Baked Lebanese Shawarma Kofta Meatballs (Lamb or Chicken)

Baked Lebanese Shawarma Kofta Meatballs (Lamb or Chicken)

Safira

Lebanese-style kofta shawarma balls that are juicy, flavour-packed, and incredibly easy to make. These oven-baked meatballs are perfect for meal prep, rice bowls, wraps, and quick high-protein weeknight dinners.

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Prep Time 8

Cook Time 22

Total Time 30

Course Dinner, Lunch, Meal Prep

Cuisine Lebanese, Middle Eastern

Servings

Calories 469 kcal

Ingredients

1 Onion Diced finely, excess liquid squeezed out using a muslin cloth. (It is ok if some juice remains)
900 g Lamb Mince
Handful Parsley Leaves Chopped
4-5 Garlic Cloves Crushed
2 teaspoon Shawarma Spice Mix or Baharat Spice Mix
2 teaspoon Baharat Spice Mix or add more Shawarma Spice Mix
1 teaspoon Smoked Paprika
1 tablespoon Olive Oil
2 tablespoon Tomato Puree
1 teaspoon Salt
1 teaspoon Ground Black Pepper
1 Egg

Instructions

Prep - Preheat the oven to 180°C fan, 200 C, Gas Mark 6 and line a large tray or baking dish.
Mix - Add all the kofta ingredients to a large bowl and knead and mix with your hands until combined.
Shape - Use slightly wet or oiled hands to roll the mixture into evenly sized shawarma balls and place onto the tray. You will get around 24 balls.
Bake - Bake for 15 - 20 minutes until the kofta are cooked through and lightly golden.
Optional but recommeded - Grill for the final couple of minutes for extra colour.

Notes

Meal Prep Bowl Idea

This recipe is ideal for weekly meal prep because everything reheats beautifully without drying out. Build your bowls with:

- Roasted tray bake vegetables
- Rice, couscous, or quinoa
- Tabbouleh, Fattoush or Cucumber and Tomato Salad
- Pickled onions or Cabbage
- Garlic yoghurt sauce
- Fresh green herb sauce like zhug
Portion everything into containers and keep the sauces separate until serving for the best texture.

Tips

Don’t over mix the kofta mixture. It keeps them tender.
Use slightly wet hands when rolling to stop sticking.
Keep the kofta similar in size so they cook evenly.
Roast harder vegetables slightly longer if needed.
Cook a small test piece first if you want to adjust seasoning.
Spice levels are easy to customise.
Chicken mince works especially well with extra herbs and garlic.

How To Serve

These go with pretty much anything. Serve them over rice, tucked into warm flatbreads, or loaded into meal prep bowls with salad and sauces.

They’re especially good with garlic yoghurt, tahini, hummus, or a sharp green herb sauce for freshness. Or honestly, straight from the tray while still warm is also completely acceptable.

Storage

Fridge - Store in airtight containers for up to 4 days.
Freezer - Freeze cooked or uncooked for up to 3 months.
Reheating - Reheat in the oven or microwave until piping hot throughout.
Cooking From Frozen- Bake at 180°C fan for 20 to 25 minutes until fully heated through.

Nutrition

Calories: 469kcalCarbohydrates: 3gProtein: 26gFat: 38gSaturated Fat: 16gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 16gTrans Fat: 0.003gCholesterol: 137mgSodium: 495mgPotassium: 414mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 236IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 39mgIron: 3mg

Keyword baked kofta, chocolate oatmeal, high protein dinner, Lebanese kofta recipe, shawarma balls recipe

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