• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
The Hungry Bites
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • Categories
    • Main Dishes
      • Beef and veal
      • Chicken and Poultry
      • Lamb and Goat
      • Pork
      • Fish and seafood
      • Other Meats
      • Legumes
      • Salad Meals
    • Side Dishes
    • Appetizers and Meze
    • Pasta and rice
    • Soups and stews
    • One pan - One pot
    • Air Fryer
    • Salads
    • Desserts and Sweets
      • Cakes
      • Cheesecakes
      • Cupcakes and muffins
      • Cookies
      • Chocolate
      • Ice Cream
      • Pies Bars and Tarts
      • Puddings, jams and creams
    • Breakfast and Brunch
    • Bread Recipes
    • Drinks
    • Dietary
      • Vegan
      • Vegetarian
      • Gluten-free
      • Healthy
  • The Mediterranean Diet
  • About me
    • Contact me
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Fall Favorites
  • Recipes
  • MDiet
  • About
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Fall Favorites
    • Recipes
    • MDiet
    • About
    • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×
    Home » Recipes » Main Dishes

    Minty Greek lamb kofta kebabs with yogurt & tomato sauce

    Published: Sep 26, 2018 by Makos

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Get ready to wow your friends and family with these flavorful minty Greek lamb kofta kebabs which are served with lots of pita bread, thick yogurt, and a fresh tomato sauce.

    Minty Greek lamb kofta kebabs with yogurt & tomato sauce 2

    These minty Greek lamb (kofta) kebabs may be huge crowd pleasers and perfect for gatherings and small parties but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t enjoy them for dinner with just your family!

    And of course, they’re best served with pita bread, thick Greek yogurt, and a fresh tomato sauce because all that sides freshen up the kebabs and help to cut down the heat, especially if you make them extra spicy.

    For this recipe to work best, the kebabs must be in contact with a hot surface while cooking which means that a griddle or a bbq is their best friend! If you absolutely have to, you can bake them in the oven, but they'll lack that extra smokiness that makes them extra special.

    Minty Greek lamb kofta kebabs with yogurt & tomato sauce

    Most people, when they hear about Greece, immediately think about Gyros or Souvlaki. But Greece should not be known only for its Souvlaki!

    There are a lot of other great dishes worthy of global recognition like this Fava (Greek yellow split pea puree), or this traditional fish soup (Psarosoupa) with potatoes and vegetables.

    And of course lets not forget this one-pan meatloaf with hard-boiled eggs baked with some potatoes for a complete and delicious dinner!

    However, there’s something about food on a stick that makes it so appetizing that I’ve even served some olive oil baklava fingers on skewers. These lamb kebabs are also served on a stick, but you can also make them like regular burgers since they’ll taste just as good (though they’ll be less fun 🙂 ).

    Minty Greek lamb kofta kebabs with yogurt & tomato sauce 6

    How to make moist and tender Greek Lamb kebabs

    The fat from the lamb and some olive oil help these kebabs stay juicy and tender. Also, a grated tomato and an onion, provide except flavor, extra moisture to the mixture.

    Most Greek recipes use a mixture of minced beef and lamb meat to make kebabs and that’s what I also use because the final dish is more balanced without any overwhelming taste from the lamb.

    If you totally love lamb then you can use only lamb and if you totally hate lamb, then you can substitute it with pork or use all-beef. If you use all-beef, add a couple extra tablespoons of olive oil (or butter), because beef is leaner than lamb.

    Mix very well and for a long time using your hands. A thorough mixing will break down the fibers of the meat and will make the kebabs more tender.  It will also help the moisture from the onion and the tomato to be absorbed by the meat, and will also make it more connective and stick on the skewers much better.

    Minty Greek lamb kofta kebabs with yogurt & tomato sauce 5

    How to handle the kebabs before and during cooking

    Use two skewers for each kebab. This helps the meat to stay on the skewers and not fall apart.

    Also, don’t try to lift or move the kebabs by the skewers while they’re still raw or during cooking. You must handle them the same way you would with any meat patty. So, grab the whole kebab with your hand to transfer it onto the griddle and use a spatula or tongs to flip them. Let the one side cook very well, then flip them to cook from the other side. Α hot, lightly oiled griddle will prevent them from sticking

    Don’t move the kebabs before they’re fully cooked because the meat will stick on the cooking surface.

