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lamb kebabs — Mediterranean Diet Hub

lamb kebabs

Lamb kebabs offer juicy grilled flavor in just 30 minutes. Quick-cooking spices and a tangy yogurt sauce keep every bite tender and vibrant.
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Total Time 31 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Calories: 430
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Kebabs
  • 500 g ground lamb
  • 0.5 unit onion finely grated
  • 2 clove garlic minced
  • 1 tablespoon parsley chopped
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 0.5 teaspoon ground coriander
  • 0.5 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 0.5 teaspoon salt
  • 0.25 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
Yogurt sauce
  • 120 g Greek yogurt
  • 0.5 unit lemon zest and juice
  • 1 tablespoon mint finely chopped
  • 1 tablespoon parsley finely chopped
  • 0.25 teaspoon salt

Method
 

Kebabs
  1. Combine ground lamb, grated onion, minced garlic, parsley, cumin, coriander, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper in a large bowl. Mix with your hands until well combined, but don’t overwork—just until everything sticks together.
  2. Rub a little olive oil on your hands (this stops the meat from sticking), then divide the mixture into 8 portions. Shape each onto a skewer, pressing into a long sausage shape about the width of two fingers.
  3. Preheat your grill or a grill pan. I check that it’s hot enough by flicking a drop of water—if it sizzles away fast, you’re good. Drizzle the kebabs with olive oil on all sides.
  4. Grill kebabs for 3–4 minutes per side, turning once, until browned with crispy edges and cooked through. If using a pan, don’t crowd them—work in batches if you need space.
Yogurt sauce
  1. In a small bowl, mix Greek yogurt, lemon zest, lemon juice, mint, parsley, and salt. Stir until smooth. I taste once after the first squeeze of lemon and add more if I want sharper flavor.
Serving
  1. Serve the lamb kebabs hot with the yogurt sauce on the side, plus lemon wedges and pita if you want. If the kebabs rest for more than a few minutes, cover loosely with foil to keep them warm—just not airtight, or they steam instead of staying crisp.

Notes

When it’s grilling season and I want something that feels a little special but isn’t fussy, I reach for lamb kebabs with this fast yogurt sauce. There’s real flavor here, start to finish—the spices and herbs do the heavy lifting.

Tips for juicy kebabs and bright sauce

Don’t skip grating the onion—it disappears into the mix but keeps the meat super moist. I tried chopping it once, and the kebabs turned out uneven. Also, using your hands to mix helps you feel when everything sticks together without over-blending, which can make the kebabs tough.
If you’re short on time, you can prep the kebab mixture in the morning and let it rest in the fridge all day. Chilling also makes shaping easier because the meat firms up a bit. The olive oil on your hands trick is my go-to for getting the kebabs to cooperate when shaping, especially with leaner lamb.
For the yogurt sauce, taste after the first round of lemon—lemons differ! Don’t worry about perfect measurements or mincing the herbs perfectly. Flavors meld as it rests.

Substitutions and swaps

If you can’t find ground lamb, ground beef or a 50/50 beef and turkey blend works. Beef gives you similar richness; turkey is lean but gets a lift from the yogurt dip.
Don’t try making these with chicken breast—it dries out too fast unless you add a little olive oil or Greek yogurt to the mix, and even then you lose some of that signature kebab juiciness.

Meal prep and leftovers

I often double the kebab mix, shape extras, and freeze them raw (laid flat, not touching, then bagged once frozen). You can grill straight from frozen—just add a few minutes to the cook time.
Leftover kebabs keep well in the fridge for up to 3 days. I slice them cold for salads or tuck into pita with extra yogurt sauce for a quick lunch.