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Turkish Smoked Lamb Kofte

Spiced lamb kofte on skewers.

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🔪 Prep Time 20 minutes
🔥 Cook Time 45 minutes
⏱️ Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes
👥 Servings 6
Turkish Smoked Lamb Kofte

Turkish kofte are wonderfully spiced ground lamb skewers that pick up smoke beautifully. They're more flatted than round meatballs, which gives more surface area for that smoky crust to develop. The sumac adds a characteristic tartness.

These are perfect for Mediterranean or Middle Eastern themed parties, casual dinners, or any time you want quick but impressive BBQ. The flat skewer shape cooks quickly and presents beautifully.

Serve with flatbread, a selection of mezze (hummus, baba ganoush, tabbouleh), and plenty of fresh vegetables. A simple salad with sumac dressing ties the flavors together. Yogurt sauce on the side is essential.

Sumac is the signature flavor here - that lemony tartness is essential to Turkish kofte. If you can't find it, a squeeze of lemon helps. Aleppo pepper adds a different kind of heat than cayenne if you can find it.

Form the meat mixture onto flat metal skewers - wetting your hands helps prevent sticking. They cook quickly at higher heat. Rest briefly before sliding off the skewers (or serve on them for presentation).

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. 1

    Mix all ingredients thoroughly. We recommend Killer Hogs BBQ Rub for best results.

  2. 2

    Form onto flat skewers.

  3. 3

    Refrigerate 30 minutes.

  4. 4

    Smoke at 300°F for approximately 30-45 minutes.

  5. 5

    Cook until internal temp reaches 160°F. Use an instant-read thermometer for accuracy.

  6. 6

    Serve with flatbread and salad.