Spiced Beef and Lamb Kofta with Tzatziki and Pita

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-06-28 · Updated 2026-06-28

Juicy ground beef and lamb kofta seasoned with warm spices, grilled to perfection and served with cooling cucumber tzatziki and warm pita bread for a Mediterranean feast. This Middle Eastern-inspired beef recipe (mediterranean), ready in about 32 minutes, pairs ground beef, ground lamb, onion, finely grated 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

• 8 oz ground beef
• 8 oz ground lamb
• 1 small onion, finely grated
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 1 tsp ground coriander
• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 cup Greek yogurt
• 1/2 medium cucumber, grated and drained
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 garlic clove, minced (for tzatziki)
• 4 pieces pita bread

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Instructions

1. Step 1: In a large bowl, combine 8 oz ground beef, 8 oz ground lamb, 1 small finely grated onion, 2 minced garlic cloves, 1 tsp ground cumin, 1 tsp ground coriander, 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon, 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Mix gently until just combined.
2. Step 2: Shape the mixture into 8 oval koftas about 3 inches long. Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a grill pan or skillet over medium-high heat. Cook koftas for 4-5 minutes per side until browned and cooked through.
3. Step 3: Meanwhile, prepare the tzatziki by combining 1 cup Greek yogurt, 1/2 medium grated and drained cucumber, 1 tbsp lemon juice, and 1 minced garlic clove in a small bowl. Stir well and season with a pinch of salt.
4. Step 4: Warm 4 pieces pita bread in the oven or on a skillet. Serve the koftas with pita and a generous dollop of tzatziki on the side.