Kafta Spice

A Levantine seasoning for ground beef and lamb, built on a seven-spice base with cumin, cinnamon, coriander, cayenne and black pepper. It smells warm and slightly sweet from the cinnamon before the cumin and pepper come through, and the cayenne heat stays controlled rather than sharp.

The seven-spice blend gives the fragrant, layered foundation. Cumin adds warm earthy depth, cinnamon a soft sweetness that rounds the flavour, coriander light citrus notes that brighten the mix, and black pepper ties the spices together with its classic pungency.

How to use it

Most often mixed straight into ground meat for kafta, kofta and kefta, whether shaped onto skewers, pressed into patties or rolled into meatballs. It also works in rice dishes, stews and marinades. Use around a tablespoon per 500g of meat. Technique tip: knead the spice into the meat with grated onion and chopped parsley, then rest the mix in the fridge for an hour before shaping, so it binds to the skewer instead of sliding off over the grill.

Details

Also known as

Kafta Spice Blend, Kofta Spice, Kefta Spice, Middle Eastern Meat Spice, كفتة