Beef Kofte Kabobs

Beef Kofte Kabobs

2 lbs. ground beef chuck

½ cup pine nuts,

2 chopped garlic cloves

1 teaspoon hot smoked paprika (or smoked paprika mixed with cayenne)

2 teaspoons ground cumin

1 teaspoon kosher salt

1 teaspoon ground black pepper

¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon

¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg

¼ teaspoon ground coriander

1 cup grated yellow onion, drain on paper towels

¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped very, very fine

¼ cup fresh mint, chopped very fine

Place pine nuts and herbs in a food processor and process until finely chopped. Add the spices and onion and process for 1 more minute. Mix with the herb mixture into the meat. Form on metal skewers. Allow to chill for 1-2 hours if possible. Grill until cooked through. Serve with tzatziki sauce.

Tzatziki Sauce

1½ cups Greek yogurt

1 cucumber, peeled, grated on the large hole of a box grater (squeeze out liquid with a towel)

1 garlic clove, chopped fine

1 tablespoon olive oil

½ teaspoon red wine vinegar

4 mint leaves, chopped fine

Combine all ingredients together. Season with salt to taste.

Bring the vinegar, water, sugar, salt, peppercorns and bay leaf to a boil, reduce to a simmer until the sugar dissolves. Pour over the shallots; allow to cool in the liquid; store in its liquid.