Ground Meat Dishes

Tire köftesi refers to a special type of ground meat dish that originates from the Tire district of İzmir, Türkiye. Tire köftesi consists of minced meat (often lamb or a mix of beef and lamb), breadcrumbs... READ MORE

Leskovački roštilj refers to a traditional method of grilling meat which is considered the highest form of barbecue art in Serbia and beyond. Hailing from Leskovac, the technique, according to local belief, is thought to have been brought o... READ MORE

A quintessential American food, burger evolved from the German Deutsches beefsteak, according to the New York Times food critic Mimi Sheraton. Its other name (hamburger) is a result of the fact that many German immigrant... READ MORE

Adana kebap is a popular skewered meat dish named after one of the most famous kebab cities in the country, Adana. This kebab is made with ground lamb and tail fat that are kneaded together with garlic, onion, paprika, and hot red pepper flakes, g... READ MORE

Keema is a stew that is usually prepared as a curry with ingredients such as minced lamb or chicken meat, green peas, ginger-garlic paste, chili, onions, ghee, and garam masala spices. The name of the dish means minced meat in Urdu. Altho... READ MORE

This ćevapi variety is made in the city of Travnik in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The ćevapi are made with a combination of beef, veal, and lamb, with the addition of salt, pepper, and a bit of baking soda. When grilled, the meat is often brushed with... READ MORE

Guru khingal is a traditional ground meat dish originating from Azerbaijan. The dish is usually made with a combination of ground meat (lamb or beef), onions, butter, salt, pepper, yogurt, garlic, and homemade square-shaped noodles consisting of f... READ MORE

Cheeseburger is a natural evolution of the beloved hamburger, the only difference between the two being that the cheeseburger has a slice of cheese added on top of the meat patty. Although American cheese was the original choice, Swiss, Cheddar, a... READ MORE

One of the staples of traditional Turkish cuisine, sarma consists of a filling that is snugly surrounded by leaves or leafy vegetables. There are numerous versions of this dish but the mixture typically combines ingredients such as minced meat, ri... READ MORE

Polpette is a word denoting Italian meatballs, traditionally consisting of ground beef or veal (and sometimes pork) that is shaped into small balls. These meatballs are usually enriched with a wide variety of ingredients such as parsley, eggs, gar... READ MORE

Despite their clear Turkish provenance, Bosnian ćevapi are a source of great national pride and the country's favorite dish. These tiny, hand-rolled minced meat sausages are commonly made with ground beef - or a mix of beef mince with other meats ... READ MORE

Simple, juicy, and savory lu rou fan is a popular Taiwanese dish consisting of ground pork braised in soy sauce, five-spice powder, and rice wine until it becomes tender and flavorful. It is traditionally served over rice, although some cooks like... READ MORE

Kabab koobideh is the Iranian term for a variety of minced meat kebabs usually prepared with onions and finely ground lamb, beef, or chicken. The meat is seasoned with various spices, formed around metal skewers, then grilled on charcoal barbecues... READ MORE

Sate lilit is the favorite street food on Bali. This traditional delicacy is usually made with minced meat which is wrapped around a flat skewer. All meat varieties (including fish and other seafood) are used to prepare sate lilit. However, the mo... READ MORE

This hearty Greek soup couples tender beef meatballs and a creamy, flavorful broth. The meatballs and the broth are usually seasoned with various fresh herbs, and the whole dish is finished with the addition of avgolemono—the creamy... READ MORE

A specialty of Pashtun cuisine, this spicy meat patty is prepared with a combination of minced beef or mutton. The unique taste of chapli kabab comes from spices such as dried coriander and pomegranate seeds, green chillis, and mint. Its name is d... READ MORE

Kayseri yağlaması is a traditional dish from the city of Kayseri in central Anatolia that consists of thin, soft flatbreads layered with a savory filling of minced meat (usually lamb or beef), finely chopped onions, tomatoes, green peppers, and a ... READ MORE

Bò lá lốt is a Vietnamese dish consisting of ground beef that is combined with spices and onions before it is wrapped in lolot leaves (occasionally known as wild betel). The rolls are then grilled over charcoal, and they are... READ MORE

Beyti is a traditional kebab variety originating from Istanbul. It consists of ground lamb or beef that's seasoned with spices, grilled on a skewer, then served wrapped in lavash, cut into pieces, and topped with tomato sauce and yogurt. The groun... READ MORE

Islama köfte are traditional Turkish meatballs originating from Adapazarı, the capital of Sakarya province. The meatballs are usually made with a combination of grated stale bread, ground beef, onions, garlic, cumin, paprika, eggs, salt, and ... READ MORE

This traditional Cypriot sausage is made from a mixture of minced pork and lamb, chopped red onion, and parsley wrapped in caul fat, a thin fatty membrane that lines the stomach of cows, sheep, and pigs. There are two theories as to how the dish g... READ MORE

