Persian Beef Kebabs Recipes

PERSIAN SHISH KABOB

Steps:

• Cut beef into cubes 1x1/2 inch. Add to a medium mixing bowl along with the onion, salt, black pepper, and lime juice. Mix well, cover, and refrigerate overnight.
• Preheat grill for high heat.
• Thread beef on skewers, 6 to 8 pieces per skewer.
• Lightly oil grate, and place kebobs on grill. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes per side, 12 to 16 minutes in all.

KABOB KOOBIDEH (PERSIAN GROUND MEAT KABOBS)

Steps:

• Shave onions with a grater into a fine mesh strainer. Gently press pulp into the strainer to remove juices. Place pulp into the center of the cheesecloth and gently press until no further juice drips out.
• Place lamb and beef in a pot. Add green onion and onion pulp; mix until thoroughly combined. Mix in baking powder, salt, pepper, sumac, and turmeric. Add eggs and mix thoroughly. Cover the pot and place in the refrigerator until flavors have melded, at least 30 minutes.
• Preheat an outdoor grill for medium heat and lightly oil the grate.
• Mold meat mixture onto the skewers.
• Cook on the preheated grill, rotating every minute, until nicely browned on all sides, and meat is no longer pink in the center, about 25 minutes.

QUICK PERSIAN BEEF KEBABS

Steps:

• Cut the tenderloin crosswise into 1 inch thick slices. Place the slices flat on the cutting board and cut into 1 inch wide strips. Cut each strip crosswise into 1/2 inch thick pieces. Thread the beef onto the skewers and place them on a large nonreactive platter.
• Puree the onion in food processor. Strain the resulting puree over the kebabs, turning to coat all slices. Using a fork, beat the lime juice, oil, pepper and salt in a small bowl, then pour the mixture over the kebabs, again turning to coat on all sides. Marinate for 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, preheat the grill to high.
• When ready to cook, oil the grate. Drain the kebabs, arrange on the hot grate, and grill until cooked to taste, 1 to 2 minutes per side (4 to 8 minutes in all; Iranians like their beef on the medium side of medium-rare). Transfer the kebabs to a platter. With the butter on the end of a fork, for easy handling, rub it over each kebab. Serve immediately, with the lavash, using a piece of the bread to protect your hand as you slide the beef off the skewer.

INDOOR BEEF "KABOBS" -- PERSIAN KABOB BARG

Steps:

• Cut beef short ribs into long strips about 1/4-inch wide; kitchen shears are very handy here.
• Mix all other ingredients except olive oil in a large plastic bag. Alternatively, of course, a bowl with a cover is fine.
• Coat the beef evenly in the yogurt mixture and marinade for 8-24 hours.
• Wipe or rinse most of the marinade off of the beef and pat mostly dry -- you want a little bit of marinade to stay on, for browning, but not a solid layer, which would burn while the meat steamed under it.
• In a large nonstick pan, heat the olive oil on high heat. When it starts to smoke very slightly, put in three or four pieces of meat -- don't crowd the pan here! -- and brown on both sides, about one-two minutes per side.
• Rest on a plate in a very low oven while you cook the rest of the meat in batches.
• Cut the rested meat into bite-sized pieces; again, a good pair of kitchen shears makes this much easier.
• Serve over rice.