The 2015 Epcot Food and Wine Festival is coming up quickly!

And one of my favorite ways to prep for the Festival is to make some of my favorite dishes from the Marketplace Booths. My family has been having a ton of fun trying new variations on burgers this Summer — and I think this Kefta from the Morocco Marketplace Booth is the perfect one to try next.

While the flavor is exotic, there’s nothing here that you can’t find in your local grocery! And if you, like AJ, despise the Cilantro that the recipe calls for, just double up on the Parsley.

I’m sharing this with you, and then I’m heading to the store for all the ingredients! I know what’s for dinner tonight. 🙂

Kefta from the Morocco Marketplace Booth

Kefta

Grilled Beef and Hummus in a Pita PocketMorocco Marketplace Booth

Serves 4

Ingredients:

Kefta:
1 1/4 pounds ground beef
1/4 cup finely chopped onion
1/2 tablespoon finely chopped fresh cilantro
1/2 tablespoon finely chopped fresh parsley
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/2 teaspoon coarse salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil
1 medium tomato, seeded and diced
1 cup finely shredded lettuce
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon vinegar
2 pita bread rounds, halved

Hummus:
2 cups canned chickpeas, rinsed and drained
2 tablespoons water
2 garlic cloves, peeled and quartered
3 tablespoons lemon juice
2 tablespoons sesame tahini
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

Instructions:

For Kefta:
1. Preheat oven to 200° F.

2. Combine the beef, onion, cilantro, parsley, cayenne, salt, and pepper in a large bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and set aside at room temperature for 30 minutes to allow the flavors to comine.

3. Form the meat into walnut-size balls, then flatten. Heat olive oil over medium heat in a large saute pan. Place about half of the patties in the pan, making sure not to overlap, and cook 3 minutes per side, or until browned and cooked through. Transfer the cooked patties to a baking sheet, and place in the oven to keep warm while cooking the remaining patties.

For Hummus:
1. Put chickpeas, water, garlic, lemon juice, tahini, and salt in a food processor. Blend until smooth, occasionally scraping down the sides, about 2 minutes.

2. With the processor running, slowly drizzle in the olive oil, and blend until the mixture is very smooth. Hummus may be made up to 3 days in advance and kept covered and chilled.

To Serve:
1. Combine tomato, lettuce, olive oil, and vinegar in a small bowl. Open each pita pocket and spread a few tablespoons of hummus on the inside.

2. Divide the warm meat patties evenly among the 4 pockets, and top each with tomato-lettuce mixture. Serve immediately.

Cook’s Note: In the Middle East, kefta refers to any food which is made by grinding meat and mixing it with an assortment of spices. Variations on kefta are common street foods in the Middle East, and they also may be served as appetizers or as a more central part of the meal.

Also, don’t forget to check out our other 2015 Epcot Food and Wine Festival Coverage; we work hard to make sure we have the most comprehensive coverage of the festival on the internet!

Start Your Planning Today! The DFB Guide to the 2015 Epcot Food and Wine Festival e-Book is now available for Pre-Order!

Want even more great tips? This 200+-page guide to the Festival offers insider tips and advice as well as all of the details you need to know to plan your best Festival visit ever. Pre-order your 2015 edition today, and download the 2014 guide for FREE — immediately! We anticipate the 2015 edition to be available within the next week.

Your purchase includes several bonus items as well — including a full daily schedule of events at the Festival and a printable World Showcase Booth Menu Checklist to carry with you as you Eat around the World!

Use code Chefs at check-out for a $3 discount!

Be sure to check our main Epcot Food and Wine Festival Page frequently for updates, and also check out Epcot Food and Wine Festival 101 for even more information about the festival!

Want More Epcot Food and Wine Festival Info?

We’ll have all the coverage and information you need right here on Disney Food Blog! Here’s what we know so far…

That’s all there is to it! Will you be making these delicious Kefta for your next get-together? Leave a comment and tell us what you think!