**Mouthwatering Greek Lamb Kabobs: A Culinary Journey to the Mediterranean**
Prepare to embark on a tantalizing culinary adventure as we delve into the realm of Greek lamb kabobs, a delectable dish that embodies the essence of Mediterranean cuisine. These succulent skewers, grilled to perfection, are a symphony of flavors, textures, and aromas that will transport your taste buds to the vibrant streets of Greece. With three enticing variations, each offering a unique twist on this classic dish, you'll have a recipe for every occasion. From the classic Greek lamb kabobs, bursting with the traditional flavors of oregano, lemon, and garlic, to the tantalizing harissa lamb kabobs, infused with the vibrant heat of North African spices, and the innovative tzatziki lamb kabobs, where the refreshing coolness of yogurt and cucumber meets tender lamb, this article presents a culinary journey that will redefine your kabob experience.
GREEK STYLE LAMB KABOBS WITH PITA AND TZATZIKI SAUCE RECIPE
Steps:
- Gather the ingredients.
- Combine the oil, lemon juice, oregano, garlic, and salt and pepper to taste in a small bowl.
- Add lamb cubes, and toss to coat. Cover and marinate in refrigerator for at least 6 hours, or up to overnight.
- Drain meat cubes and discard the marinade. Prepare a medium (350°F to 375°F) gas or charcoal grill fire.
- Thread lamb, tomatoes, and onion pieces onto 4 skewers (5 pieces of lamb, 4 tomatoes, 4 pieces of onion per skewer).
- Grill for 12 to 15 minutes, turning half way through cooking time to the desired degree of doneness. A thermometer should register 145 F/65 C for medium-rare, 160 F/70 C for medium or 170 F/75 C for well.
- Serve with warm pita bread, Tzatziki sauce, and salad greens, if using.
- Gather the ingredients.
- Stir together the yogurt, cucumber, lemon juice, mint, and salt and pepper to taste in a medium bowl. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour to allow flavors to marry.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 811 kcal, Carbohydrate 51 g, Cholesterol 112 mg, Fiber 3 g, Protein 42 g, SaturatedFat 13 g, Sodium 560 mg, Sugar 13 g, Fat 49 g, ServingSize 8 pitas (8 servings), UnsaturatedFat 0 g
MARINATED LAMB KEBABS
Provided by Ina Garten
Categories main-dish
Time 8h30m
Yield 4 to 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Combine the yogurt, olive oil, lemon zest and juice, rosemary, salt, and pepper in a large, non-reactive bowl. Add the lamb, making sure it is covered with the marinade, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight or for up to 2 days.
- Prepare a charcoal grill with hot coals. Spread the coals in one tight layer on the grill.
- Cut the lamb in 1 1/2-inch cubes. You should have about 20 cubes.
- Cut the red onion in 8 pieces and separate each piece into 3 or 4 sections. Loosely thread 3 or 4 pieces of lamb onto skewers alternately with sections of onion. Sprinkle both sides of the lamb cubes with salt and pepper. Place the skewers on the hot grill and cook for 10 to 15 minutes, turning 2 or 3 times, until the lamb is medium-rare.
LAMB KABOBS
Provided by Ina Garten
Categories appetizer
Time 8h45m
Yield 8 to 12 servings
Number Of Ingredients 17
Steps:
- Cut the lamb in 1 1/2-inch cubes. You should have about 40 cubes. Combine the garlic, rosemary, thyme, olive oil, red wine, vinegar, and 1 teaspoon of salt in a medium bowl. Add the lamb cubes, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate overnight or for up to 2 days. Toss occasionally.
- Heat a charcoal grill with coals. Spread the coals in 1 tight layer on the grill.
- Cut the red onions in quarters and separate each quarter into 3 or 4 sections. Loosely thread 3 or 4 pieces of lamb alternately with sections of onion on skewers. Sprinkle both sides of the lamb with salt and pepper. Next place 4 or 5 cherry tomatoes on skewers, threading them through the stem of the tomato. Rub the tomatoes with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. First, place the lamb skewers on the hot grill and cook for 10 to 15 minutes, turning 2 or 3 times, until the lamb is medium rare. Approximately 5 minutes before the lamb is done, place the tomato skewers on the grill, turning once, until seared on the outside but still firm inside.
