Light & Easy Turkey Kofta Kebabs

I make turkey kofta kebabs all the time. They are so easy to put together, and all kinds of delicious. They’re loaded with heady spices and fresh herbs. We absolutely love them on my gluten-free flatbreads, but they work equally well over rice, or just a bed of greens.

Updated description, images, links, and recipe card on 5/27/22

Lately I have been thinking a lot about summer…our plans for travel and adventure, for sure…but mostly I’m thinking about the things I’d like to EAT & DRINK. It’s the tough life of a recipe developer. For us summer brings lots of grilling out-of-doors, family picnics, and concerts in the park, all of which are all about the food. I mean, seriously, how many of us go to a family reunion for the family?

C’mon…I’m just kidding. Sort of.

Soggy, store bought potato salad and mayo-laced ANYTHING is right out, in my humble opinion. But grilled meats like these turkey kofta kebabs, chopped veggie salads are not only totally transportable, they are freaking delicious.

Anyway, if you can’t wait until summer to make this, I don’t blame you…we had it last week. If it’s too cold to grill, broil the turkey kofta kebabs in the oven (or cook on the stove on a grill pan). And look for the ripest cherry tomatoes you can find (good luck with that). Don’t be intimidated by the length of the recipe. It has many parts, but the whole thing will come together in less than an hour, or broken up into smaller parts throughout the day (or even a day or two before).

Here’s are a few things you can serve with the Turkey Kofta Kebabs:

• Fast & Easy Gluten-Free Flatbread Recipe
• Your New Favorite Summer Salad – with Figs, Melon & Dukkah
• Zesty Artichoke Pasta Salad with Goat Cheese
• Asparagus with Burrata and Pistachio Salsa Verde

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Turkey Kofta Kebab w/ Tomato, Cucumber & Feta Salad

Alison Needham

Though kofta kebabs are typically made with ground lamb, turkey is a nice, light alternative. The meat can be seasoned and shaped around the skewers well in advance, so with a little prep & planning, dinner can be on the table quickly.

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Prep Time 30 minutes mins

Cook Time 16 minutes mins

Total Time 46 minutes mins

Course Main Course

Cuisine Greek, Indian, Turkish

Servings 4 people

Calories 335 kcal

Equipment

• 4 Metal Skewers

Ingredients

  

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For the Kofta

• 1¼ pounds ground turkey breast & thigh meat
• a handful of chopped roasted pistachios
• 1 tablespoon chili powder
• 1 tablespoon ground cumin
• 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
• 1 teaspoon salt
• zest from one lemon
• 1 tablespoon minced fresh mint leaves
• 2 minced garlic cloves

For the Salad

• 2 Persian cucumbers
• 1 pint cherry tomatoes
• ¼ cup red onion slivered
• ¼ cup Feta cheese crumbled
• juice from one lemon
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 tablespoon fresh mint minced
• salt and pepper to taste

For the Yogurt Sauce

• 1 cup lowfat Greek yogurt
• 1 Persian cucumber grated
• juice from half a lemon
• 1 tablespoon minced fresh mint leaves
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon ground cumin

Instructions

 

• Prepare the kofta. Place the turkey in a large mixing bowl. Add the pistachios, chili powder, cumin, paprika, salt, lemon zest and mint. Use your hands to gently and evenly mix in the spices. Divide the mixture into 4 balls, then evenly press the meat around 4 metal skewers, creating long sausages. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use, up to one day in advance…the earlier you do it the more flavorful the meat will be.
• Make the salad. Chop the cucumbers into a ½-inch dice and place in a bowl. Halve the cherry tomatoes and add to the cucumber. Toss in the sliced red onion and Feta cheese. Drizzle the top of the salad with the lemon juice and olive oil and toss well to evenly coat. Sprinkle the top of the salad with the fresh mint, and salt and pepper to taste, and set aside at room temperature for up to one hour.
• Make the yogurt sauce. Whisk the yogurt, grated cucumber, lemon juice, mint, salt and cumin together in a small bowl. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.
• Cook the meat. Grill it directly over hot coals or gas grill for 8 minutes per side, or until cooked through. Alternately, place the oven rack 4 inches below the broiler and broil for 8 minutes per side, or until cooked through. Remove the meat from the skewers and break up into chunks.
• To serve, pile the meat, salad, and yogurt sauce over warm flatbread.

Notes

Serve with warm flatbread or over rice.

Nutrition

Serving: 1skewerCalories: 335kcalCarbohydrates: 12gProtein: 43gFat: 14gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 90mgSodium: 978mgPotassium: 856mgFiber: 3gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 1890IUVitamin C: 29mgCalcium: 166mgIron: 4mg

Keyword Turkey Kofta Kebab

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