This unique variety of ćevapi hails from the city of Sarajevo, hence the name sarajevski ćevapi. There are variable accounts regarding the usage of meat for these tasty meat rolls – purists make them exclusively with ground beef, salt, and p... READ MORE

Kofta or köfte are walnut-sized fried meatballs, usually made from ground beef or lamb. It is a popular Turkish meze dish that is often prepared for special occasions and cocktail parties, since the meatballs are quite easy to prepar... READ MORE

Köttbullar are famous Swedish meatballs with a crispy brown exterior, and light, airy and tender texture on the interior. The original recipe for the dish first appeared in Cajsa Warg's 1754 cookbook. The meatballs usually consist of beef mix... READ MORE

Biftekia is a traditional dish that’s often described as a cross between burger patties and slightly flattened meatballs. The patties are made with a combination of ground pork, beef, or lamb, and the meat is mixed with onions, breadcrumbs, ... READ MORE

Pljeskavica, a Serbian national dish also known as the Serbian hamburger, is a flat, round patty made from minced beef, pork, and veal, or a combination of the three, with the addition of selected seasonings such as paprika, salt and pepp... READ MORE

Albóndigas en salsa is a traditional dish that's typically eaten as a tapa. This appetizer consists of meatballs in rich tomato sauce. The small meatballs are often made with a combination of beef, pork, veal (or a combination of the three)... READ MORE

Flavorful, fluffy, and tender, keftedakia are Greek meatballs made from a combination of ground pork and beef, eggs, stale bread or breadcrumbs, and seasonings such as dill, pepper, parsley, and oregano. The mixture is shaped into small balls whic... READ MORE

Bún chả is a pork and noodle dish that is intricately connected to Hanoi, where it is believed to have originated. The dish combines three elements: a bowl of grilled pork meatballs served in a cold broth, a plate of rice noodles, and a com... READ MORE

Named one of Time magazine's 17 most influential burgers, Juicy Lucy—also purposely spelled without the "i"—is a twist on the classic cheeseburger in which the cheese is melted inside the patty. Hands down a Minneapol... READ MORE

Karnıyarık is a classic Turkish dish consisting of eggplants that are stuffed with a combination of ground meat (usually beef), tomatoes, and onions. The filling is typically seasoned only with salt and pepper, but garlic and parsley can also be a... READ MORE

Seekh kabab is a delicious, juicy Pakistani kebab variety made with a combination of minced meat (typically lamb), onions, garlic, ginger, coriander, lemon juice, yogurt, and garam masala. The spices used in the dish can be modified according to p... READ MORE

Polpette al sugo is a traditional dish consisting of meatballs in sauce. Although there are numerous recipes, the meatballs are usually made with a combination of ground meat (beef or veal), eggs, bread soaked in milk, Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, ... READ MORE

Hawawshi is a popular Egyptian snack consisting of a traditional baladi bread, in appearance similar to the famous pita pockets, stuffed with a flavorful mixture of minced meat, vegetables, and various spices. The generously seas... READ MORE

Balandėliai or little pigeons are Lithuanian versions of cabbage rolls. Probably brought to Lithuania by the Tatars in the 14th or 15th century, balandėliai consist of boiled cabbage leaves filled with a mixture of minced pork or beef, co... READ MORE

Kitfo is a popular Ethiopian dish consisting of raw beef that is freshly ground and combined with Ethiopian butter (niter kibbeh) and spices such as Cayenne pepper and cardamom. The dish is served with a variety of breads, with injera... READ MORE

Although other varieties of ćevapi are made in individual pieces, banjalučki ćevapi differ from all others because they are prepared as a meat tile typically consisting of four ćevapi connected in a row. They are usually made just with ground beef... READ MORE

Nem lui is a traditional dish originating from Hue. The dish consists of ground pork that's grilled on a lemongrass skewer. Other ingredients often include black pepper, pork skin, garlic, shallots, and fish sauce. The meat combination is rolled i... READ MORE

Tortos is a traditional dish originating from the Asturias region. This humble dish is made with a combination of corn flour, ground pork that’s seasoned with paprika (picadillo), and eggs. The tortos (corn fritters) are made with a combinat... READ MORE

Gołąbki is a traditional dish consisting of cabbage leaves stuffed with a combination of minced meat and rice. The whole concoction is then rolled and cooked in a mushroom or tomato-based sauce. Gołąbki means little pigeons in Polish, ref... READ MORE

Tsukune is a yakitori version that is prepared with ground chicken. The meat is seasoned, and it is typically formed in oblong patties or small meatballs that are skewered on bamboo sticks. Like other types of yakitori, the skewers are typically s... READ MORE

Kibbeh is a unique mixture of soaked bulgur wheat and other ingredients, typically lamb meat, and it is also considered the national dish of Lebanon and Syria. Fragrantly spiced and eaten as a snack for casual or celebratory meals, Kibbeh can be r... READ MORE