Lamb Kebabs In Pomegranate Walnut Marinade Food

LAMB KEBABS WITH POMEGRANATE GLAZE

Steps:

• For the lamb: Bring the lamb to room temperature. If you're going to cook your kebabs on the grill, soak bamboo skewers in water for at least 30 minutes, so they don't burn. Grab your food processor. You can chop all this by hand too; just make sure to chop it all up very finely. Throw the ginger, garlic, shallots, lemon zest, mint, cilantro and salt into the processor. Grind until very finely chopped. Throw the lamb into a big bowl. Add the shallot mixture, 2 tablespoons pomegranate molasses, baking soda, garam masala if using and pepper to the meat. Using your hands, knead 2 to 5 minutes until the meat lightens in color, taking on the appearance of knitted fabric. It will also be very sticky. Perfect! Divide the meat in half, then in half again and then half again, until you have 8 mounds. Have a platter ready for your completed kebabs. Drizzle a little oil on the platter so the kebabs don't stick. Have your bamboo skewers standing by. Take one ball of meat and roll it into a short stump. Thread the skewer through it, and then begin shaping the kebab with quick strokes, pulling the meat down. It should be a little over 1/4-inch thick. Roll the kebab between your hands to seal the meat. Repeat. Preheat a griddle over medium heat, drizzling oil over it, so that when it starts to smoke, you'll know it's ready. Meanwhile, mix the juice of half the lemon with the remaining 2 tablespoons pomegranate molasses in a small bowl. When it's hot, place the skewers on the grill. Cook about 2 minutes, then turn a quarter of the way. Brush with the lemon-molasses glaze and cook another 2 minutes. Continue in this way until you've cooked the meat 8 to 10 minutes.
• For the raita: Mix the yogurt, mint, cucumber and garlic together. Season with salt and pepper, and serve alongside the kebabs.

GRILLED LAMB KEBABS

Steps:

• Puree the onion in a food processor until smooth. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve over a medium bowl. Whisk the oregano, cumin and 1/2 teaspoon each kosher salt and pepper into the onion juices. Add the lamb; toss. Cover and refrigerate at least 1 hour or overnight.
• Preheat a grill to medium high and oil the grates. Remove the lamb from the marinade and thread onto 4 metal skewers. Grill, turning occasionally, about 8 minutes for medium doneness. Sprinkle with flaky salt and serve with tzatziki.

MARINATED LAMB KEBABS

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.

LAMB KEBABS IN POMEGRANATE-WALNUT MARINADE

Steps:

• Place the meat in a large casserole dish. In a food processor, grind the walnuts, pomegranate molasses, garlic, and oil into a puree. Add the parsley leaves and pulse into small bits. Pour the marinade over the meat and toss well. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
• If using wooden or bamboo skewers, soak them in salty water for a couple of hours before grilling. Thread 3 or 4 pieces of meat onto each skewer 1/4-inch apart, leaving 2 inches of space at the end. Discard the marinade. Brush or wipe extra marinade from the skewers. Allow the meat to come to room temperature (no more than 45 minutes total).
• Meanwhile, heat the grill to high heat. Lightly oil the grill and grill the kebabs for 6 to 8 minutes, turning occasionally, until the meat is slightly charred on the outside and very pink on the inside.
• Transfer to a serving platter and season with salt and pepper. Garnish with chopped parsley and serve.

KEBAB-E TORSH (LAMB KEBABS IN A POMEGRANATE WALNUT MARINADE)

Steps:

• Special equipment: 4 skewers.
• Serving suggestion: flatbread, grilled tomatoes, sliced raw onion, rice and sumac.
• Place the beef in a large casserole dish. Combine the walnuts, pomegranate syrup, olive oil and garlic in a food processor and grind into a thick puree. Add the parsley and pulse into small bits. Pour the marinade over the meat and toss well. Cover and refrigerate overnight. Cut the marinated meat into small chunks, and thread 3 to 4 pieces onto the skewers, 1/4-inch apart. Brush or wipe the excess marinade from the skewers, and discard the marinade. Turn the grill on high heat. While it heats up, leave the meat out so it can come up to room temperature (no more than 45 minutes total). Lightly oil the hot grill, and grill the kebabs for 6 to 7 minutes, turning once. Sprinkle the kebabs with fine salt and freshly ground black pepper as they cook. The meat should be slightly charred on the outside and very pink on the inside when it is finished. Serve with flatbread, grilled tomatoes, sliced raw onion, rice and sumac.

SIMPLE LAMB KEBABS WITH GREEK FLAVORS

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.