Grilled Lamb Koftas with Sumac Yogurt and Pickled Red Onions

By Lauren Mitchell, Test Kitchen Director · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-06-01 · Updated 2026-06-01

Juicy grilled lamb koftas seasoned with warm spices, served with tangy sumac-spiced yogurt and bright pickled red onions. This middle eastern-inspired lamb ready in about 30 minutes pairs ground lamb, small, grated onion, minced garlic cloves for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 480 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground lamb
• 1 small, grated onion
• 2 cloves, minced garlic cloves
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 1 tsp ground coriander
• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 cup plain Greek yogurt
• 1 tsp, divided sumac
• 1 medium, thinly sliced red onion
• 1/2 cup white vinegar
• 1 tbsp sugar
• 1/2 cup water
• 2 tbsp chopped, for garnish fresh parsley
• for serving pita bread

Instructions

1. Step 1: In a bowl, combine 1 lb ground lamb with 1 grated small onion, 2 minced garlic cloves, 1 tsp ground cumin, 1 tsp ground coriander, 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Mix gently until just combined.
2. Step 2: Divide the mixture into 8 equal portions and shape each into a long oval kofta on skewers or by hand. Brush each with 2 tbsp olive oil.
3. Step 3: Prepare pickled onions by whisking 1/2 cup white vinegar, 1/2 cup water, and 1 tbsp sugar until sugar dissolves. Place 1 thinly sliced medium red onion in the pickling liquid and let sit for at least 30 minutes.
4. Step 4: Preheat grill or grill pan to medium-high heat. Grill the lamb koftas for 4-5 minutes per side until browned and cooked through.
5. Step 5: In a small bowl, mix 1 cup plain Greek yogurt with 1/2 tsp sumac. Serve the koftas with sumac yogurt, pickled red onions, chopped 2 tbsp fresh parsley, and warm pita bread.