Home Recipes The best basic recipes Authentic Beef Kebabs Authentic Beef Kebabs Quick access Ingredients Preparation Comments Ingredients Preparation Comments By: Hubert Cormier, Ph.D. in nutrition Preparation 25 min Cooking 10 min Refrigeration 0 min Freezing 0 min 4 to 6 servings Piece of cake (easy) Quick access Ingredients Preparation Comments Ingredients Preparation Comments Dietary restrictions Categories Main dishes Thematics Basics Comfort food Dinner party To freeze Authentic Beef Kebabs Prepare the best traditional beef kebabs recipe! Authentic beef kebabs are small skewers of beef seasoned with fresh herbs and spices such as paprika, cumin, and cayenne pepper. The mixture is first well combined and then pressed onto small wooden skewers that have been previously soaked in water. Moreover, if you want to bake the kebabs in the oven, you could simply shape small oval meatballs and cook them directly on a baking sheet. However, for grilling, it is recommended to make meat skewers for easy handling on the grill. How to serve authentic kebabs? Traditionally, kebabs are served with pitas, naan, couscous, or rice. Additionally, cherry tomatoes, a salad of raw vegetables, or cooked vegetables are served as side dishes. Finally, to add flavor and texture to this fantastic recipe, a creamy sauce, such as labneh (or Greek yogurt) mixed with lemon juice, often accompanies the grilled meat. SIMPLY DELICIOUS: Are you a lover of Middle Eastern flavors? Then discover the delicious ideas of the following authentic recipes! Greek Salad Greek Chicken Skewers Mini Falafels Beet Hummus Jerusalem Salad Bonà savoir Don't forget to soak your wooden skewers! Yes, this step is crucial for the kebabs. By soaking the wooden skewers in water, you prevent them from burning during cooking. It is generally recommended to soak the wooden skewers for at least 30 minutes before using them. Alternatively, for an eco-friendly option, choose reusable metal skewers. To make it easier to remove food from metal skewers, just lightly oil them before threading the food onto them! Ingredients Metric system Imperial system Beef kebabs Ground beef - 450 g 1 lb To discover! Egg - 1 large 1 large To discover! Extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO) - 1 teaspoon 5 mL To discover! Finely chopped yellow onion - 1 small cups 1 small To discover! Finely chopped garlic - 2 cloves 2 cloves To discover! Panko breadcrumbs - teaspoons 60 mL To discover! Chopped fresh mint - 30 leaves 30 leaves To discover! Salt - 1 teaspoon 5 mL To discover! Cumin - ½ teaspoon 2.5 mL To discover! Paprika - ½ teaspoon 2.5 To discover! Crushed red pepper flakes - ¼ teaspoon 1.25 To discover! Pepper - ¼ teaspoon 1.25 To discover! Sides Labneh or plain Greek yogurt - 1 cup 250 mL To discover! Fresh pita bread or naan - 4 to 6 units 4 to 6 units To discover! Sumac-marinated onions - To taste To taste To discover! Jerusalem salad - To taste To taste To discover! Fresh mint - A few small leaves A few small leaves To discover! Preparation Switch to cook mode Keftas de boeuf Step 1 First, soak a dozen wooden skewers in water for at least 30 minutes. Step 2 Preheat the barbecue to medium-high heat and lightly oil the grill grates. Step 3 In a large bowl, use your hands to thoroughly mix the ground beef, egg, vegetable oil, finely chopped onion, and garlic. Step 4 Then, add the breadcrumbs, fresh mint, and spices to the meat mixture. Mix well. Step 5 With your hands, using about 60 ml (¼ cup) of meat, shape the kebabs around a previously soaked wooden skewer. Gently press the ground meat around the skewer to form a elongated and uniform shape. Repeat the process until all the meat mixture is used. Step 6 For cooking, grill the kebabs for about 10 minutes or until they are golden brown and cooked through. Be sure to turn the kebabs halfway through the cooking time. Alternatively, you can cook the skewers on a cast-iron grill pan or in an oven preheated to 400 °F (200 °C). Step 7 For serving, distribute the labneh or Greek yogurt onto the naan bread or pita bread and place two kebabs on each bread. Add the desired amount of sumac-marinated onions, Jerusalem salad, and fresh mint, coriander, basil, or parsley leaves. Like it? Share it!