Name: Beef Kofta Meatballs
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 12 min
Total time: 27 min
Ingredients: 1 pound 85% lean ground beef; 1/2 medium grated white onion; 1 chopped jalapeño (seeded for less spice); 1 egg; 1/4 cup plain dried bread crumbs; 1/2 cup chopped cilantro; 1/4 cup fresh chopped mint; 1 tbsp garam masala powder; 1/2 tsp black pepper (to taste); 1 tsp salt (to taste)

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Today we’re sharing an air fryer recipe that we’re so excited about. You know we love our air fryer and these beef kofta meatballs are so tender, juicy, and delicious thanks to it! Kofta is one of our family favorite recipes that is a surefire crowdpleaser.

We think you are bound to fall head over heels for this recipe!

What is kofta

Kofta is a type of meatball or meatloaf. It is almost always composed of minced or ground meat, spices, onions, and bread crumbs. This dish is popular across a variety of countries in Southeast Asia and the Middle East. Most commonly kofta is made from beef, but can also be made with lamb, chicken, or even seafood sometimes! In fact, if you are a fan of kofta, you have to check out our Easy Chicken Kofta.

Kofta can be cooked in a variety of ways. You can make kofta kebabs by rolling the meat into balls and arranging them on skewers with some veggies in between. We like to grill kofta kebabs when we are having a barbecue, but we have found that kofta kebabs can also be made in the oven! Sometimes kofta is rolled into an oval shaped piece of meatloaf. This shaping doesn’t really impact the cooking method you can use!

We absolutely love our air fryer, so it was a no-brainer to make this recipe in the air fryer. It is such a hands off way of cooking, and it is lower in fat than deep frying or pan frying. We highly recommend getting an air fryer if you don’t have one yet!

What is garam masala

Garam masala originated in India but is now a common spice blend used around the world. It directly translates to mean “Hot Spice/Sauce.” Every blend of garam masala might be slightly different, but for the most part it is composed of: cinnamon, peppercorns, cardamom, mustard seeds, coriander seeds, cloves, mace, and nutmeg.

Typically these spices in are toasted and ground to further bring out the flavors of the dish! You can use garam masala in a wide range of foods, everything from vegetables to meats. We love to use garam masala to season our beef kofta meatballs because of how dynamic it is!

Why we love beef kofta meatballs

These meatballs are such a simple, easy-to-make dish. It is a nutritious, hearty meal and the flavors are absolutely top-notch. Beef kofta is a versatile component in a meal. We love to serve with some pita, yogurt sauce, and veggies, but you could easily make a pita sandwich or a greek salad with them!

We love the light kick that the jalapeño gives, and we’re absolutely obsessed with the freshness the mint and cilantro bring to this recipe. In all, it’s a brilliant combination that’s as satisfying to eat as it is to make!

How to make beef kofta meatballs

Add ground beef, grated onion, jalapeño, bread crumbs, egg, cilantro, mint, garam masala powder, salt and pepper and to a large bowl.
Mix the everything together until the ingredients in the beef meatball mixture are evenly distributed.
Using a small ice cream scooper, scoop the meat mixture into your hand and shape into meatballs. If you don’t have an ice cream scooper you can use a heaping tablespoon!
Spray the air fryer and place meatballs inside in a single layer.
Set air fryer to 375 degrees F for 8-10 minutes.
Baking: Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Bake for 12-14 minutes or until cooked through.