional fresh parsley on top for a burst of freshness and vibrant color before serving.
Notes
- You can substitute ground lamb with beef or a mix of both based on preference.
- Adding cooked rice or quinoa makes the meal more complete and suitable for a main course.
- For extra flavor, marinate the kafta mixture for 30 minutes before shaping.
- This dish can be prepared using just stovetop if you skip baking, but roasting enhances vegetable tenderness.
- Use an oven-safe skillet to seamlessly transition from stovetop searing to oven baking.
