Lebanese Kafta Stew
  • Yield: 4
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 45 minutes
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Lebanese Kafta Stew

By December 14, 2018

 

Kafta is a lightly spiced meat, with finely chopped onions and parsley shaped into small patties, logs or balls. Cooked in a tomato sauce and simmered with potatoes, tomatoes and sometimes onions and peppers.  Kafta is one of those dishes, that can be eaten raw with fresh Extra lean meat, grilled in the summertime like kebabs and served with grilled tomatoes, hummus and pita bread or hearty stew for colder days.  Kafta Bil Saniyeh also known as kafta in the pan is baked in the oven like a casserole or cooked stove top for a more stew like dish, and almost always served with white vermicelli rice. Anyway you prepare it is sure to be a family favorite.

Ingredients

  • FOR THE MEAT
  • 1 ½ lbs lean ground beef
  • 1 medium white or red onion, finely diced or grated
  • 1 cup fresh parsley finely chopped, discard stems
  • 2 tbsp ground coriander
  • 2 tsp ground cumin
  • ¼ tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1 tsp ground allspice
  • 1 ½ tsp sea salt
  • 1 tsp of black pepper
  • 2 medium size potatoes, peeled and sliced
  • 2 tomatoes cut in wedges or round slices
  • FOR THE SAUCE
  • 2 tbsp of tomato paste •
  • 1 can (12oz) whole tomatoes, pureed
  • 4 cups of water
  • ½ tsp black pepper
  • ½ tsp dried basil
  • 1 tsp sea salt

Instructions

  • In a large bowl combine beef, grated onion, parsley, black pepper, kafta spice, half the salt (1 ½ tsp) and mix thoroughly with your hands until all ingredients are well combined. NOTE: If using food processor to chop parsley and onions, squeeze with the palm of your hands before adding it to the meat, getting rid it of all the excess water.

 

  • Divided mixture into equal sizes and shape into small patties.  Place on a oven safe tray and bake 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes.

  • Remove kafta patties from tray and arrange into a deep cooking pot.  Top the patties with the potato slices, followed by the tomato slices.

  • In a separate bowl, mix the tomato sauce, tomato paste, water, dried basil and remaining salt (1 tsp) and black pepper (1/2 tsp).

  • Pour evenly over the dish.  Cover and cook on high heat until it come to a boil, then reduce heat to low and let simmer for another 20 minutes or until potatoes are fork tender.

 

  • Serve hot aside Lebanese rice OR as is with pita bread.

Note: to make kafta bil Sanieh (oven baked kafta), place the patties in an oven safe deep casserole dish, then layer cooked patties, potatoes, tomatoes. Pour your sauce over and cover with foil. Bake in a preheated oven at 375 degrees for 25-30 minutes, then remove foil and bake for another 10 minutes. Carefully remove from oven and serve with Lebanese white rice.

 

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