Servings: 4-6
Start to finish: 1 hour, 45 minutes
1/2 cup pine nuts
4 garlic cloves, peeled
11/2 teaspoons smoked hot paprika
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/4 teaspoon ground coriander
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 1/2 pounds ground lamb
1/2 cup grated onion, drained
1/3 cup minced fresh parsley
1/3 cup minced fresh mint
1 1/2 teaspoons unflavored gelatin
1 (13 by 9 inch) disposable aluminum roasting pan (if using charcoal)
1 cup Za’atar Yogurt Sauce (recipe follows)
Process pine nuts, garlic, paprika, salt, cumin, pepper, coriander, cloves, nutmeg, and cinnamon in food processor until coarse paste forms, 30 to 45 seconds. Transfer mixture to large bowl. Add lamb, onion, parsley, mint, and gelatin and knead with your hands until thoroughly combined and mixture feels slightly sticky, about 2 minutes. Divide mixture into 8 equal portions. Shape each portion into 5 inch-long cylinder about 1 inch in diameter. Using eight 12 inch metal skewers, thread 1 cylinder onto each skewer, pressing gently to adhere. Transfer kebabs to lightly greased baking sheet, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or up to 24 hours.
— For a charcoal grill: Using skewer, poke 12 holes in bottom of disposable pan. Open bottom vent completely and place pan in center of grill. Light large chimney starter two-thirds filled with charcoal -briquettes (4 quarts). When top coals are partially covered with ash, pour into disposable pan. Set cooking grate in place, cover, and open lid vent completely. Heat grill until hot, about 5 minutes.
— For a gas grill: Turn all burners to high, cover, and heat grill until hot, about 15 minutes. Leave all burners on high.
Clean and oil cooking grate. Place kebabs on grill (directly over coals if using charcoal) at 45 degree angle to bars. Cook (covered if using gas) until browned and meat easily releases from grill, 4 to 7 minutes. Flip kebabs and continue to cook until meat is browned on second side and registers 160 F, about 6 minutes. Transfer kebabs to serving platter and serve, passing yogurt sauce separately.
Za’atar yogurt sauce
We prefer to use our homemade Za’atar, but you can substitute store-bought za’atar; different za’atar blends include varying salt amounts.
1 cup plain whole-milk yogurt
1 tablespoon za’atar (recipe follows)
1 garlic clove, minced
1 teaspoon grated lemon zest plus 1 tablespoon juice
Salt and pepper
Whisk yogurt, za’atar, garlic, and lemon zest and juice together in bowl and season with salt and pepper to taste. Cover and refrigerate so flavors meld, about 30 minutes. (Sauce can be refrigerated for up to 4 days.)
Za’atar:
Za’atar is an aromatic eastern Mediterranean spice blend that is used as both a seasoning and a condiment. The thyme gives it a round herbal flavor, the sumac lemony tartness, and the sesame seeds richness and subtle crunch.
1/2 cup dried thyme
2 tablespoons sesame seeds, toasted
1 1/2 tablespoons ground sumac
Working in batches, process thyme in spice grinder until finely ground, about 30 seconds; transfer to small bowl. Stir in sesame seeds and sumac. (Za’atar can be stored in airtight container for up to 3 months.)
Nutrition information per serving: 359 calories; 222 calories from fat; 25 g fat (7 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 77 mg cholesterol; 530 mg sodium; 9 g carbohydrate; 3 g fiber; 3 g sugar; 28 g protein.
For more recipes, cooking tips and ingredient and product reviews, visit https://www.americastestkitchen.com . Find more recipes like Grilled Lamb Kofte in “Spiced .”
America’s Test Kitchen provided this article to The Associated Press.
