Description
One-Pan Lebanese Kafta is a flavorful, easy-to-make Middle Eastern dish featuring seasoned ground beef or lamb patties baked with sliced potatoes, tomatoes, and bell peppers in a savory tomato sauce. This gluten-free main course combines aromatic spices like allspice and cinnamon with fresh herbs, delivering a wholesome and satisfying meal perfect for weeknight dinners or entertaining.
Ingredients
Scale
Kafta Mixture
- 1 lb ground beef or lamb (or a mix of both)
- 1 small onion (grated or finely minced)
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint (optional)
- 1 teaspoon ground allspice
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon salt
Vegetables and Sauce
- 2 medium potatoes (sliced into 1/4-inch rounds)
- 1 large tomato (sliced)
- 1/2 green bell pepper (sliced)
- 1/2 red bell pepper (sliced)
- 1/2 cup tomato sauce
- 1/4 cup water
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Instructions
- Prepare the Oven and Meat Mixture: Preheat your oven to 375°F. In a large bowl, combine the ground meat with grated onion, parsley, mint, allspice, cinnamon, black pepper, and salt. Mix thoroughly until all ingredients are well incorporated.
- Form the Kafta Patties: Shape the meat mixture into small oval-shaped patties about the size of your palm, ensuring even thickness for uniform cooking.
- Arrange in Baking Dish: Lightly brush the bottom of a large oven-safe pan or baking dish with olive oil. Place the kafta patties evenly in the dish, then arrange the sliced potatoes, tomato, and bell peppers layered around and over the patties.
- Prepare and Pour Sauce: In a small bowl, mix the tomato sauce with water until combined. Pour this sauce mixture uniformly over the entire pan, covering the patties and vegetables.
- Bake Covered: Cover the baking dish tightly with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 35 to 40 minutes, or until the potatoes are tender when pierced with a fork.
- Uncover and Brown: Remove the foil and continue baking for another 10 minutes. This step allows the top layer to brown slightly for added texture and flavor.
- Serve: Remove from the oven and serve hot, ideally with rice or warm pita bread for a complete meal.
Notes
- For additional flavor, brown the kafta patties briefly in a skillet before arranging them in the baking dish.
- This dish reheats well and makes excellent leftovers.
- Try substituting sweet potatoes for a sweeter variation.
- Add a squeeze of fresh lemon juice before serving to brighten the flavors.
