Kabab Tabei is a quick and easy Persian ground beef kabob that needs no grill or skewers. These nicely spiced pan kebabs are seared to juicy perfection. An unbeatable way to satisfy your Persian food craving.
We love to have them with some Persian Barbari Bread and sides.
Persian Ground Beef Kabobs
When you crave for the famous Persian kabobs but don't want to use a grill or skewers, this easy Persian Pan kebab comes to the rescue.
It is prepared with spiced ground meat mixture and cooked in a pan or skillet. You can literally make this no-grill kebab any day with easily available ingredients that most of us have at home.
Ingredients
Ground Meat, Grated Onions, Dried Mint, Grated Garlic, Spices, Salt
- Ground Meat: Typically made with ground beef and lamb. But you can make it with veal, goat, chicken or turkey as well. Meat with 10 to 15 percent fat is often used. For very lean meat, be sure to use sufficient oil to pan fry the kababs. Also use ingredients to add juiciness - such as, grated onions or grated zucchini.
- Grated Onions: This imparts good flavor and juiciness. Onion flavor is a characteristic hallmark of Persian kabobs.
- Spices: I use paprika (optional), sumac, advieh or kabob spice blend, ground coriander, turmeric and ground black pepper. Smoked paprika would be wonderful to use - that and sumac give a nice kabob flavor.
- Optional: chopped herbs, cracked red pepper
How to Make Kabab Tabei
Brief overview below. *Full recipe at the end of blog post.
- Combine all ingredients and knead well.
- Heat oil in a skillet at medium high.
- Shape meat mixture into a thick round disc and transfer to skillet. Press the mixture to edge of the skillet.
- Cook it for couple minutes and cut out 1½ inch wide strips.
- Then flip the kababs and cook until dark brown. Flip them again and cook the other side until done.
- You can also pan sear some tomatoes, shallot halves and peppers.
How to Make it in Oven
Shape a 10-inch flat meat patty on a parchment paper lined baking sheet and broil couple minutes until light golden brown.
Flatten meat patty slightly and cut out 1.5 inch wide strips. Flip meat strips and broil until dark brown. Then flip the kebabs again and broil until dark brown on other side.
How to Serve Persian Kabobs
- Serve with steamed saffron rice and pan seared or roasted vegetables, salads and doogh.
- You can also make sandwiches and wraps with flatbreads or pita bread.
- Bake some buns using this honey wheat roll dough and fill with shredded or sliced pan kebabs, roasted or salad vegetables, pickles, sandwich spreads and hot sauce if you prefer.
Meal Prep and Make Ahead
Prepare the ground meat mixture a day ahead. Reheat kebabs in a skillet or oven by spraying a little bit of water to keep them juicy.
Storage and Reheating
Refrigerate leftovers in airtight containers. You can also freeze the cooked kabobs. Thaw and reheat as above.
Or place kebabs over rice and reheat together. The steam will heat up the pan kebabs without drying them out.
Nutrition Facts
Ground beef and lamb are a good source of high quality protein, B vitamins, zinc, selenium and iron. However, choose moderation when it comes to red meats.
And always pair kabobs with lots of vegetables at the meal. Choose grass fed meats for better nutrition quality.
This is a low carb, gluten free, high protein, egg free, dairy free, nut free and soy free recipe. Lower the salt to make it low sodium.
More Meat Recipes
Full Recipe Video
★ DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE? PLEASE COMMENT AND GIVE IT A STAR RATING BELOW!
Kabab Tabei (Persian Ground Beef Kabobs)
Ingredients
- 1 yellow onion large
- 1 pound ground beef lamb or combination
- 1 teaspoon dried mint
- 2 cloves garlic grated
- 1 teaspoon sumac
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika optional
- 1 teaspoon advieh Persian stew spice or kebab spice mix
- ½ teaspoon turmeric
- ½ teaspoon ground coriander
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons avocado oil or peanut oil, there will be leftover after cooking
Optional (Recommended)
- cherry tomatoes or grape tomatoes
- shallot halves or red onion quarters
- jalapeños or anaheim peppers
Instructions
- Grate onion and squeeze out the juice. You should have about ⅔ cup grated onions.
- Combine all ingredients in a mixing bowl and knead well for 5 minutes, like you would do with dough. The mixture should be smooth, moist, and easy to shape.Tip: You could do this in a stand mixer.
- Heat oil in a 10 inch cast iron skillet at medium high.
- Shape the meat mixture into a round and flat 8-inch disc on a plate lined with parchment paper.
