Warm-Spiced Lamb Kofta with Tzatziki
Juicy lamb kofta spiced with warm Mediterranean herbs and served with a cool, creamy cucumber tzatziki sauce. This Mediterranean-inspired lamb recipe, ready in about 35 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 390 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
- 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
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 1/2 medium, peeled and grated cucumber
- 1 tbsp, chopped fresh dill
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 2 tbsp for cooking kofta olive oil
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Equipment for this recipe
Tools this recipe's steps call for, with a link to each on Amazon.
Instructions
- Step 1: In a large bowl, combine 1 lb 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 well until all ingredients are evenly incorporated.
- Step 2: Shape lamb mixture into 8 oval kofta, about 3 inches long. Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook kofta for 5-6 minutes per side until well browned and cooked through to 160°F internal temperature.
- Step 3: Meanwhile, prepare tzatziki by draining excess water from 1/2 medium peeled and grated cucumber. In a small bowl, mix cucumber with 1 cup plain Greek yogurt, 1 tbsp chopped fresh dill, and 1 tbsp lemon juice. Season with a pinch of salt.
- Step 4: Serve warm lamb kofta with a generous dollop of the tzatziki sauce.









