Mediterranean Beef Kofta

Ingredients:

• 1 pound Ground Beef (93% lean or leaner)
• 1/2 cup minced onions
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon allspice
• 1/4 teaspoon dried mint leaves

• Serve koftas on warmed pita bread with rice, hummus and prepared tzatziki sauce as desired

Cooking:

1. Combine ground beef, onion, oil, salt, coriander, cumin, cinnamon, allspice and mint leaves in a large bowl, mixing lightly but thoroughly.
Cook's Tip:

Kofta is a meatball or meatloaf consisting of minced or ground meat mixed with spices and/or onions. 

Beef mixture can be prepared in a food processor. Add onion to food processor and pulse until onion is minced. Add beef, oil, salt and spices.; blend until well mixed and mixture forms a ball.

2. Shape quarter of beef mixture around 8-inch bamboo skewers leaving approximately 1 to 2 inches at bottom of skewer. Make small indentations in beef mixture with fingers approximately 1 inch apart along the kofta. Repeat with remaining beef mixture and 3 skewers.
3. Refrigerate beef at least 10 minutes.
Cook's Tip: When grilling koftas, do not turn them until you can do so without koftas breaking apart.
4. Place koftas in center of grid over medium, ash-covered coals. Grill, uncovered, 12 to 14 minutes or until instant-read thermometer inserted horizontally into thickest part of koftas registers 160°F, turning occasionally.
Cook's Tip: Cooking times are for fresh or thoroughly thawed Ground Beef. Ground Beef should be cooked to an internal temperature of 160ºF. Color is not a reliable indicator of Ground Beef doneness.