- For the sauce, bring the chicken stock, olive oil, and lemon juice to a boil in a medium pot. Lower the heat and simmer for 5 minutes, until reduced in half. Add the rosemary, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, and the pepper. Serve the sauce on the side.
LAMB KABOBS WITH TZATZIKI SAUCE
Provided by Sunny Anderson
Categories main-dish
Time 1h53m
Yield 6 servings (makes roughly 12 kabobs)
Number Of Ingredients 19
Steps:
- Preheat grill to high. Soak skewers in water for 25 to 30 minutes.
- In a large bowl combine lamb, scallions, onion powder, oregano, rosemary, garlic powder, cumin, thyme, salt and pepper, to taste. Form meat around skewers, making an oblong sausage shape pressing and securing firmly. Refrigerate 30 minutes. Remove skewers from refrigerator. Brush grill with oil. Grill kabobs until charred on the outside and medium-rare on the inside, turning only once, about 3 minutes each side. Brush pita lightly with oil, and grill briefly on both sides to warm. Remove lamb kabobs from skewers and place 2 on each pita. Drizzle with Tzatziki Sauce to serve.
- Add the yogurt, cucumber, garlic, hot sauce, lemon juice and zest in a food processor and blend until smooth. Season with salt and pepper, and transfer to a bowl. Refrigerate at least 1 hour before serving.
GREEK LAMB KABOBS
DH and I made these fast, easy, tasty grilled lamb kabobs last night for dinner and enjoyed them very much. We served over a bed of rice pilaf, with a side of grilled asparagus. I bought lamb that was already cubed for ease and speed. This recipe is from the Williams-Sonoma Food Made Fast Series, "Weeknight." The recipe says to serve over rice pilaf and to accompany with thickly sliced tomatoes drizzled with olive oil and sprinkled with crumbled feta cheese. Prep time includes marinating time.
Provided by Dr. Jenny
Categories Lamb/Sheep
Time 35m
Yield 4 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Marinate the lamb: Place 8 bamboo skewers in cold water until ready to use. Grate 3 tsp zest from the lemons and squeeze 5 Tb juice. In a shallow glass or ceramic dish just large enough to hold the lamb in a single layer, combine 2 tsp of the lemon zest, 3 Tb of the lemon juice, the oregano, half each of the green onions and garlic, and the olive oil. Season the lamb generously with salt and pepper. Add the lamb to the marinade and turn to coat. Let stand at room temperature for 15 minutes.
- Make the Yogurt Sauce: Meanwhile, in a small bowl, stir together the yogurt, cucumber, the remaining 1 tsp lemon zest and 2 Tb lemon juice, and the remaining green onions and garlic. Season with salt and pepper. Cover and refrigerate 15 minutes.
- Grill the Lamb: Prepare a gas or charcoal grill for direct-heat grilling over high heat and oil the grill rack. Or, preheat a broiler. Remove the lamb from the marinade, discarding the marinade. Thread the lamb onto the skewers. Place on the grill rack, or put on a baking sheet and place under the broiler. Cook, turning once, 6 to 7 minutes for medium rare or done to your liking. Divide the skewers among 4 plates and serve with the yogurt sauce.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 583.1, Fat 44.9, SaturatedFat 15.9, Cholesterol 125.3, Sodium 130.5, Carbohydrate 14.3, Fiber 3.7, Sugar 4.6, Protein 34.4
SIMPLE LAMB KEBABS WITH GREEK FLAVORS
In days gone by, Italian dressing might have been a go-to marinade for lamb. After you soak, say, some lamb skewers in this dressing for a while and then grill them, what you get is grilled lamb with a kind of vague mix of vinegar, oil and faded herb taste. Contrast this with grilling the lamb, then putting it in a bowl and adding an acidic flavor, like lemon juice or vinegar, the oil and whatever herbs you choose. You'll get the smoothness of the oil, the sharp hit of the acid (in this case, lemon juice), the aroma of the herbs (in this case marjoram) and the sweet meatiness of the lamb, each distinct flavor complementing and reinforcing others.
