Smoky Wind Lamb Kebab Recipes

Steps:

• Combine the yogurt, olive oil, lemon zest and juice, rosemary, salt, and pepper in a large, non-reactive bowl. Add the lamb, making sure it is covered with the marinade, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight or for up to 2 days.
• Prepare a charcoal grill with hot coals. Spread the coals in one tight layer on the grill.
• Cut the lamb in 1 1/2-inch cubes. You should have about 20 cubes.
• Cut the red onion in 8 pieces and separate each piece into 3 or 4 sections. Loosely thread 3 or 4 pieces of lamb onto skewers alternately with sections of onion. Sprinkle both sides of the lamb cubes with salt and pepper. Place the skewers on the hot grill and cook for 10 to 15 minutes, turning 2 or 3 times, until the lamb is medium-rare.

Steps:

• For the lamb: trim all fat from the lamb and cut into 2-inch cubes. Combine remaining marinade ingredients in a large resealable plastic bag and mix well.
• Add the lamb cubes to the bag, tossing to coat. Seal bag and marinate in the refrigerator at least 2 hours, preferably overnight, rotating the bag occasionally to continually coat the lamb.
• Preheat an outdoor grill to medium heat. Remove lamb from refrigerator about 30 minutes before grilling to bring the meat to room temperature.
• To assemble the kabobs: fill skewers, alternating peppers, lamb, tomatoes, onions and mushrooms until all ingredients are used.
• Grill skewers, rotating to char lamb on all sides, until cooked to desired doneness, about 7 to 8 minutes for medium-rare.

Steps:

• 1. Pound the lamb pieces lightly with a heavy-bladed knife to tenderize, and make shallow incisions in them. Place the lamb in a large glass or Pyrex bowl.
• 2. Add the onion, garlic, salt, pepper, lime juice, and saffron water and mix well. Cover and marinate for at least 24 and up to 72 hours in the refrigerator. Turn the meat twice during this time.
• 3. Start a bed of charcoal at least 30 minutes before you want to cook and let it burn until the coals glow. You can use a hair dryer to accelerate this process.
• 4. Meanwhile, thread 5 or 6 pieces of meat onto each skewer, leaving a few inches free on both ends. Spear tomatoes onto separate skewers.
• 5. For basting, combine the butter, lime juice, saffron water, salt, and pepper in a small saucepan. Keep warm over very low heat.
• 6. When the coals are glowing, place the tomatoes on the grill; then 1 minute later place the skewered meat on the grill. Grill for 3 to 4 minutes on each side, turning frequently, and basting occasionally. The total cooking time should be 6 to 10 minutes. The meat should be seared on the outside, pink and juicy on the inside.
• 7. Spread lavash bread on a serving platter. When the meat is done, steady it with a piece of lavash bread while you pull it off the skewer. Brush with the basting mixture, garnish with grilled tomatoes, and cover with lavash bread to keep the food warm.
• 8. Serve immediately with saffron steamed rice , lavash bread, and fresh scallions and basil. NUSH-E JAN!
• Najmieh Batmanglij shares her tips with Epicurious:
• •Though many Iranians now use vegetable oil, clarified butter (ghee) is Iran's traditional cooking fat. To make it, start with a third more unsalted butter than you will need for the recipe. Melt the butter over low heat, then increase the heat to medium low and simmer the butter, without stirring, until it stops crackling and the milk solids brown and drop to the bottom. Skim off any foam from the top, and strain the ghee through a colander lined with cheesecloth. Ghee will keep at room temperature, covered, for several months. •Batmanglij recommends buying saffron in thread form rather than powder, which is often adulterated with turmeric. Before they can be used in a recipe, the threads must be ground with a cube of sugar, using a mortar and pestle or spice grinder, and then diluted in hot water. "The saffron water can then be stored and used as needed," says Batmanglij. "Never use the unground threads." •Though wood or charcoal will impart the most authentic, smoky flavor, this dish can also be prepared using a gas grill or a broiler. •Although flat, 1/8-inch-wide skewers are traditional (the swordlike shape prevents the meat from turning as you cook it), any grilling skewers can be used. •Lavash is a thin flatbread sold in Middle Eastern groceries. "Look for lavash that's soft, but not doughy," says Batmanglij. She also recommends Persian pickles, called torshis and available at www.sadaf.com, to accompany this dish. Batmanglij recommends buying saffron in thread form rather than powder, which is often adulterated with turmeric. Before they can be used in a recipe, the threads must be ground with a cube of sugar, using a mortar and pestle or spice grinder, and then diluted in hot water. "The saffron water can then be stored and used as needed," says Batmanglij. "Never use the unground threads." •Though wood or charcoal will impart the most authentic, smoky flavor, this dish can also be prepared using a gas grill or a broiler. •Although flat, 1/8-inch-wide skewers are traditional (the swordlike shape prevents the meat from turning as you cook it), any grilling skewers can be used. •Lavash is a thin flatbread sold in Middle Eastern groceries. "Look for lavash that's soft, but not doughy," says Batmanglij. She also recommends Persian pickles, called torshis and available at www.sadaf.com, to accompany this dish.

Steps:

• Build a fire in your grill; when the coals are all covered with gray ash and the temperature is medium-hot (you can hold your hand 5 inches above the grill for 3 to 4 seconds), you are ready to cook. (For a gas grill, turn all burners to high, lower cover, and heat for 15 minutes, then turn burners to medium-high.)
• Mix the yogurt and mint together in a small bowl and set aside.
• Trim the lamb of most but not all fat and cut it into 32 large chunks, about 1 inch square. Add them to a large bowl with the olive oil, curry powder, salt and pepper, and toss well to coat, then thread onto 4 skewers.
• Put the skewers on the grill directly over the coals. Also put the peaches on the grill, cut side down, and cook until just slightly charred and softened, about 6 minutes. Take off the grill and cut into large wedges (about 6 per peach).
• At the same time, cook the lamb, turning to expose all 4 sides to the direct heat of the coals, until done to your liking, about 2 to 3 minutes per side (8 to 12 minutes total) for medium rare. (To check for doneness, cut into one of the chunks and check to see if it is cooked to your liking - remove from the heat when it is slightly less done than you want it to be when you eat it.)
• Put the peaches and lamb into a large bowl. Add the garlic, basil, vinegar and Tabasco, toss to coat, season with more salt and pepper if needed, and serve (over rice if you wish), accompanied by the yogurt and mint.

Steps:

• Build a fire in your grill; when the coals are covered with gray ash and the temperature is medium high (you can hold your hand 5 inches above the coals for 3 to 4 seconds), you're ready to cook. (For a gas grill, turn all burners to high, lower cover and heat for 15 minutes, then turn burners to medium high.)
• While the fire is heating up, trim the lamb of all but a thin layer of fat and cut into 32 more-or-less-equal chunks. Combine in a bowl with the 1/4 cup of olive oil and the salt and pepper and toss well to coat, then thread them onto skewers, about 8 chunks per skewer; they should snuggle up to one another but not be tightly pressed.
• Put the skewers directly over the coals and cook, turning to expose all 4 sides to the direct heat of the coals, until done to your liking, 2 to 3 minutes a side (8 to 12 minutes total) for medium rare. To check for doneness, cut into one of the chunks and check to see if it is done to your liking - remove from the heat when it is just slightly less done than you want it to be when you eat it.
• While the lamb is cooking, prepare the remaining ingredients but keep in separate containers. Slide the lamb chunks off the skewers into a large bowl, add the remaining oil, lemon juice, garlic and marjoram one after another, toss well to coat, season to taste if needed and serve.