Spiced Beef Kebabs with Creamy Yogurt Sauce

Name: Spiced Beef Kebabs with Creamy Yogurt Sauce
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 6 servings
Cuisine: Middle Eastern
Ingredients: 2 pound ground beef (lean); 0.5 cup fresh parsley (chopped); 0.5 cup yellow onion (finely minced); 3 clove garlic (minced and minced, for sauce); 1 tablespoon ground cumin; 1 teaspoon ground coriander; 1 teaspoon smoked paprika; 0.5 teaspoon cayenne pepper; 2 tablespoon olive oil; 1 cup basmati rice (uncooked); 1.5 cup water or chicken broth; 1 cup plain Greek yogurt; 1.5 tablespoon lemon juice; 1 tablespoon fresh mint or dill (chopped); 1 cucumber (large, diced); 1 pint cherry tomatoes (halved); 1 teaspoon salt; 0.5 teaspoon black pepper

Flavorful ground beef kebabs seasoned with aromatic Middle Eastern spices, served with fluffy basmati rice, a refreshing cucumber tomato salad, and a cooling lemon-yogurt sauce.

Prep: 25 min
Cook: 20 min
Total: 45 min
Servings: 6
Cuisine: Middle Eastern
Difficulty: Medium
Cost: $4.85/serving

Dietary

Egg-Free
Gluten-Free
Nut-Free
Soy-Free
High-Protein

Ingredients

2 pound ground beef (lean)
0.5 cup fresh parsley (chopped)
0.5 cup yellow onion (finely minced)
3 clove garlic (minced and minced, for sauce)
1 tablespoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
0.5 teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 tablespoon olive oil
1 cup basmati rice (uncooked)
1.5 cup water or chicken broth
1 cup plain Greek yogurt
1.5 tablespoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon fresh mint or dill (chopped)
1 cucumber (large, diced)
1 pint cherry tomatoes (halved)
1 teaspoon salt
0.5 teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

Preheat oven broiler or outdoor grill. If using wooden skewers, soak them in water for at least 30 minutes.
In a large bowl, combine 2 pounds ground beef, 1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley, 1/2 cup finely minced yellow onion, 2 minced garlic cloves, 1 tablespoon ground cumin, 1 teaspoon ground coriander, 1 teaspoon smoked paprika, optional 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper. Mix thoroughly but gently to combine.
Form the mixture into elongated kebab shapes around skewers or into small, oval patties if not using skewers.
Cook 1 cup basmati rice with 1 1/2 cups water or chicken broth according to package directions. Keep warm.
For the yogurt sauce, combine 1 cup plain Greek yogurt, 1 minced garlic clove, 1 1/2 tablespoons lemon juice, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and optional 1 tablespoon chopped fresh mint or dill. Stir well and refrigerate until serving.
For the salad, combine 1 large diced cucumber and 1 pint halved cherry tomatoes in a bowl. Drizzle with 1 tablespoon olive oil and season with a pinch of salt.
Brush kebabs lightly with the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil. Broil or grill for 12-18 minutes, turning occasionally, until cooked through and nicely browned on all sides.
Serve the spiced beef kebabs immediately with basmati rice, creamy yogurt sauce, and the cucumber tomato salad.

Notes

If you don't have skewers, you can form the beef mixture into small patties and pan-fry them or bake them in the oven. For a vegetarian option, substitute ground beef with a plant-based ground meat alternative.

Nutrition (per serving)

Calories: 605
Protein: 54.2 g
Carbohydrates: 44.1 g
Fat: 23.5 g
Fiber: 5.8 g
Sodium: 780 mg
Saturated Fat: 8.7 g
Sugar: 5.1 g
Cholesterol: 130 mg