Provided by John Willoughby And Chris Schlesinger
Categories dinner, easy, quick, main course
Time 30m
Yield 4 entree servings
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Build a fire in your grill; when the coals are covered with gray ash and the temperature is medium high (you can hold your hand 5 inches above the coals for 3 to 4 seconds), you're ready to cook. (For a gas grill, turn all burners to high, lower cover and heat for 15 minutes, then turn burners to medium high.)
- While the fire is heating up, trim the lamb of all but a thin layer of fat and cut into 32 more-or-less-equal chunks. Combine in a bowl with the 1/4 cup of olive oil and the salt and pepper and toss well to coat, then thread them onto skewers, about 8 chunks per skewer; they should snuggle up to one another but not be tightly pressed.
- Put the skewers directly over the coals and cook, turning to expose all 4 sides to the direct heat of the coals, until done to your liking, 2 to 3 minutes a side (8 to 12 minutes total) for medium rare. To check for doneness, cut into one of the chunks and check to see if it is done to your liking - remove from the heat when it is just slightly less done than you want it to be when you eat it.
- While the lamb is cooking, prepare the remaining ingredients but keep in separate containers. Slide the lamb chunks off the skewers into a large bowl, add the remaining oil, lemon juice, garlic and marjoram one after another, toss well to coat, season to taste if needed and serve.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 782, UnsaturatedFat 43 grams, Carbohydrate 7 grams, Fat 65 grams, Fiber 3 grams, Protein 43 grams, SaturatedFat 18 grams, Sodium 691 milligrams, Sugar 1 gram
LAMB KEBABS & GREEK SALAD
Skewer your meat and griddle to your preference and serve with a healthy salad of tomatoes, olives and feta
Provided by Good Food team
Categories Dinner, Main course
Time 30m
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Mix the lemon juice, olive oil and garlic in a mixing bowl. Pour half into a jug and set aside for later. Add the lamb to the bowl, stir to coat, then thread onto 8 small skewers If using wooden skewers, soak in water for at least 30 mins before use. Pour over any excess marinade and let stand for 10 mins.
- Meanwhile, mix all salad ingredients together, except the mint, and pour over the reserved lemon juice and oil mix.
- Heat a griddle pan. Cook the lamb for 8 mins, turning every couple of mins, until cooked through and slightly charred. Mix the mint through the salad and serve immediately with the kebabs.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 495 calories, Fat 36 grams fat, SaturatedFat 16 grams saturated fat, Carbohydrate 5 grams carbohydrates, Sugar 4 grams sugar, Fiber 2 grams fiber, Protein 38 grams protein, Sodium 2.2 milligram of sodium
Tips:
- Choose high-quality lamb: Opt for fresh, tender lamb that is free from any strong odors. Look for cuts with a good amount of marbling, as this will help keep the meat moist and flavorful during grilling.
- Use a flavorful marinade: The marinade is key to infusing the lamb with delicious flavors. Experiment with different combinations of herbs, spices, and liquids to create a marinade that suits your taste preferences. Some popular options include garlic, oregano, rosemary, thyme, lemon juice, olive oil, and red wine.
- Tenderize the lamb: To ensure the lamb is tender and succulent, consider tenderizing it before grilling. This can be done by using a meat mallet or a fork to poke holes in the meat, allowing the marinade to penetrate more deeply.
- Skewer the lamb properly: When assembling the kabobs, make sure to skewer the lamb pieces tightly to prevent them from falling off during grilling. Fold the edges of the meat around the skewer to create a compact and secure hold.
- Grill the kabobs over high heat: High heat will help sear the lamb quickly, creating a flavorful crust while keeping the inside tender and juicy. Make sure to preheat your grill before cooking and maintain a consistent temperature throughout the grilling process.
- Baste the kabobs during grilling: To keep the lamb moist and prevent it from drying out, baste it with the remaining marinade or a mixture of olive oil, lemon juice, and herbs during grilling. This will add extra flavor and help prevent the meat from becoming overcooked.
Conclusion:
Greek lamb kabobs are a delicious and versatile dish that can be enjoyed as an appetizer, main course, or even a snack. With their tender meat, flavorful marinade, and charred exterior, these kabobs are sure to impress your friends and family. By following the tips and techniques outlined in this article, you can create perfectly cooked lamb kabobs that are bursting with flavor. So fire up your grill and get ready to enjoy this classic Greek dish!
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