A creative twist on the traditional Middle Eastern recipe: Thai beef koftas with a coconut curry dipping sauce! Similar to a meatball, it is wrapped around a skewer and grilled on the barbecue.
When it comes to ground beef, our usual recipes are taco casserole, beef taquitos and meatballs. But sometimes? It's fun to get out of our comfort zone and try something new. And these Thai beef koftas are fun, tasty, and just a little bit different!
In case you are not familiar with a kofta, it's a traditional Middle Eastern recipe made with ground beef, ground lamb, garlic, parsley and a whole bunch of delicious spices, all processed together and wrapped around a skewer. Koftas are often cooked on the grill, though there are so many different types and preparation methods that vary by region. Here's a great looking authentic kofta kebab recipe, if that's what you are looking for.
This recipe? This is not authentic, this is a fun little remix using Thai flavors!
Reasons you'll ♡ Thai beef koftas
- it's a delicious and unique way to prepare ground beef
- they cook on the grill for easy clean up
- the flavors of the beef koftas are fantastic, especially with the coconut dipping sauce!
How to prepare koftas
As mentioned, there are many different ways to prepare a kofta, depending on the region. They can be shaped into balls or patties, or shaped around skewers and grilled. For this recipe, I went kebab style as it's fun and easy to prepare.
Before you start preparing the meat, it's important to soak your skewers in water. This helps prevent the skewers from burning badly and breaking off.
Once skewers are soaking, we get to work on the meat. Mix together all ingredients except for the beef in a large bowl: we are using minced garlic, fish sauce, brown sugar, lime juice, Thai red curry paste, salt and worcestershire sauce. Add the beef and mix everything together using a fork or your hands.
Next, we can form 'elongated meatballs' around the skewer. You can make them fat, as pictured, but be warned that they can be quite heavy on the skewers. Another option is to make them longer and narrower, but covering the length of the skewer. This will cook through more evenly than the meatball shape.
Grilling the koftas
To grill the koftas, heat a barbecue to medium heat. Grease the grill with a little oil, then carefully place the koftas onto the grill. Cook for 8-10 minutes total, turning the koftas every 2 minutes. If you are unsure of whether they are cooked through, check with a digital thermometer to ensure they reach an internal temperature of 160°F. Remove from the heat and allow to rest for 3-5 minutes before serving.
The coconut dipping sauce
While the Thai beef koftas have plenty of flavor on their own, the coconut dipping sauce is the perfect accompaniment. To prepare the sauce, whisk together coconut milk, Thai red curry paste, lime juice, fish sauce, brown sugar, soy sauce and sesame oil. The flavors are similar to a creamy coconut Thai curry sauce, and go perfectly with the rich flavors of ground beef.
Recipe tips
- this recipe should work with ground turkey; make sure avoid a lean ground turkey and to cook to an internal temperature of 165°F
- when forming the koftas, do not exceed 2 tablespoons per kofta, as they will be too heavy for a wooden skewer
- be sure to soak wooden skewers for at least 30 minutes before grilling to prevent them from burning and breaking
- to form the koftas, I found it easiest to mash together in my hands first, then roll out gently, then stick the skewer through the center
- the koftas are delicate when raw, but after searing, they firm up nicely
- leftovers can be kept for up to 4 days in the fridge. Reheat on the grill or in a covered frying pan.
What to serve with this recipe
Since you have the grill fired up, it's a great opportunity to serve with some grilled sides or a fresh salad:
- Grilled Sweet Potato Rounds
- Unbelievably Crispy Grilled Potatoes
- Balsamic Grilled Zucchini
- Grilled Zucchini with Lemon and Parmesan
- Summer Couscous Salad
- Orzo Pasta Salad with Feta and Mint
More easy dinners
- Healthy Taco Salad
- Teriyaki Salmon Glaze
- Easy Sweet Chili Shrimp Stir Fry
- Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas
- Zucchini Noodle Pad Thai
Thai Beef Koftas with Coconut Sauce
Ingredients
Coconut Sauce:
- ½ cup coconut milk (well shaken)
- 1 teaspoon Thai red curry paste
- 2 teaspoons lime juice
- 2 teaspoons fish sauce
- 3 teaspoons brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
Thai Beef Koftas
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 tablespoon ginger (minced)
- 1 tablespoon fish sauce
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
- 1 teaspoons Thai red curry paste
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon worcestershire sauce
- 1 lb lean ground beef (450 g)
Instructions
- Soak 15 or so wooden skewers in water 30 minutes before preparing the recipe.
- Pre-heat grill to medium-high.
- Shake together all coconut sauce ingredients. You may need to shake for a few min to get the curry paste completely dissolved. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, mix together all kofta ingredients except the beef. Whisk until curry paste is completely dissolved. Add the ground beef and mix until completely combined. The easiest way to do this is to use your hands to mix it up.
- Form 'elongated meatballs'. Do not exceed 2 tablespoons per kofta, as this gets very heavy on the skewer and difficult to handle/cook through. It is easiest to mash together in your hands first, then roll out gently, then stick the skewer through the center.
- Grill over medium heat, turning every 2 or so minutes for 8-10 minutes, until they are cooked through completely.
- Serve with coconut sauce.
Notes
- Ground turkey- avoid a lean ground turkey. Cook to an internal temperature of 165°F
- Ground pork- cook to an internal temperature of 165°F
- Ground lamb- cook to an internal temperature of 160°F
- Ground chicken- avoid as is lean and may dry out on the grill
- do not exceed 2 tablespoons per kofta, as they will be too heavy for a wooden skewer
- the koftas are delicate when raw, but after searing, they firm up nicely
