Smash tacos have been trending on the internet, and I could not resist trying them out for myself. But I had to make them with a middle eastern twist. These Smash Kofta Tacos have a crispy tortilla base, juicy spiced beef, creamy white sauce and crunchy veggies. They are the perfect quick, easy and fun meal to whip up on a weeknight.

2 folded upright kofta smash tacos topped with cucumbers, red onions and white sauce with a folded smash taco broken in half on a beige plate and a cucumber onion salad in a blue bowl and a small white bowl with white sauce with a metal spoon

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Smash Tacos with a Middle Eastern Twist!

It wasn’t too long ago that smash burger tacos took the internet by storm. They were trending, and although I am not one to pick up on food trends easily, these ones caught my eye. I needed to make them, but using my favourite ground beef recipe: kofta!

My kofta recipe is foolproof and works perfectly for these smash tacos (it’s also the same recipe I use to make kofta meatballs). The meat stays juicy thanks to the onions, and the combination of spices keeps them full of flavour. I had to pair them with my quick and easy shawarma sauce. Then they are topped with crunchy cucumbers, parsley and sumac onions to add freshness.

This recipe is also quite similar to the classic middle eastern arayes. Arayes are stuffed pita. Instead of the meat being flattened to one side of a thin tortilla, a spiced meat mixture is instead stuffed inside pita, grilled or pan fried and then baked.

How to Make Kofta Smash Tacos

Grab your ingredients, this recipe comes together super quickly!

ingredients for kofta smash tacos which are ground beef, toritllas, onion, parsley, tomato, and spices

Before we start, let’s talk quickly about two key components of this recipe, the beef and the tortilla.

  • Ground beef: The ground beef here generally needs to be one with a higher fat content, medium ground beef will work best but lean ground beef could also work. Definitely steer clear of extra lean beef as it will result in smash tacos that are too dry.
  • Tortilla: Small tortillas (6 inches) work best here, we want them to be hand held and to cook quickly. You may also use small thin pita’s if you would like but they may not bend and fold the way a tortilla will.

Types of Ground Beef: Ground beef is often referred to in terms of the fat percentage present. 80/20 is ideal (80% beef, 20% fat) and is often referred to as medium ground beef. Lean beef is 85/15 and extra lean is 90/10.

Start by making the kofta beef mixture. In a bowl, combine the ground beef with the chopped onions, garlic, parley and spices. Ensure the ingredient are well distributed in the meat mixture.

Ground beef kofta mixture in glass bowl on pink background

Next, spread a thin layer of the meat mixture onto the tortilla, all the way to the edges. Ensure the layer is very thin, which maximizes the caramelization on the beef. A thick layer will end up shrinking into a smaller disc in the middle of the tortilla.

Ground beef kofta mixture spread on small tortilla on a white speckled plate on a pink background

The smash tacos are best cooked on a hot cast iron pan for the crispiest result. The smash tacos start face down, with the meat against the pan. Ensure you press down with the back of a heavy spatula or a grill press. This ensures that the meat does not just shrivel up and shrink into a small disk. It also ensures lots of caramelization on the beef. Flip over and crisp up the back of the tortilla before serving with all the toppings!

Two kofta smash tacos cooked on a beige plate on a pink background

Serving Suggestions

The best way to serve these is straight off the pan when they are nice and hot. My 5-minute shawarma sauce goes perfectly. You could also try it with tahini sauce or even toum! I love quickly making a cucumber, parsley, onion and sumac salad as the topping.

Kofta smash taco topped with cucumber and onions with white sauce on a beige plate with a small white bowl with white sauce and a blue bowl with red onions and parsley on a pink background with a pink tea towel

If you tried these recipes, please consider leaving a star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating in the recipe card below and/or a review in the comments section further down the page – I’d love to hear from you! You can also hop on over to Instagram and say hello!

2 folded upright kofta smash tacos topped with cucumbers, red onions and white sauce with a folded smash taco broken in half on a beige plate and a cucumber onion salad in a blue bowl and a small white bowl with white sauce with a metal spoon
5 from 4 ratings

Kofta Smash Tacos

Yield: 6 people
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 15 minutes
Author: Amina Al-Saigh
These Kofta Smash Tacos are a take on the viral smashed tacos but with a Middle Eastern twist!
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Ingredients
 

  • 1 pound ground beef, lean or medium preferred
  • 1 small onion
  • 1 small bunch parsley
  • 3 garlic cloves
  • 1/2 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon seven spice , or allspice
  • 10 tortillas, small, 6 inches
  • 1-2 tablespoons neutral oil

For the Sumac Salad:

  • 2 Persian cucumbers, finely chopped
  • 1 cup parsley, finely chopped
  • 1/4 Red onion, thinly sliced
  • 2 teaspoons sumac

For the Sauce:

Instructions
 

  • Start by processing together the onion with the parsley and garlic cloves until finely chopped
  • In a large bowl add the onions and the parsley to the ground beef along with the paprika, salt, black pepper and seven spice
  • Ground beef kofta mixture in glass bowl on pink background
    Mix together until fully combined
  • Ground beef kofta mixture spread on small tortilla on a white speckled plate on a pink background
    Take the tortillas and spread 2 tablespoons of the meat mixture, forming a thin layer so that it cooks evenly
  • In a large pan, preferably cast iron, add 1-2 tablespoons oil and allow it to heat up over medium heat
  • Place the tortilla meat side down on the pan and cook for 3-5 minutes while pressing down with a heavy spatula or a press to ensure that the meat does not shrink too much and that it gets a good sear. Cook until the kofta mixture is fully cooked and browned
  • Two kofta smash tacos cooked on a beige plate on a pink background
    Flip and allow the tortilla side to toast up for another minute or two before removing to a serving tray or plate
  • Kofta smash taco topped with cucumber and onions with white sauce on a beige plate with a small white bowl with white sauce on a pink background with a pink tea towel
    Mix together all the sumac salad ingredients. Top the tacos with the shawarma sauce and the salad.

Notes

  • These kofta smash tacos pair perfectly with my shawarma sauce, tahini sauce or toum. Take your pick!
  • I love using cucumber, parsley and sumac onions (thinly slice red onions and sprinkle generously with sumac) as my toppings but any of your favourite vegetables will work, like pickles, lettuce, tomatoes etc. 
  • These taste best when eaten straight from the pan, top them, fold them, and enjoy!
Serving: 1g, Calories: 224kcal, Carbohydrates: 2g, Protein: 14g, Fat: 18g, Saturated Fat: 6g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 7g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 54mg, Sodium: 450mg, Potassium: 289mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 1g, Vitamin A: 913IU, Vitamin C: 14mg, Calcium: 34mg, Iron: 2mg
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