    Minty Greek lamb kofta kebabs with yogurt & tomato sauce 4

    Some notes/tips:

    • This recipe uses half minced beef and half lamb. You can adjust the proportions to your liking, as long as the total weight of the meat remains the same.
    • The onion, the tomato, and the olive oil provide extra moisture and some healthy fat, making sure these kebabs stay juicy and tender.
    • You can increase the mint for a stronger mint flavor.
    • For easier shaping, wet your hands with wine (extra flavor) or water.
    • Soak the wooden skewers in water if you cook the kebabs over charcoals to prevent them from burning.
    • Don’t use the skewers for handling the kebabs when they’re still uncooked, because they’ll fall apart.
    Minty Greek lamb kofta kebabs with yogurt & tomato sauce 3

    You may like these similar recipes:

    Greek baked meatballs in tomato sauce (Soutzoukakia)

    Juicy Greek fried meatballs (keftedes)

    Mediterranean minced meat phyllo pie

    Share this post if you liked it (share buttons at the top!) and don’t forget to subscribe for new recipes or follow me on Instagram,   Pinterest,   Facebook

    Recipe

    Minty Greek lamb kofta kebabs with yogurt & tomato sauce feat.

    Minty Greek lamb kofta kebabs with yogurt & tomato sauce

    Makos
    Get ready to wow your friends and family with these flavorful minty Greek lamb kofta kebabs which are served with lots of pita bread, thick yogurt, and a fresh tomato sauce.
    5 from 3 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 20 minutes mins
    Cook Time 9 minutes mins
    Resting time 1 hour hr
    Total Time 29 minutes mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine Greek, Mediterranean
    Servings 7
    Calories 299 kcal

    Ingredients
     

    For the kebabs:

    • 1 pound (450 grams) minced beef
    • 1 pound (450 grams) minced lamb
    • 1 medium onion, grated
    • 1 medium tomato, grated
    • 3 tablespoons olive oil
    • 1 ¼ teaspoons fine salt
    • 1 tablespoon thyme
    • 1 tablespoon sweet paprika
    • ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
    • ½ teaspoon cinnamon
    • 2 teaspoons sumac
    • 14 spearmint (or mint) leaves, finely chopped
    • Freshly grated black pepper to taste
    • 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper, optional

    For the rest:

    • 28 wooden skewers
    • white wine for your hands when shaping the kebabs
    • some extra olive oil for the griddle
    • pita bread, strained Greek yogurt, and fresh tomato sauce for serving
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions
     

    • Transfer all the ingredients for the lamb kebabs to a large bowl and knead with your hands for 5 minutes until everything is well mixed and tender. Let the mixture rest in the fridge for at least 1 hour to firm up (you can also leave it overnight).
    • Wet your hands with some wine, take approximately half a cup of the mixture, and shape it into a cylinder like a sausage. Pierce with 2 skewers and transfer to a large plate. Continue with the rest of the kebabs.
    • Heat a griddle or a griddle pan over medium/high heat. Lightly brush it with some olive oil and cook the kebabs for about 4minutes each side, or until well browned (cooking time will depend on the temperature of the griddle and the thickness of the kebabs).
    • Serve with pita bread, strained Greek yogurt and fresh tomato sauce.

    Notes

    For the fresh tomato sauce: Finely chop 2 medium tomatoes and 1 medium red onion. Strain the mixure for 5 minutes through a strainer and transfer to a bowl. Mix with 1 teaspoon dried oregano, 1 tablespoon olive oil and a pinch of salt. Serve.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 299kcal
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    If you like this recipe, Pin it!

    Minty Greek lamb kofta kebabs with yogurt & tomato sauce 7

    More Mediterranean Main Dishes

    • Featured image of Mediterranean vegetable orzo pasta (orzotto).
      Mediterranean Vegetable Orzo Pasta (One Pot Recipe)
    • Featured image for spaghetti sauce with ground beef.
      Best spaghetti sauce with ground beef (ragu Bolognese)
    • Featured image for dry rub for beef short ribs.
      Best dry rub recipe for beef short ribs
    • Oven baked swordfish featured image.
      Oven baked swordfish recipe with lemon vinaigrette




    Vegan mixed berry smoothie without yogurt - featured image.

    Healthy mixed berry smoothie without yogurt (vegan)

    Greek yogurt substitute featured image.

