1. Grate the half onion on a box grater over a paper towel, then squeeze out as much liquid as possible — this keeps the kofta from falling apart. Mince the garlic and finely chop the parsley.
2. In a large bowl, combine ground beef, squeezed grated onion, minced garlic, chopped parsley, cumin, coriander, smoked paprika, cinnamon, salt, and pepper. Mix with your hands until everything is evenly combined, about 1 minute — do not overmix.
3. Divide the meat mixture into 12 equal portions. Roll each portion into a short log shape about 3 inches long and 1 inch wide. If they feel sticky, wet your hands slightly.
4. Preheat your air fryer to 400°F for 3 minutes. Lightly spray the air fryer basket with olive oil spray.
5. Arrange the kofta in a single layer in the air fryer basket, leaving a little space between each. You may need to cook in two batches depending on your air fryer size.
6. Air fry at 400°F for 10–12 minutes, flipping halfway through at the 5-minute mark. The kofta are done when they are browned on the outside and no longer pink in the center — the internal temperature should reach 160°F.
7. While the kofta cooks, make the yogurt sauce: grate the cucumber half and squeeze out all excess liquid using a paper towel or clean dish cloth. Stir together yogurt, grated cucumber, juice of half the lemon, dried dill, and a pinch of salt in a small bowl. Taste and adjust seasoning.
8. Dice the roma tomato and slice the remaining lemon half into wedges for serving.
9. When kofta are done, wrap the pita breads in a damp paper towel and microwave for 30 seconds, or warm them directly in the air fryer at 300°F for 2 minutes until soft and pliable.
10. Serve 3 kofta per person in or alongside warm pita, topped with cucumber-yogurt sauce, diced tomato, and a squeeze of fresh lemon.
Contains: milk. Always double-check labels for your household's allergies.
Cost is a national-average estimate and varies by store and region.
This recipe was generated by Plento Pasto's AI from a library of family-friendly dishes and reviewed for a real photo before publishing. Cooking times, costs, and nutrition are estimates — use your judgment in the kitchen.