Description
Juicy, aromatic meat skewers made with a blend of ground beef and lamb, infused with warm Middle Eastern spices like allspice, sumac, and cayenne. Achieve a perfect char without drying, using soaked bread for moisture and vibrant herbs for freshness. A crowd-pleasing centerpiece for any meal.
Ingredients
1 medium yellow onion, quartered
2 garlic cloves
1 bunch fresh parsley, stems removed
1 lb ground beef
1/2 lb ground lamb (optional)
1 slice bread, toasted and soaked in 2 cups water (or almond/flour substitute)
3 tablespoons Middle Eastern spices (cayenne, allspice, cardamom, sumac)
10 skewers (wooden, soaked in water for 30 minutes)
Instructions
Soak 10 skewers in water for 30 minutes while preparing the mixture
Toast 1 bread slice and soak in 2 cups water until tender; squeeze out excess liquid
Chop onion, garlic, and parsley in a food processor until finely ground
Add ground beef, ground lamb (if using), and soaked/squeezed bread to the processor
Blend in 3 tablespoons of cayenne, allspice, cardamom, and sumac mixture until paste-like
Mold 1/4 cup of the mixture around each skewer into 1-inch thick cylinders
Chill skewers for 30 minutes to firm up the meat
Preheat gas grill to 400°F and lightly oil the grates
Grill skewers 4 minutes per side for a charred crust (adjust time for meat doneness)
Let rest 5 minutes before serving
Notes
Chilling helps shape the skewers and avoids messy handling
Replace meat with tofu/tempeh for a meat-free option
Soak wooden skewers thoroughly to prevent burning
Resting meat retains juices during grilling
- Prep Time: 30
- Cook Time: 7
- Category: Main Dishes
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: Middle Eastern
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 skewer
- Calories: 140
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 200mg
- Fat: 8g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Carbohydrates: 5g
- Fiber: 0.8g
- Protein: 7g
- Cholesterol: 35mg