🍳DailyRecipes
Dinner

Spicy Adana Kebabs

These flavor packed Turkish kebabs are a perfect choice for anyone who loves a good spicy kick on the grill.

By Daily Recipes Book· 🌍 Turkish· August 21, 2026
Spicy Adana Kebabs
dailyrecipesbook.com
Prep
20 minutes
Cook
12 minutes
Total
32 minutes
Serves
6

Adana kebabs are famous in Turkey for being bold, smoky, and full of character. I love making these because they bring that restaurant quality flavor right into my own backyard. They get their signature heat from a mix of spices that you can easily adjust based on how much fire you want on your plate.

My version is a simplified take that uses ground meat instead of the traditional hand minced method, so it is much easier to pull together on a busy night. If you want the best results, try to let the meat mixture rest in the fridge for a few hours before you start cooking.

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 pounds ground lamb or beef
  • 1 small yellow onion, finely grated and drained
  • 2 teaspoons urfa biber pepper
  • 1 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
  • 1 teaspoon sumac
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 3 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • Fresh parsley for serving

Instructions

  1. 1

    In a large bowl, combine the ground meat, drained grated onion, urfa biber, cayenne, sumac, cumin, smoked paprika, salt, pepper, tomato paste, and olive oil.

  2. 2

    Knead the mixture well with your hands until it is fully combined, then cover and chill in the fridge for at least 30 minutes or overnight.

  3. 3

    If you are using wood skewers, soak them in water for 30 minutes so they do not burn.

  4. 4

    Divide the chilled meat into 6 equal portions and mold each portion firmly around a flat skewer until it is about 1 to 1.5 inches thick.

  5. 5

    Preheat your grill to medium and lightly oil the grates.

  6. 6

    Place the kebabs on the grill and cook for 5 to 6 minutes per side until they are nicely charred and cooked through, usually 10 to 12 minutes total.

  7. 7

    Serve your kebabs hot on a platter with a sprinkle of fresh parsley and extra urfa biber.

💡 Tips

You can store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days. To keep the meat from sticking to your hands while shaping, just keep your palms slightly wet with water. For an indoor alternative, place your skewers on a wire rack over a foil lined sheet and broil for 10 minutes, turning often.

#dinner#grilling#high protein#spicy#turkish

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