kofta ground beef bowl and garlic tzatziki

These are easy kofta ground beef bowl Drawing inspiration from Greek and Middle Eastern cuisine, served with seasoned ground beef, creamy tzatziki and fresh Israeli salad, all used as delicious rice. Easy to make, rich in protein and vegetables, better than takeaway.

Whenever I think about making this dish at home, I usually shy away because I don’t want to make kebabs. Until I realized I could skip the kebab portion altogether and instead make the ground beef version.

It has all the same spices, just without the extra steps to make and grill kabob. It’s so simple that if you like Mediterranean food, these foods will soon become favorites. Check out these Greek ground turkey bowls or chicken kofta bowls for another shortcut takeaway recipe using Türkiye or chicken instead of beef!

What is kofta?

Kofta is sometimes spelled as Kefta or Kafta, a Middle Eastern ground meat kebab that is cooked on a skewer on a hot grill. Typically, cofta is seasoned with wood lamb, sausage, coriander, parsley, mint, red pepper flakes, cinnamon, spiced powder and kosher salt.

Make the kofta mixture into flat meatballs or strips and place on skewers. Once cooked, beef kabobs are traditionally served with bread, pita bread, yogurt, garlic or tahini sauce.

There is a similar item in Greece called Keftedes, which is Greek meatballs made with ground beef and lamb and seasoned with fresh mint, lemon, oregano, oregano, coriander, cumin and cinnamon.

Simple swaps for ground beef kofta bowls

Mix or exchange some of the ingredients in these Kofta bowls:

• Ground beef: You can use any type of ground meat in this recipe. Try it with Turkish or ground chicken and more traditional lean beef. You can also use a combination of ground beef and meat lamb to give it a more authentic kofta flavor.
• Homemade Tzatziki: Although it is traditionally Kofta with garlic sauce or Tahini, I like yogurt sauce. This Tzatziki is made from Greek yogurt, cucumber, lemon juice and garlic. This is the perfect pairing. If you don’t want to make your own store, feel free to exchange the store.
• salad: Although not technically part of this recipe, make sure to add some veggies to this bowl. Make a simple salad with cucumber, tomatoes, red onions and parsley. Or served with Greek salad or this simple Mediterranean salad.

Topping of ground beef bowl

Change the flavor of these Kofta bowls by choosing different toppings.

• middle East: Add a small piece of hummus, classic Israeli or tapur salad and place everything on a piece of steamed rice, roasted tomatoes and onions.
• Greek: Add all the classic Greek salad ingredients to the bowl, including sheep cheese, tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, kalamata olives, red onions, red wine vinegar, and lots of lemon juice and oregano. Place it on the bed of rice.
• Mediterranean: Start with arugula and pickled chickpeas. Then add black olives, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, feta cheese, hummus or romsco and crunchy Bell peppers.

Kofta’s side dishes

The most common side dishes for Kofta kabobs and bowls are white or saffron rice, roasted tomatoes, hummus and salads. That being said, this bowl works with many different side dishes.

Here are some ideas:

• Rice and Cereals: Since this could have been used as a bowl, it was delicious on cauliflower rice, brown rice, quinoa or lentils. If you want to enjoy the flavor, add beef kofta on this quinoa tababouleh and lentils!
• Green vegetables: If you prefer something lighter, place it on a green vegetable bed, chopped cucumbers, red onions, tomatoes and fresh herbs.
• Sandwiches and parcels: This makes for a delicious wrap or pita sandwich. Just add ground beef, tzatziki, chopped vegetables and veggies. Fresh herbs kick more with parsley, oregano, mint or coriander.

Kofta Three Ways: Kabobs, Meatballs or Ground Beef Bowl

This Kofta beef recipe is super versatile and can be used to make traditional kabobs, meatballs or the quick and easy ground beef bowl we share. Here is the method to make each method:

• Kofta Kabobs: To make a traditional kabob, first grind the onion instead of dividing it. The moisture from the grated onion ensures that the barbecue does not dry out. Then mix the ground beef, spices, grated onions and parsley. If possible, refrigerate the meat for an hour or longer to enhance the taste. Then use about 1/2 cup of each skewer of meat around the skewers. Cook on a medium grill for about 2 minutes on each side. They can also be baked at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes, turning halfway.
• kofta meatballs: Follow the same steps as above, instead, make them into meatballs. Then place on a parchment lined baking sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 18-22 minutes until cooked.
• Kofta Ground Beef Bowl: For the quickest preparation, just boil ground beef, onions, garlic and spices in a skillet. Stir the parsley before serving.

Leftovers, frozen and meal preparation

These ground beef bowls are perfect for meal preparation.

• Leftovers: Store the remaining beef and Tzatziki in the refrigerator in an airtight container, respectively. Store in the refrigerator for 4-5 days.
• Preparation for meals: Pack your cereals and beef together. Then package the vegetables and Tzatziki separately. Reheat the beef and cereals in the microwave or skillet and add fresh toppings. If you don’t mind eating this cold, you can start with Tzatziki, then cereals, then beef, and then fresh vegetables and divide everything into containers.
• freezing: The beef can be frozen and stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 months. Tzatziki doesn’t freeze well.