- Prep5 min
Six ground spices, one jar, a good shake. That’s your kofta seasoning done in about five minutes, with no chopping, no heat and nothing to wash but a few measuring spoons and the jar.
Want it easier still? Buy a ready-made kofta blend and skip the measuring. Make this one when you’d rather know what’s in the jar, and keep it in the pantry so kofta night is mostly sorted.
Can I manage this today?
- Spoon rating: 🥄🥄 Low Spoons
- Hands-on time: about 5 minutes
- Main effort: measuring six spices into a jar
- Chopping: none
- Standing and attention: no stove and no heat. You can do it sitting at the table with the spices and jar in front of you
- Washing up: 1 jar and your measuring spoons
Quick spoon check
- No-spoons version: buy a ready-made kofta seasoning and use it as the packet says.
- As written: measure the six spices into a jar and shake.
Kerry’s notes
Yes, there’s a cumin pun in the name. I’m not sorry.
I like a jar of this in the pantry because kofta night then starts with one job already done. Shake the jar, scoop what you need, and the measuring is behind you.
It’s ground spices only, so there’s no salt in it. Add your own when you season the meat.
Thinking about boosting the mince while you’re at it? Leigh has a whole guide on hemp seeds in meatballs. She’ll want to explain exactly why, so I’ll put the kettle on first.
What’s that ingredient?
Ground allspice. One spice, not a mix. It’s the dried berry of a tree, ground to a powder, and it adds a warm, slightly peppery note. Find it in the spice aisle or online (The Spice Lab ground allspice). It isn’t seasonal. Keep it in an airtight jar away from heat, light and moisture. Swaps haven’t been tested here.
Ground cardamom. The seeds of the cardamom pod, ground. Sweet, floral and strong, which is why the recipe only needs ¼ teaspoon. Find it in the spice aisle or online (Frontier Co-op ground cardamom seed). It isn’t seasonal, and it’s often the priciest jar of the six, so a small one is plenty. Keep it airtight, away from heat and light. Swaps haven’t been tested here.
Why this recipe works
- No prep skills needed: every spice is already ground, so there’s no toasting, grinding or knife work.
- Cumin and coriander lead: they make up most of the blend (2 teaspoons each), with smaller amounts of black pepper, allspice, cardamom and turmeric.
- You control the salt: there’s none in the jar, so you add it to suit the meat and your taste.
- One jar does it all: you mix it and store it in the same container.
Ingredients at a glance
- Cumin: the earthy, savoury backbone.
- Coriander: lighter and slightly citrusy, and it rounds out the cumin.
- Black pepper: a gentle heat.
- Allspice: a warm, sweet note.
- Cardamom: floral and strong, so a little goes a long way.
- Turmeric: mostly colour, with a mild earthy flavour.
No Spoon Swaps
- Ready-made kofta seasoning: no measuring at all. The trade-off is you don’t choose what’s in it, and some blends include salt or fillers, so check the label.
- Mix it in the jar you’ll store it in: no bowl to wash. Use a wide-mouth jar so the spoons fit.
- Smaller jars of cardamom and allspice: you only need ¼ and ½ teaspoon, so a small jar will do. The trade-off is a higher price per gram.
- Double the batch: it’s the same effort for more jar.
- Measure at the table: bring the spices, spoons and jar to where you’re sitting.
Substitutions and allergens
- Spice swaps: swaps for allspice and cardamom haven’t been tested here.
- Salt: the blend has none. If you buy a ready-made blend instead, check whether it has salt in it already so you don’t season twice.
- Keto or low carb? Keto, low carb, whatever you call it, Leigh has opinions on the difference. Ask her once and bring snacks.
Allergen notes
- No common allergens in the ingredient list, but ground spices can be packed alongside other foods, and some brands add anti-caking agents. Check the labels if you need to avoid gluten, nuts or sesame.
Storage, freezing and reheating
- Pantry: airtight jar, in a cool, dry place away from heat, light and moisture.
- Freezer: not needed for a dry blend.
- Reheating: not applicable. Once it’s on raw meat, follow the usual storage rules for the meat, not the jar.
Frequently asked questions
What’s in kofta seasoning?
This one is six ground spices: coriander, cumin, black pepper, allspice, cardamom and turmeric.
Is there salt in it?
No. Add salt separately when you season the meat.
How much does it make?
About 5½ teaspoons in total, which the recipe counts as 5 serves of 1 teaspoon.
Is it hot?
There’s no chilli in it. The only heat comes from the black pepper.
Middle Eastern Kofta Seasoning (Cumin Get It!)
Equipment
- Airtight jar with a lid
Ingredients
Kofta seasoning
- 2 teaspoons ground coriander
- 2 teaspoons ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon ground allspice
- ¼ teaspoon ground cardamom
- ¼ teaspoon ground turmeric
Instructions
Mix
- Add the coriander, cumin, black pepper, allspice, cardamom and turmeric to a clean, dry jar.
- Screw the lid on tight.
- Shake for 30 seconds, until the colour is even with no streaks of yellow turmeric.
- Store the jar in a cool, dry place.
Notes
Nutrition
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A final spoon-saving note
Measure once, shake once, and future-you gets a jar that does the seasoning for them. Keep it somewhere you can reach from the stove, so there’s no hunting through the pantry. Give it a go.
