Lamb Or Chicken In Onion Yogurt Sauce Recipes

LAMB OR CHICKEN IN ONION-YOGURT SAUCE

Steps:

• Put butter in a large skillet or casserole that can later be covered, and turn heat to medium-high. Add onions, garlic and a large pinch of salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until onions become very soft and brown, at least 15 minutes. Stir in spices, and cook another minute or so. Add lamb or chicken, and stir.
• In a bowl, whisk yogurt with cornstarch until smooth. Stir it into mixture; if using chicken, add 1/3 cup water. Bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat, then cover and turn heat to low. Cook at least 40 minutes (by which time chicken will likely be tender) or longer, stirring occasionally, or until lamb is quite tender. Taste and adjust seasoning, then garnish with cilantro, and serve with basmati rice.

LAMB CHOPS WITH MINT-YOGURT MARINADE

Steps:

• Whisk 1 cup plain whole-milk yogurt in a bowl. Add 1 1/2 teaspoons crumbled dried mint and 2 tablespoons grated onion. Mash 1 garlic clove into a paste with 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt; add to the yogurt along with 1/2 teaspoon pepper, 1 teaspoon lemon juice and a pinch of cayenne pepper. Season 8 frenched lamb rib chops with salt and pepper; marinate in the yogurt sauce for 1 to 4 hours. Preheat a grill to medium-high on one side and place a drip pan under the cooler side. Lightly oil the grate. Grill the chops over direct heat until marked, 3 to 4 minutes per side. Move to the cooler side of the grill; cover and cook until the meat reaches 120 for medium-rare, 15 minutes. Let rest 10 minutes.

MEDITERRANEAN LAMB MEATBALL SANDWICHES WITH YOGURT SAUCE

Steps:

• Combine onion, mint, and garlic in a food processor; process until minced. Add lamb, paprika, cumin, salt, and pepper; process until smooth.
• Form 1 1/2 teaspoon of the lamb mixture into a ball. Repeat with remaining lamb mixture to make 20 meatballs.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease a baking sheet with cooking spray.
• Fill a large skillet with 1/4 inch of oil; heat over medium heat until bubbles form around the end of a wooden spoon dipped into the oil. Add half of the meatballs; cook until browned, 1 to 2 minutes per side. Transfer to the prepared baking sheet. Repeat with remaining meatballs.
• Bake meatballs in the preheated oven until center is no longer pink, about 10 minutes.
• Mix yogurt, tahini, and lemon juice together in a bowl to make yogurt sauce.
• Place 2 to 3 tablespoons yogurt sauce in a line down the center of each sheet of lavash. Add 2 to 3 tablespoons of feta cheese, 1/4 cup of lettuce, 2 tablespoons of tomato, 2 tablespoons of cucumber, and 5 meatballs. Fold up one end and sides of the lavash to roll into wraps.

CHICKEN THIGHS IN YOGURT AND ONIONS

Steps:

• Heat a large frying pan and add 2 tablespoons of the oil. Add the garlic and onion and saute until the onion is tender. Do not brown.
• Season the chicken with salt and pepper to taste. Heat another frying pan and add the remaining 1 tablespoon of oil.
• Brown the chicken on both sides and remove to a 13X9" glass baking dish.
• When the onions are tender stir in the yogurt and parsley off the heat. Salt and pepper to taste.
• Pour the mix over the chicken thighs and bake at 375º for 35 minutes.

YOGURT-MARINATED LAMB AND CHICKEN SKEWERS

Steps:

• Combine 1/2 cup yogurt, oil, lemon zest and juice, coriander seeds, and paprika in a bowl; add 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Mix well. Divide mixture between 2 resealable plastic bags; add lamb to one and chicken to the other. Seal bags after removing any air; massage meat to evenly distribute marinade. Let stand at room temperature 1 hour, or refrigerate up to 1 day (remove 1 hour before grilling).
• Thread meat onto long metal skewers (or soaked wooden skewers) with a lemon quarter on each end, leaving 1/4 inch between each piece to ensure even cooking. Thread tomatoes and onion onto separate skewers, then brush with oil. Season meat and vegetables with salt and pepper. Stir together remaining 1 1/2 cups yogurt, feta, and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Transfer to a serving bowl; drizzle with oil and sprinkle with pepper.
• Preheat grill for direct-heat cooking (medium-high on a gas grill). Brush grates with oil. Grill chicken until just cooked through, 10 to 12 minutes. Grill onions, turning a few times, until charred in places and softened, 8 to 10 minutes. Grill lamb, turning a few times, until charred in places, 6 to 8 minutes for medium-rare. Grill tomatoes until charred in places, 4 to 5 minutes. Transfer meat and grilled tomatoes and vegetables to a serving platter. Grill pitas, flipping once, until charred in places, 1 to 2 minutes; immediately wrap in a clean kitchen towel to steam and soften until ready to serve.
• Serve meat, onions, and tomatoes with pitas, yogurt sauce, cucumber, and dill, with grilled lemon wedges alongside.

LAMB PATTIES WITH FRIED ONIONS AND TAHINI-YOGURT SAUCE

Steps:

• Put lamb in a medium bowl. Add 1 teaspoon salt, some black pepper, the cumin, coriander, oregano, cinnamon, scallions, cilantro, mint and garlic. Mix well with wet hands, kneading the mixture to distribute seasoning. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour so the seasoning penetrates. (Alternatively, season meat and refrigerate overnight.)
• Make the sauce: In a small bowl, put tahini, lemon juice, garlic and cayenne. Stir well to dissolve the tahini. Then stir in yogurt, and mix well. Taste and add salt, to taste.
• Heat olive oil in a wide skillet over medium-high. When oil is wavy, add onions and cook, stirring frequently, until they are crisp and well browned, edging toward burned, about 10 to 12 minutes. Lower heat if browning too quickly. Add a little more oil, if pan looks dry. Season lightly with salt. Transfer to a plate lined with paper towels.
• Light a charcoal grill for a medium hot bed of coals. (Alternatively, use a medium-hot gas or electric grill, a cast-iron pan or griddle, or a broiler.)
• With wet hands, knead lamb mixture once more, then form into 4 (8-ounce) oval patties (or 6 5-ounce patties), about 1-inch thick. Set aside until the fire is ready. Place the grill about 1 inch from the coals.
• Cook patties about 4 minutes per side for medium-rare, 130 degrees. After flipping, cook until red juices appear on the top of the patties. For medium, 140 degrees, cook longer, about 5 minutes per side. In either case, let them rest on a warm plate for 5 minutes before serving, to keep in juices. They will continue cooking a bit as they rest.
• Top each burger with fried onions. Serve with tahini-yogurt sauce and warm pita, if desired.