    19 best Greek yogurt substitutes and how to use them

    See All Recipes →

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




      This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    1. Akhila@Pepper Delight

      October 01, 2018 at 5:38 pm

      These lamb kofta kebab looks divine!I can only imagine how wonderful this entire dish tastes!
      Stunning photos Makos♥️

      Reply
      • Makos

        October 05, 2018 at 8:15 pm

        Thanks Akhila! Too bad you're too far to share 🙂

        Reply
    2. Madison Smith

      October 04, 2018 at 11:27 am

      5 stars
      Hey Makos...am a big fan of kababs and this looks soo delicious & more yummy, i will definitely make this kababs...and this is perfect for get-together, some small parties....Thanks for sharing & keep shared your new amazing recipes......!

      Reply
      • Makos

        October 05, 2018 at 8:16 pm

        Thank you very much Madison! 🙂

        Reply
    3. Charity Kowalczyk

      December 02, 2019 at 11:15 pm

      5 stars
      Love your recipes! Please keep me on all new mailings!

      Reply
      • Makos

        December 02, 2019 at 9:33 pm

        Thank you so much Charity!
        It's been a while since I sent my last e-mail with new recipes, but I'll put that on my to do list 🙂

        Reply
    4. Alice Beef

      February 16, 2020 at 5:48 am

      It is the great recipe for me when i am looking for the new one to prepare the meaningful meal of my family. It is so delicious. Thank you so much for your tips.

      Reply
    5. KGL Staff

      August 20, 2020 at 10:16 am

      5 stars
      Your recipe gives me a lot of ideas to prepare the meaning birthday for my son. Thanks to your tips, i try to make them and he loves to eat so much. Thank you for your creative and sharing.

      Reply
      • Makos

        August 20, 2020 at 8:19 am

        Thank you!

        Reply
    6. Camila @ Microwave Choice

      September 12, 2021 at 9:46 pm

      Mouthwatering recipe! Sounds so yummy 🙂 This amazing recipe compels me to try it immediately. Thanks for the recipe.

      Reply
      • Makos

        September 12, 2021 at 6:48 pm

        Thank you very much!

        Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    author profile image.

    Hi, I’m Makos. I make traditional Mediterranean recipes more accessible to modern people. Sometimes I'll add a twist. Take a look!

    More about me →

    Fall Recipes

    • Easy red lentil and pumpkin velvet soup (Vegan) feat
      Creamy pumpkin soup recipe with red lentils (Vegan)
    • Light & creamy butternut squash risotto with mushroom chips featured
      Light & creamy butternut squash risotto with mushroom chips
    • Balsamic roasted vegetables featured image.
      Easy honey-balsamic roasted vegetables recipe
    • turkey chili thumbnail
      Turkey Chili (Mediterranean style recipe)
    • Creamy mushroom risotto without wine, featured image.
      Best creamy mushroom risotto recipe without wine
    • arugula-goat-cheese-green-apple-salad-1
      Arugula, goat cheese and green apple salad
    • homemade cinnamon rolls recipe with the best icing feat
      Homemade cinnamon rolls recipe with the best icing
    • whole wheat, olive oil & grated apple pancakes
      Best whole wheat, olive oil & grated apple pancakes

    Popular Recipes

    • Pastitsio recipe featured image
      Authentic Pastitsio recipe (traditional Greek lasagna)
    • Oven baked swordfish featured image.
      Oven baked swordfish recipe with lemon vinaigrette
    • israeli couscous salad with feta, featured image.
      Best Israeli couscous salad recipe (with feta)
    • Featured image for creamy Greek pasta salad.
      Creamy Greek pasta salad (with healthy yogurt dressing)
    • Easy spanakopita recipe featured image.
      Easy Spanakopita recipe (homemade Greek spinach pie)
    • Cooked Pearl couscous in a bowl - featured image.
      3 ways to cook Israeli couscous (pearl couscous recipe)
    • Italian almond cookies featured image.
      Easy Italian almond cookies recipe - soft amaretti
    • Featured image for Aperol Spritz cocktail.
      Aperol Spritz recipe (classic + 2 easy variations)

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    As Seen In

    GREATIST, Buzzfeed, Saveur, wellandgood, verywellfit, popsugar, everydayhealth, brit.co, Health.com, Livestrong, Thefeedfeed, Marie Claire, Thepappaspost.

    About

    • About Me
    • Privacy Policy
    • Accessibility Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Instagram
    • Facebook
    • YouTube

    Copyright © 2016-2023 The Hungry Bites