Mediterranean Kofta Kebabs

• 1 lb ground beef
• 1/2 lb ground pork
• 2 tsp kosher salt
• 1 tsp ground black pepper
• 1 1/2 tsp paprika
• 1/2 tsp cardamom
• 1/4 tsp nutmeg
• pinch of cayenne (optional)
• 1 tsp ground allspice
• 1/4 cup water
• 4 slices bread (toasted)
• 1 onion (small dice)
• 1/2 cup Italian parsley
• 9-10 garlic cloves (minced)
• 16-20 bamboo sticks (soaked in water for a few hours)

Instructions

1. 1

   Place the beef and pork in a large bowl.

2. 2

   Sprinkle the seasoning (salt, pepper, and the rest of the spices) evenly over the meat.

3. 3

   Pour water over the meat.

4. 4

   Chop the bread into very small dice.

5. 5

   Chop the parsley very finely.

6. 6

   Mix the bread, parsley, finely chopped onions, and minced garlic in a small bowl to infuse the breadcrumbs with flavour.

7. 7

   Sprinkle the mixture over the meat.

8. 8

   Mix everything first with a fork, then dig in with your hands. You want to incorporate and mix the ingredients well (so you don't get a huge chunk of just pork or just bread), but at the same time you don't want to overmix everything into a paste (as the meat will not be tender in that case).

9. 9

   Cover the mixture with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least an hour or overnight for the flavours to meld.

10. 10

    Once ready, divide the mixture into 16–20 portions. Pierce each portion with a skewer and shape it into a log with your hands.

11. 11

    Grill on a preheated medium-high grill until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C) (should be about 10–15 minutes). Enjoy!