Skewered Lamb Food

GRILLED SKEWERED LAMB

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine all the ingredients. Cover and let the meat marinate in the refrigerator for at least 12 hours, stirring once in a while.
• When ready to cook, remove the meat from the marinade, wipe off the excess and arrange it on small skewers, about four to five pieces on each one. (You'll need about 20 skewers.) Reserve the remaining marinade.
• Grill over coals or under the broiler for about six minutes, basting with the liquid of the marinade and turning the skewers to cook the meat evenly. Leave on the skewers and serve immediately.

SPICED SKEWERED LAMB

Steps:

• Soak 8 to 10 wooden skewers in water for about 20 minutes. Combine the chile flakes, cumin, fennel seeds, oil, soy sauce, rice wine, paprika, and salt in a bowl. Add the meat to the spices, and toss to coat. Thread the meat onto the skewers.
• Heat a griddle pan over a high heat, and add a drizzle of olive oil. Place the skewers into the pan, and cook until they brown on one side, then turn them over, and continue cooking for l minute. Turn off the heat, and serve.

LAMB SKEWER PITAS

Steps:

• Make the sauce: In a medium bowl, mix the yogurt, sour cream, cucumber, onion, dill, vinegar, cumin, honey, salt, cinnamon, pepper and garlic until combined. Set aside in the refrigerator to chill.
• Make the lamb skewers: In a large bowl, combine the lamb, oil, coriander, cumin, salt, allspice, cinnamon and garlic until evenly coated. Divide the meat into 6 portions and form into logs. Thread each log onto a skewer, then transfer to a plate, cover and chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes or up to overnight.
• Heat a cast-iron griddle over medium-high heat until very hot. Brush the griddle with oil. Grill the skewers, turning occasionally, until browned and cooked through, 8 to 10 minutes.
• To serve: Brush the pitas with oil and sprinkle with the zaatar. Add them to the griddle with the lamb and cook until toasted and warm, 2 to 3 minutes per side.
• In a large bowl, toss the cucumber, cilantro, parsley, oregano, onions, tomato and fennel. Add the vinegar and 3 tablespoons oil and toss to combine. Season to taste. Remove the meat from the skewers and place on the pitas; top with some salad. Serve with the lemon wedges and tzatziki sauce.

LAMB SOUVLAKI SKEWERS

Steps:

• Put the lamb into a large bowl or strong food bag. Add the olive oil, wine, oregano, lemon zest and juice, garlic and black pepper - don't add salt yet. Mix together so that all the lamb is completely coated, then chill and marinate for at least a few hrs or overnight.
• Lift the chunks of lamb out of the marinade and thread onto 10 metal skewers, or wooden ones that have been soaked. Freeze (see freezing tips, below), or heat a grill, barbecue or griddle pan if you want to eat them straight away.
• Season the meat with salt, then cook the skewers for 10-12 mins, turning, until cooked to your liking. Serve tucked into warm flatbreads with salad and drizzle with chilli sauce and yogurt.

GEORGIAN SHASHLYK (CAUCASIAN-STYLE SKEWERED LAMB)

Steps:

• Marinade: In a large bowl, beat together the grated onion, lemon juice, olive oil, salt and pepper.
• Add the meat and toss it in the marinade to coat it thoroughly, then allow to marinate at room temperature for at least 3 hours, tossing every hour or so to keep the meat moist.
• Light a layer of coals in a charcoal broiler and burn until a white ash appears on the surface, or preheat your kitchen broiler to its highest point.
• Remove the meat from the marinade and string them on 4 long skewers, pressing them firmly together, alternate the lamb with the chunks of onion.
• Broil 4" from the source of the heat, turning the skewers occasionally, until the meat is done to your taste and the onions are brown.
• For rare allow about 10 minutes; well-done (which is more typical of Georgian cooking) will take about 15.
• Slide the meat off onto individual plates and garnish with scallions and lemon.

SKEWERED LAMB WITH ALMOND-MINT PESTO

Steps:

• Finely chop almonds, cheese and garlic in processor. Add 1/3 cup oil and process to form paste. Add mint and basil and process until well blended and smooth. Mix in more oil if necessary to loosen mixture. Season pesto with salt and pepper.
• Thread 1 strip of lamb onto each skewer. Arrange in single layer on baking sheet. Lightly brush lamb with oil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Top pesto with 1/4-inch-thick layer of olive oil. Cover pesto and lamb separately and refrigerate. Spoon off oil from top of pesto before serving.) Preheat broiler. Broil lamb just until cooked through, about 2 minutes per side. Transfer to platter. Serve with pesto.

SKEWERS OF LAMB, PROSCIUTTO, AND SAGE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• In a skillet, heat the olive oil until almost smoking.
• Add the bread cubes and fry lightly on all sides.
• Remove to a plate lined with paper towels to drain.
• Thread 4 wooden skewers with bread cubes, prosciutto, lamb and sage leaves until all ingredients are used up.
• Season with salt and pepper, to taste, and place on a broiling pan.
• Broil in the oven or grill 15 minutes or until all ingredients are crisp.

LAMB SKEWERS ON THE GRILL

Steps:

• Strip the rosemary leaves from the sticks, leaving a few on each tip. Smash the leaves, using a mortar and pestle, with the garlic, some sea salt and 3 tbsp olive oil to make a paste.
• Make up skewers using the rosemary sticks. Thread one piece of folded pancetta onto each stick, then one sage leaf and one piece of lamb. Repeat so there are four pieces of lamb on each skewer (or 2-3 pieces if your skewers are shorter) and end with pancetta and sage. Spread the rosemary and garlic paste over the lamb and leave to marinate for at least 30 minutes. You can prepare up to this stage the day before and keep covered in the fridge.
• Grill the lamb over a medium heat on the barbecue for 10-15 minutes for medium/rare meat. Toast the slices of bread during the last few minutes and then lightly rub both sides with the whole garlic clove and drizzle with a little olive oil. Squeeze lemon juice over the lamb just before serving.

SKEWERED LAMB WITH BLACKBERRY-BALSAMIC GLAZE

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine the spreadable fruit, vinegar, rosemary and mustard. Pour 2/3 cup marinade into a shallow dish; add lamb. Turn to coat; cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour. Cover and refrigerate remaining marinade for basting., Drain lamb, discarding marinade in dish. Thread lamb onto 6 metal or soaked wooden skewers. Place kabobs on greased grill rack. Grill, covered, over medium heat or broil 4 in. from the heat until lamb reaches desired doneness (for medium-rare, a thermometer should read 135°; medium, 140°; medium-well, 145°), 10-12 minutes, turning once and basting frequently with reserved marinade. Sprinkle with salt before serving.