Lamb Kebabs With Peppery Lime Marinade Food

ORANGE- AND LIME-MARINATED LAMB KEBABS

Steps:

• Place lamb cubes in large resealable plastic bag. Whisk orange juice and next 10 ingredients in medium bowl to blend. Pour over lamb in plastic bag. Seal bag and refrigerate overnight, turning occasionally. Drain lamb.
• Prepare barbecue (medium-high heat). Alternate 4 lamb cubes, 4 onion pieces, and 4 chili pieces on each skewer. Grill lamb to desired doneness, turning frequently, about 9 minutes for medium-rare. Place skewers on platter and serve.
• *Chipotle chilies canned in a spicy tomato sauce, sometimes called adobo, are available at Latin American markets, specialty foods stores and some supermarkets.
• **Fresh green chilies, often called pasillas; available at Latin American markets and some supermarkets.

MARINATED GRILLED LAMB KABOBS

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.

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 KABOBS

Steps:

• Cut the lamb into 1 to 1 1/2 -inch cubes or pieces and put them in a large bowl. Season with kosher salt and black pepper.
• In the bowl of a food processor fitted with a blade, combine the onion, garlic, spices, parsley, olive oil and lemon juice. Cover and run the processor until everything is finely chopped (you should end up with a thick onion marinade).
• Pour the onion marinade over the lamb and mix well to make sure all the lamb is well coated with the marinade. Cover and refrigerate for up to 2 hours. (If you do not have time, leave the kabobs to marinate at room temperature for about 30 minutes).
• Brush the grates of a gas grill (or an indoor griddle) with oil and heat.
• Shake excess marinade off and thread the lamb pieces on some long skewers, allowing a little room between pieces (I used 6 wooden skewers that have been soaked in water).
• Assemble the lamb kabobs in one single layer over your heated grill or griddle. Grill over high heat, turning each kabob one-quarter turn every couple minutes, until the meat is browned all over, anywhere from 7 to 9 minutes, depending on how well you like your lamb cooked (7 minutes on my grill produced medium-rare kabobs).

MARINATED LAMB KEBABS WITH A CHILE-YOGURT SAUCE

Steps:

• To prepare the kebabs, skewer the lamb pieces alternating with the onions into 6 large metal skewers. Place the kebabs in a large baking dish. In a small bowl, whisk together the garlic, orange zest and juice, mint, and oil. Pour the marinade over the kebabs and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, or up to 2 hours.
• While the lamb is marinating, prepare the yogurt sauce. Whisk together the yogurt, garlic, cumin, and chile powder in a bowl. Season, to taste, with salt and pepper. Refrigerate until you are ready to serve.
• To grill the kebabs, oil the grill and prepare a hot fire. If you are using a gas grill, preheat on high. If you are using a charcoal grill, let the coals burn until they are covered with gray ash. The fire is hot when you can hold your hand over the grill for no longer than 5 seconds. Remove the lamb from the marinade and drain very well. Place the skewers on the grill and grill, turning once or twice, for 6 to 8 minutes for medium doneness.
• Place the skewers on a serving platter, and garnish with mint sprigs. Serve warm, with the sauce on the side.

CURRY-YOGURT MARINATED LAMB KEBABS

Steps:

• Place lamb, zucchini, and summer squash in a large shallow baking dish or resealable plastic bag. In a medium bowl, stir together yogurt, lime zest and juice, honey, curry powder, coriander, onion, and mint. Season with salt and pepper. Pour marinade over lamb mixture; toss to coat. Let marinate, covered, in refrigerator at least 6 hours and up to 24. Soak skewers in water.
• Thread skewers with lamb, others with zucchini, and others with summer squash; discard marinade. Season with salt and pepper.
• Heat a grill pan to medium-high and grill lamb skewers until cooked to medium, about 4 minutes each side, and zucchini and squash skewers, turning frequently, 10 to 12 minutes. Remove from grill and serve immediately.

SPICY MEXICAN LAMB KEBABS

Steps:

• Soak ancho chile in small bowl of boiling water to cover 30 minutes or until chile is soft. Strain, reserving soaking liquid. Place chile and all remaining marinade ingredients in blender; blend to form smooth paste, adding reserved soaking liquid as needed.
• Pour marinade over lamb and red onion in resealable plastic bag. Refrigerate 2 hours, turning occasionally.
• Heat grill. Remove lamb and onion from marinade, leaving on plenty of the spice paste; discard marinade. Alternately thread lamb and onion onto 4 (12-inch) metal skewers. Grill, covered, over medium-high heat or coals 8 to 10 minutes or until browned on all sides and lamb is pink in center. Garnish with cilantro sprigs and lime wedges.

LAMB AND RED PEPPER KEBABS

Steps:

• Cut lamb into 32 pieces, each about 1 1/4 inches. In a large heavy-duty plastic sealable bag combine lamb and 3/4 cup marinade and seal bag, pressing out excess air. Marinate lamb, chilled, 1 day.
• Cut bell peppers into thirty-two 2- by 1 1/2-inch pieces and blanch in a large saucepan of boiling water 30 seconds. Drain peppers in a colander and, while still hot, in a bowl stir together with 1/4 cup marinade. Marinate peppers, covered and chilled, 1 day.
• Prepare grill. Soak skewers in warm water 30 minutes.
• Drain lamb, discarding marinade. In a sieve set over a bowl drain peppers and reserve marinade for basting. Thread 4 pepper pieces and 4 lamb pieces, alternating pepper with lamb, onto each skewer. Kebabs may be assembled 1 hour ahead and chilled, covered.
• Grill kebabs on a lightly oiled rack set 5 to 6 inches over glowing coals, basting with reserved marinade and turning them occasionally, about 12 minutes total for medium-rare meat. (Alternatively, broil kebabs under a preheated broiler 2 to 3 inches from heat about 4 minutes on each side.) Drizzle kebabs with remaining 1/4 cup marinade.

LAMB KABAB

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.