Mediterranean Minced Beef Kebabs with Tomato-Chile Oil

Name: Mediterranean Minced Beef Kebabs with Tomato-Chile Oil
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Ingredients: 1 large shallot, chopped; 4 garlic cloves, chopped; 1 inch piece ginger, peeled, chopped; ½ cup extra virgin olive oil; ½ teaspoon kosher salt; 4 guajillo or New Mexico chiles, seeds removed, flesh torn; 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes; ⅓ cup crushed salted peanuts; 3 tablespoons tomato paste (replaces fish sauce); ½ teaspoon turmeric; 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan or Pecorino cheese (adds umami depth); 2 lbs ground beef (or mix of beef and pork if she prefers); 1 medium yellow onion, grated; 4 garlic cloves, minced; 1 lemongrass stalk bottom third, finely grated (optional, or substitute with lemon zest); 1 inch piece ginger, peeled, finely grated; ¾ cup full-fat Greek yogurt (replaces coconut milk); 2 tablespoons tomato paste (replaces fish sauce); 1½ tablespoons light brown sugar; 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice; 2 teaspoons dried oregano; 1 teaspoon ground turmeric; ½ teaspoon dried rosemary; ¾ teaspoon kosher salt; ¼ teaspoon black pepper; ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese (adds binding and flavor)

2 steps

Serve kebabs with the tomato-chile oil and Mediterranean accompaniments: Crumbled feta or grated mozzarella cheese Fresh cherry tomatoes Lemon wedges Fresh basil leaves Greek yogurt or tzatziki (made with extra garlic and no cucumber if texture is an issue)

Updated at: Sat, 06 Dec 2025 10:38:05 GMT

Nutrition balance score

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Ingredients

4 servings

Tomato-Chile Oil

1 inchginger

piece, peeled, chopped

½ cupextra virgin olive oil

½ teaspoonkosher salt

4guajillo chiles

or New Mexico, seeds removed, flesh torn

1 teaspooncrushed red pepper flakes

⅓ cupsalted peanuts

crushed

3 tablespoonstomato paste

replaces fish sauce

½ teaspoonturmeric

2 tablespoonsParmesan cheese

grated, or Pecorino, adds umami depth

Mediterranean Minced Beef Kebabs

2 lbsground beef

or mix of beef and pork if she prefers

bottom third, finely grated, optional, or substitute with lemon zest

1 inchginger

piece, peeled, finely grated

¾ cupfull-fat Greek yogurt

replaces coconut milk

2 tablespoonstomato paste

replaces fish sauce

1 ½ tablespoonslight brown sugar

1 tablespoonfresh lemon juice

2 teaspoonsdried oregano

1 teaspoonground turmeric

½ teaspoondried rosemary

¾ teaspoonkosher salt

¼ teaspoonblack pepper

¼ cupParmesan cheese

grated, adds binding and flavor

Instructions

Tomato-Chile Oil

Step 1

Combine shallot, garlic, ginger, olive oil, and salt in a small saucepan. Bring to gentle simmer over medium heat and cook 15-20 minutes until softened. Remove from heat, add chiles, red pepper flakes, and turmeric. Let sit 5 minutes. Blend until chiles are broken into small flecks, then stir in peanuts, tomato paste, and cheese. Cool to room temperature. Can be made 1 week ahead and refrigerated.

Mediterranean Minced Beef Kebabs

Step 2

Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and mix thoroughly with your hands without overworking. Refrigerate at least 2 hours or up to overnight. Form ¼-cup portions into oblong shapes and thread onto metal skewers in an accordion pattern. Grill over medium heat (not high) for 5-7 minutes, turning frequently until browned and cooked through.