Lamb Kofta Kebabs From Jamie Oliver Food

SPICY KOFTA KEBABS

Steps:

• Place 4 wooden skewers in a tray of water to soak.
• Place the lamb and spices (if using) into a big bowl, pick in the thyme leaves and finely grate in the lemon zest, then scrunch and mix together well.
• Divide the mixture into 4 equal pieces. With damp hands, shape the meat around and along each skewer, pressing little indents into the meat as you go, for a nice texture.
• Grill the kebabs on a barbecue for 8 to 10 minutes, or until golden and cooked through, then push to the cool side and warm your tortillas next to them for 30 seconds (you can cook everything on a griddle pan or under the grill, if you prefer).
• Transfer the tortillas to plates and top each with a little lettuce. Drizzle with olive oil and a squeeze of lemon juice, if you like.
• Slip the meat off the skewers and break it up, add a dollop of yoghurt and drizzle over any resting juices. Finely chop and sprinkle with chilli (deseed if you like) for an extra kick, then tuck in. Delicious!

LAMB KOFTA KEBABS FROM JAMIE OLIVER

Steps:

• Put the pistachios into a blender and chop until they're all about half size.
• Add the lamb and thyme, along with most of the cumin, chili and sumac (or lemon zest) (reserve a little for sprinkling on the made-up kebab). Add salt and pepper to season.
• Pulse until it's mixed and looks like a chunky mince. If you don't pulse, you'll end up with a puree).
• Shape onto four metal skewers, so you have four sausage shapes. Dimple the kebabs with your fingers to improve the cooked texture.
• Place in the fridge for a couple of hours to "set" the meat a little.
• Put kebabs onto a very hot barbecue and cook until nicely golden.
• Meanwhile, in a bowl, mix the sliced onion with a good pinch of salt and pepper, and a squeeze of lemon juice, which will take the edge off the onion.
• Just before the kebabs are ready, add the salad leaves, mint and parsley to the bowl and mix together. Add another pinch of salt and pepper, drizzle with olive oil and another squeeze of lemon.
• Warm your tortillas on the griddle (or in the microwave for a few seconds).
• Place a spoonful of the salad mix in the middle, top with a kebab and a dollop of creme fraiche, and sprinkle with a little of the left over spices. Drizzle with a little olive oil, wrap up and eat, delish!

GRILLED LAMB KOFTA KEBABS WITH PISTACHIOS AND SPICY SALAD WRAP

Steps:

• Place the lamb in a food processor with most of the thyme, chili, cumin and sumac (reserving a little of each for sprinkling over later), a little salt and pepper and all the pistachios. Put the lid on and keep pulsing until the mixture looks like ground meat.
• Divide the meat into 4 equal pieces and get yourself 4 skewers. With damp hands, push and shape the meat around and along each skewer. Press little indents in the meat with your fingers as you go - this will give it a better texture when cooked.
• In a bowl, mix the salad leaves and mint. In another bowl, combine the sliced onion with a good pinch of salt and pepper and a squeeze of lemon juice (the acidity will take the edge off and lightly pickle the raw onion). Scrunch this all together with your hands, then mix in the parsley leaves.
• Grill the kebabs until nicely golden on all sides. Dress your salad leaves and mint with a splash of extra-virgin olive oil, a squeeze of lemon juice and some salt and pepper. Meanwhile, warm the flatbreads for 30 seconds on the griddle pan or under the broiler, then divide between plates and top each with some dressed salad leaves and onion. When your kebabs are cooked, slip them off their skewers onto the flatbreads - you can leave them whole or break them up as I've done here. Sprinkle with the rest of the sumac, cumin, chili and fresh thyme, and a little salt and pepper. Now either toss the salads, grilled meat and juices together on top of the flatbreads and drizzle with some of the yogurt before rolling up and serving; or let your friends toss theirs together at the table, then dress and roll up their own, drizzled with some extra-virgin olive oil.
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LAMB KOFTAS

Steps:

• Mix together all the ingredients until well blended. Divide into eight balls, then roll each ball on a board with a cupped hand to turn them into ovals. Thread onto four metal skewers and brush with oil.
• To cook on a griddle: heat the pan until you can feel a good heat rising and cook for 3-4 mins each side. Don't turn until they are well sealed or the meat will stick to the grill or pan.
• Season if you want, and set aside. Serve the koftas with yogurt and spiced flat breads.