- Slide your palm under the parchment paper and meat disc. Then flip it onto the hot skillet and peel the parchment paper. Using a wide spatula or your fingers, gently press and spread the mixture to the edge of skillet. (Check VIDEO)
- Lower the heat to medium and cook meat patty for 3 minutes. Using a butter knife cut out 1½ inch wide strips.
- Flip the strips, one by one, using two forks or a fish spatula and a fork. Flatten the strips slightly and then cook the kebabs for 4 to 5 minutes until dark brown on the side touching the skillet.
- Flip kabobs and cook the other side for another 2 minutes until dark brown. Overall, it should take about 5 minutes cooking time on each side. Once well done, transfer to a plate lined with paper towels.Tip: Cook for short time at optimal heat for juicy kebabs. Longer cooking times over low heat will not give you juicy kabobs.
- Serve easy pan kebabs with rice or flatbread or make sandwiches and wraps.
Seared Vegetables (Optional)
- Wipe off the skillet with a paper towel. Raise the heat to medium high. Place shallot halves and peppers. Drizzle some oil as needed, while cooking.
- After searing on one side, flip the vegetables and add cherry tomatoes. Cook tomatoes and other vegetables on all sides until edges are dark brown.
Kebabs in Oven (Broiling Method)
- Press the meat mixture into a 10-inch disc on a greased baking sheet and broil on high for 2 to 3 minutes until light golden brown.
- Take out the baking sheet, flatten the meat patty slightly with a wide spatula. Using a sharp knife cut out 1½ inch wide strips.
- Flip the meat strips and broil at high for 4 to 5 minutes until dark golden brown. Then flip the kebabs again and broil couple minutes until dark brown on the other side.
Notes
- Ground meat with 10 to 15 percent fat is often used. Beef, lamb, goat, veal, chicken or turkey will work.
- Skillet: Cast iron skillet works pretty well, cooking the kabobs in a short time with good heat conduction, imparting a nice sear and flavor.
- Make Ahead: Prepare the ground meat mixture a day ahead.
- Storage: Refrigerate leftovers in airtight containers. Cooked kabobs can be frozen for couple months. Thaw and reheat as below.
- Reheating: It can be reheated in a skillet or oven by spraying a little bit of water to keep them juicy. Or place kebabs over rice and reheat together. The steam will heat up the kebabs.
- Nutrition Facts: Are for broiled kabab tabei made with 90 percent beef. When fried in pan, some fat from the meat melts into the skillet, while some oil may be absorbed. And some oil from cooked kabobs may also be absorbed by the paper towels.
Paul:-)
Hi Roxana,
We have just had this for our evening meal and both of us REALLY enjoyed it! Subtle spicing really complimented the Lamb without overpowering it.
I was worried that the patty would break up but after successfully turning them everything turned out fine.
Thanks again for a wonderful recipe
Paul:-)
TerriB
Made these for dinner tonight and they were a huge hit! The spices are not the normal ones you would have at home, but oh so worth stocking in your pantry. Very glad I did not go with another recipe that had fewer ingredients because these spices are what make the kabobs great! A little tip...don't walk away, they cook fast! Mine were a bit over done, but they still pared great with yogurt sauce, basmati, tomatoes and broccoli! Thanks for this recipe, it's now in my rotation!
Roxana Begum
So happy that you like it Terri.
Anonymous
It’s missing the heat temperature for the oven. I’m trying the recipe but I realized last minute that I have to guess the temperature.
Roxana Begum
The recipe says "broil at high".
Patricia Johnstone
Hello, could you tell me what kind of pan you used? Was it non stick or an iron skillet? Easy and delicious way to make kabobs!
Roxana Begum
Iron Skillet.
Moira
This is absolutely delicious whether with beef/chicken/turkey/pork or a combination!!
I have gone back and made this over and over for my family and friends
Sharlene Brown
Thrse were soòo tasty and authentic! I had them in pita bread with humus, lettuce, tomatoes and avocado. Delicious ????
Michelle
I love how flavorful this is! You would never believe that it was so quick and easy!
Lisa | Garlic & Zest
Your technique really intrigues me. Just looking at them, I would have thought you had formed these kebabs around a skewer individually. Never would have guessed your method.
Roxana Begum
Yeah its a very handy technique. We love the results.
Priya Lakshminarayan
It's always so fascinating to know about different cuisines around the world. This looks so delicious
Elaine
I love that you don't need grill or skewers to make this delicious kabob. Amazingly delicious!
Nicole Triebe
I had never tried Persian food before and this recipe has made me a fan!! This was so delicious! Thanks for a delicious dinner idea!
Samantha
What is that yellow stuff on the rice?
Roxana Begum
It is saffron.
Liz
I had never tried this type of kabob recipe so it was fun to get to enjoy something new! Thanks for the recipe!