Chicken Kafta is a Middle Eastern chicken minced meat that is mix with spices and herbs. It is best to serve and eat with yogurt sauce and pita bread.
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When I was living in Kuwait and Jordan, Kafta or Kofta is the one most popular street food among locals. I have tried both chicken and beef kofta, which I find it delicious. Although Kafta is originated from Lebanon, it is a popular meat dish in Jordan, Syria, and other Arab countries.
Most of us are familiar with beef, but I have also tried chicken, which is so far my favorite. The first time I tried this dish was in a Lebanese restaurant in Kuwait. This kafta is made from a minced chicken, which is mix with different spices like cumin, coriander, or baharat spices. Furthermore, it can be in a meatball patties shape or a long cylindrical shape kebab.
With my food experience in the Middle East, and because I love this Lebanese chicken meat dish, I am inspired to make my version of an easy Chicken Kafta recipe in the shape of patties
Recipe Ingredient
As long you have the spices and herbs in your kitchen, the ingredients to make Chicken Kafta is simple.
MEAT: In this recipe, I am using ground chicken since we are making chicken kofta. If you have a food processor, you can instead use a chicken breast.
SPICES: There are two spices I am using: Allspice and cumin powder. If you have baharat spices, you can use it instead of cumin/allspice.
HERBS: I am using chopped coriander leaves in my kafta. But, you can also add parsley leaves if you like. Also, red onions are an important condiment to enhance the flavor of the meat. Make sure you chopped the onion into smaller pieces.
OTHER Ingredients: The recipe ingredient includes salt & black pepper for seasoning; olive oil; and cornstarch to help bind the meat mixture.
What do you serve this recipe with?
To me, when I am eating chicken kafta, I love to serve it with my Arabic Salad, Arabic Kuboos or Pita bread, and Yogurt Garlic Sauce. You can use other Middle Eastern salads like Tabbouleh or Fattoush Salad. However, the Fattoush salad works well only on rice.
You just put the kafta patties into pita bread, add the salad, and drizzle with yogurt sauce. And I promise you will love it since it is delicious and it blends well.
Furthermore, if you prefer rice over pita bread, you can switch with any yellow turmeric rice. I love to eat my chicken kofta kebab with rice and drizzle with the white sauce. Of course, don't forget to include the salad since this is an important side dish.
Step By Step Instruction
To make the Chicken Kafta, it is divided into 3 part: Mixing the Meat; Cooking the Kafta meat patties; and Baking in the oven.
I. Mixing the Meat
Firstly, once you chopped the coriander leaves and red onion, prepare a large bowl. Add the ground chicken, spices, herbs, and the rest into the large bowl. Use a wooden spoon or hand to mix them.
Optional: Cover it with plastic and store in the refrigerator overnight. This will help bind the meat together.
II. Cooking the Kafta Meat Patties
By using your clean hand, shaped the meat mixture into patties. Add olive oil to the large pan or skillet and once it is hot, add the meat patties.
Cook for 3 to 5 minutes or until the kafta patties turned brown. Flip it and repeat the process.
III. Baking in the oven
Preheat the oven in 180 C or 350 F. Put the cooked kafta patties into the tray to prepare for baking.
After a few minutes, transfer the tray into the oven and let it bake for 10 minutes. Once done, serve with yogurt white sauce, salads, and pita bread/rice. Bon Appetite.
Recipe Faqs
To reheat them, you can use the microwave in medium heat for 2 to 3 minutes. Or, if you prefer an oven, heat it in 180 C for 5 minutes.
Firstly, when I cooked in the pan, I was making the patties brown, which will help hold them together. That way, when baking in the oven, the meat will not fall apart.
Secondly, despite cooking in the pan, the minced chicken inside the patties is still raw. Baking in the oven will help cook the meat inside.
Yes, you can use shrimp, beef or Lamb, which they all work well.
If you want to know the recipe of Beef Kofta Kebab, you can check the link for full detail.
Other Middle Eastern Meat Recipes
Here are other delicious Middle Eastern Chicken & Beef Dishes you may like to try at home:
📋 Recipe Card
Chicken Kafta
Ingredients
- 500 gram of ground chickens
- 1 cup of chopped of coriander leaves
- 1 medium chopped red onions
- 1 teaspoon of cumin powder
- ½ teaspoon of allspice powder
- 1 tablespoon of cornstarch
- 2 tablespoon of olive oil
- Salt and Black Pepper for Taste
Instructions
- Mixing the Meat
- Add the ground chicken, chopped red onions, coriander leaves and the rest of the ingredient into the large bowl.
- Use your hand or large spoon to give a good mix. Set aside.
- Store in the refrigerator overnight to help bind the meat better (Optional)
Cooking the Kafta Meat Patties- Add olive oil in the pan or skillet
- Use your clean hand to shape the kafta meat into a patties
- Put into the Pan and cook for 3 to 5 minutes or till turns brown
- Flip to the opposite side and repeat the process.
- Once done, transfer them into the plate. Set aside.
Baking in the Oven- Preheat the oven in 180 C or 350 F
- Transfer the kafta patties into the baking tray
- Transfer the baking tray into the oven. Baked it for 10 minutes
- Once done, serve it with yogurt garlic sauce, arabic / tabbouleh salads and Flatbread or Rice.
I love all the spices and flavors in these patties and how easy they are to make. Great recipe!
Thank you Lauren. It is a delicious kafta kebab recipe.
I love the middle eastern spices in these koftas!
Kofta/Kafta are one of my favorite Middle Eastern meat dishes. This is our Arabian version of burger.
I always make these with beef but never with chicken. So good and a nice change!
Chicken works really well. It is even healthier since it contain less fats than beef.
I have all the ingredients to make this going to try it for dinner tonight it sounds so easy and delicious!
I am sure you are going to love my chicken kafta. Its delicious and easy too.
My husband is going to love this recipe! Looks so delicious and so tasty! I can't wait to give this a try!
Thanks Beth. Let me know if you already made it.