Egyptian · main
Kofta (Grilled Spiced Meat Skewers)
Kofta (Grilled Spiced Meat Skewers) reads umami 8.5, richness 5.3 and allium 3.7 on Palate's 0–10 flavor X-ray — a Egyptian main, about 40 min. Measured from the recipe itself: ingredients and technique.
The flavor X-ray — six axes, 0–10
- Umami & Savory — 8.8 / 10
- Sweet & Fruity — 1.8 / 10
- Sour & Bright — 1.3 / 10
- Bitter & Earthy — 3.1 / 10
- Rich & Fat — 5.6 / 10
- Aromatic & Spice — 4.4 / 10
The measured notes (of 18)
Umami 8.5 · Richness 5.3 · Allium 3.7 · Herbaceous 3.5 · Salinity 3.2 · Warm Spice 3.0 · Earthy 2.7 · Bitterness 1.8 · Sweetness 1.5 · Floral 1.4 · Heat 1.0 · Citrus 1.0 · Nutty 0.9 · Sourness 0.8 · Fruity 0.8 · Smoke 0.6
What's in it (10)
- 1.5 lbs ground beef
- 1 onion, grated
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp coriander
- 1/4 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp allspice
- 1 tsp paprika
- salt to taste
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
Time & effort: about 40 min (25 min active) · effort: easy
Nutrition (per 100 g, engine-estimated): 109.7 kcal, 17.9 g protein, 3.3 g fat, 2.5 g carbs
Dietary: Contains meat — engine-derived; double-check anything allergy-critical.
How it's cooked (4 steps)
- Combine ground meat with grated onion, parsley, and all spices, mixing vigorously until cohesive and sticky.
- Mold the mixture in long sausages around flat metal skewers.
- Grill over charcoal or a hot grill, turning frequently, until cooked through and charred in spots.
- Serve with flatbread, salad, and tahini.
Dishes with a similar flavor shape
- Greek-Style Beef Kofta Skewers — Greek
- Hawawshi — Egyptian
- Kafta (Spiced Ground Meat Skewers) — Lebanese
- Kefta Tagine with Eggs (Tagine Kefta Mkaouara) — Moroccan
- Grillades and Grits — Cajun/Creole
Keep reading: what umami, richness, allium mean in the flavor lexicon · the world's cuisines, by flavor.
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Every number above is Palate's engine-measured estimate, computed from this recipe's ingredients and techniques — not human-tasted ratings or reviews.