Skewered Lamb Recipes

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.

LAMB SKEWERS

Steps:

• Soak the skewers in water about 30 minutes to avoid burning when you cook the lamb. Spear the lamb half way on the skewer, leave room for the stick to be handled. Combine the yogurt and spice blend. Place the lamb in the yogurt mixture and marinate in the refrigerator overnight. Remove from the marinade and season with salt and pepper. Sear in a hot pan or on a grill surface for 2 minutes on each side, or until cooked to desired doneness.

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 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.

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.

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

Steps:

• Prepare 8 bamboo skewers by soaking in hot water for 10 minutes.
• Combine all ingredients, except oil, in a bowl. Mix thoroughly. Mould the mixture into sausage shapes around skewers.
• Brush meat with oil. Cook over a preheated bbq or under a grill for 6-8 minutes or until lamb is golden brown and cooked through. Turn the skewers during cooking.
• Serve with bbq'd potatoes and salad.

SPICED LAMB SKEWERS WITH LEMONY ONIONS

Steps:

• Season lamb with salt and pepper. Add cumin and turmeric and toss to coat. (This can be done up to 24 hours ahead, if you like.)
• If you're using a charcoal grill, build the fire so it's screaming hot. This lamb is to be cooked hot and fast so it can stay nicely medium-rare, so the hotter the better. If you're using a gas grill, set it on high. Bring a clean platter, cutting board or baking dish out to the grill for the skewers to rest in after cooking.
• Combine onion, sumac (if using) and 3 tablespoons lemon juice; season with salt and pepper and toss to combine. Set aside.
• Combine yogurt and remaining 2 tablespoons lemon juice; season with salt and pepper. Set aside.
• Skewer the lamb onto wooden or metal skewers, 2 to 4 pieces per skewer.
• Once the grill is hot, cook the skewers on all sides until deeply browned and lightly charred all over, 2 to 3 minutes per side (less time for smaller pieces), moving the skewers around as needed to prevent excessive flare-ups. (If you've trimmed most of the fat away from the lamb, the flare-ups shouldn't be too bad.)
• Transfer the skewers to the platter, cutting board or baking dish to rest for a few minutes and drizzle with olive oil. Serve with the dressed onions, lemony yogurt, cilantro, olives, lavash and any pickled vegetables or peppers you like.

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.

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.

GRILLED "TANDOORI" LAMB

Steps:

• Whisk yogurt, lemon juice, onion, garlic, ginger, garam masala, paprika, cumin, turmeric, and cayenne pepper together in a bowl until combined.
• Toss lamb and salt into marinade; mix until lamb pieces are coated evenly. Cover mixture with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight, or at least 4 hours.
• Skewer lamb pieces so they barely touch. Wipe off excess marinade with a paper towel. Brush with vegetable oil and sprinkle with salt.
• Preheat grill for medium heat and lightly oil the grate.
• Grill skewers on medium heat until lamb springs back to the touch, about 5 to 7 minutes on each side.
• Garnish with red onions, lemon wedges, and chopped cilantro as desired.