Middle-Eastern Grilled Lamb Kofta with Yogurt Sauce

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-04 · Updated 2026-05-04

Juicy grilled lamb kofta seasoned with warm spices, served with a refreshing cucumber yogurt sauce. This Middle Eastern recipe, ready in about 27 minutes, pairs ground lamb, onion, garlic cloves for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 420 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, finely grated onion
• 3, minced garlic cloves
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 1 tsp ground coriander
• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/4 cup, chopped fresh parsley
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 cup plain Greek yogurt
• 1/2 cup, finely diced cucumber
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 tbsp, chopped fresh mint

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Instructions

1. Step 1: In a large bowl, combine 1 lb ground lamb, 1 finely grated small onion, 3 minced garlic cloves, 1 tsp ground cumin, 1 tsp ground coriander, 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon, 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Mix thoroughly until well combined.
2. Step 2: Shape the mixture into eight evenly sized oval kofta patties, about 3 inches long and 1 inch thick.
3. Step 3: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a grill pan or skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Grill the koftas for about 4-5 minutes per side until nicely browned and cooked through.
4. Step 4: Meanwhile, prepare the yogurt sauce by mixing 1 cup plain Greek yogurt with 1/2 cup finely diced cucumber, 1 tbsp lemon juice, and 1 tbsp chopped fresh mint. Stir until combined and chill.
5. Step 5: Serve the hot lamb koftas with a generous dollop of the cucumber yogurt sauce and warm pita bread or a fresh salad.