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These easy Lamb Koftas are so quick to make and perfect for the grill, frying pan or barbecue. Succulent and full of unique flavour, this lamb mince recipe is the taste of summer holidays.
If there’s one food that makes me feel like I’m on holiday, it’s this really easy recipe for Lamb Koftas.
Add a big dollop of tzatziki and a Greek salad and I’m right there, imagining I’m sitting by the Mediterranean in the sunshine. 😎
I think we all need a bit of that right now (and always)?!
Serve this during the summer months on the barbecue, or any time of year under the grill or in a frying pan. The flavours are divine and it’s such an easy treat of a recipe.
Why you’ll love this recipe for lamb koftas
⭐️ Ideal for barbecue days
⭐️ Prepped in under 10 minutes
⭐️ The taste of a summer holiday
How I came up with this recipe
I wanted to make some summery kebabs with lamb mince because it’s SO flavourful, and Greek-style food never fails to transport me to the sunshine (even if it’s actually miserable outside).
Shop-bought kebabs for a barbecue just don’t have the same authenticity or satisfaction as homemade, so I got to work blending some simple ingredients to get that satisfying taste.
This recipe involves some very simple dry spices mixed with lamb mince (cumin, coriander, cinnamon and garlic powder) and it’s really quick and easy to cook – less than half an hour and you’re good to go.
I urge you to make the Tzatziki yoghurt dip for this too as it works perfectly with this dish!
More Summery lamb dishes…
Slow Cooker
Slow Cooker Lamb Orzo Stew {with Feta}
Slow Cooker Curries
Slow Cooker Lamb Curry {Easiest Ever Recipe!}
Lamb Koftas Ingredients
- Meat kebab meat – We’re using succulent lamb mince. It shapes really well into koftas
- Spices – A mixture of ground cumin, ground coriander, cinnamon and fresh mint give this an unmistakable flavour
- Garlic powder – You can use fresh if you like but this helps to get an even distribution
- For the tzatziki – A combination of Greek yoghurt (full fat or low fat), cucumber, garlic powder, olive oil, salt and lemon juice
How to make Lamb Koftas
1. Mix the kofta ingredients together in a bowl using clean hands.
2. Shape your koftas and pierce onto skewers.
3. Cook the koftas on each side for about 5 minutes or until browned all over and cooked through (see cooking options below).
4. Make your yoghurt dip and prepare your other sides.
OPTIONS for Cooking Lamb Kofta kebabs
✅ BBQ – Fire up the barbecue and cook it over the fire (or gas 😆)
✅ Grill – Heat up a hot grill on rainy days (or broiler if you’re in the USA)
✅ Frying pan or griddle pan – On the hob
NB. Whichever way you choose to cook these, each method takes about the same amount of time to cook through – approximately 15 minutes – but make sure there’s no pink mince in the middle before serving.
Substitutions
- Mince – This recipe would also work well with beef mince, or even turkey mince if you’re trying to cut down your fat intake
Leftovers
In the fridge These are delicious cold for a picnic or in a salad the following day.
In the freezer These are fine to be frozen before they’ve been cooked. Just make sure you defrost them thoroughly before eating them.
Top tips
Skewers
You can use wooden skewers (available from most supermarkets). Just be sure to soak them for at least an hour before using so they don’t burn.
I sometimes like to use a set of metal skewers from Amazon like these ones: Kitchen Craft Metal Skewers. They are reusable, so money saving long term and also won’t get burned on the BBQ.
FAQs
You can choose something simple like Greek Salad or Easy Flatbreads. Or you could have a few different BBQ sides like Couscous, Jacket Potatoes or Chips.
Yes! Try my really easy Lamb Keema curry or Shepherd’s Pie.
Let me know how you got on and what you thought of these recipes. Please rate the recipe using the ⭐️ below.
Also I’d LOVE to see your cooking creations. If you’d like to share yours with me, you can tag me on Instagram (@tamingtwins).
Lamb Koftas {with Tzatziki}
Ingredients
- 500 g Lamb mince, See notes
- 2 tsp Ground cumin
- 2 tsp Ground coriander
- 1 tsp Cinnamon
- 2 tsp Garlic powder, See notes
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 2 tbsp Fresh mint
For the tzatziki:
- 250 g Greek yoghurt, See notes
- 200 g Cucumber, Chopped into tiny cubes or grated
- 2 tsp Garlic powder, See notes
- 2 tsp Olive oil
- 0.5 tsp Salt
- 1 Lemon, Juice only
To serve:
- Greek salad
- Flatbreads, Or shop bought pittas, wraps or other breads
Instructions
For the koftas
- Mix the kofta ingredients together in a bowl using clean hands.
- Either form into 8 balls, burger shapes, or shape on to metal or wooden skewers (see notes below). When you're ready to cook…
To cook under the grill:
- Preheat your grill to a high heat. Add the koftas to the pan and cook the koftas, turning them regularly, until browned all over (approx. 15 minutes).
To cook on the BBQ:
- When your barbecue is up to heat, cook the koftas until browned all over (approx. 15 minutes), turning regularly.
To cook on the hob (on griddle pan or frying pan):
- Heat your pan until smoking hot. Cook the koftas on each until browned all over (approx. 15 minutes).
For the yoghurt tzatziki dip:
- Mix all of the ingredients together and refridgerate until ready to serve.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Wow this was amazing! I have tried to make similar recipes before and they all have been let downs. This did not disappoint! I did not have fresh mint so I swapped it for 1 tbs dried mint and put half of the cinnamon required. I did have fresh parsley, so added that in the mixture. They sell ground lamb in my country in 300 gram packages so I did have a little bit less meat but kept the amount of spices the same. This is a winner, this would be wonderful at a dinner party.
Made tonight, used garlic paste as didn’t have powder, absolutely delicious and a hit with husband and son. Cooked mine in the roasting oven of the Aga, 10 minutes turning half-way. Plenty of salad (husband has the remainder for lunch at work tomorrow 😉 ). Winner again, as are all the recipes I have tried from TT.
These are Great, used minced garlic from a jar, as don,t like garlic powder, minced much better.
Great simple recipe to make and eat with kids 👍
This is a regular in our house, very tasty and simple to put together.
We loved this recipe. Really easy to make. I might use slightly less garlic powder next time but other than that it was ace.
Thanks for the lovely comment Katy! x
Delicious recipe. Easy and quick to make. I used minced garlic and garlic powder. All ingredients I already had. Thank you 😊
Really enjoyed making the lamb koftas, my family really enjoyed it – whilst eating we reminisced about all our Greek holidays .
So easy to make and so tasty! The whole family loved them
Made these last night for our anniversary and they were delicious! I was worried about the amount of cinnamon that went in as this was literally all I could smell but they were great. I was surprised at how much they shrunk once cooked (cooked in the oven) but the flavour was perfect.
I made the mixture in the morning and kept them in the fridge all day these were just the easiest things to make and certainly wont buy ready made ones again!
Thank you Sarah!
Oh Emma, thanks so much for the lovely comment, I’m so happy you liked them!
These look awesome! I think you’ve got perfect flavours and textures on there from warm juicy meat to fresh cold salad and pittas to dunk in that yogurt dip. Thanks for visiting my comeback post, it means a lot to me!