Cape Malay Sosaties Kabobs Recipes

SOUTH AFRICAN SOSATIES (MALAY KEBABS)

Steps:

• Make the MARINADE first, as it has to cool down completely. Use a large pot.
• Fry the onion rings in oil until light brown. Stir now and then.
• While onion fries, mix all the dry ingredients in a bowl: the crushed coriander, all the spices, the brown sugar, the cornflour and the salt.
• (I prefer using a heaped tablespoon of grated fresh ginger: if you use that, add it with the garlic to the liquids. I put all the liquid ingredients, including the jam, garlic and fresh ginger, in a bowl or measuring jug).
• When the onions are light brown, stir in the mixed dry ingredients, and fry for a minute or so to release the flavours. Add an extra splash of oil, stir, and don't let the spices burn.
• Turn heat lower, and add the liquids: vinegar, wine, apricot jam, grated ginger (if using) and garlic to taste. Also add the lemon or bay leaves, or julienned lemon peel. (These can be left out).
• Stir well and simmer slowly until thickened.
• Now taste carefully: the sauce should neither be too acidic or too sweet, just spicy and tangy. Adjust by adding either a little more vinegar or lemon juice, or more sugar. (In any such recipe the cook must taste and adjust!). And no, the 6 tblsp sugar are not too much. You do not want an acidic sauce, just a tangy one!
• Cool the sauce, and stir in the milk and a little water. It must be of a coating consistency. If you think it is too thick, add a little more water and stir well. Leave sauce in pot, and cut up the meats.
• Cut the meat off the leg of lamb, and cut into bite-sized chunks, not too small. Do the same with the pork. The pork should have fat on it, and the best ratio of lamb to pork is about 2 - 1. (If you dislike pork, leave it out).
• The number of apricots, onions and skewers given could vary, as it will depend on how much meat you cut off the lamb leg, and how much meat you put on a skewer.
• The meats: the meats should be strung on the skewers, alternating the different ingredients, with about 2 apricot halves and 2 onion rings per skewer. The lamb chunks should predominate.
• Using a rectangular glass or ceramic dish (you could use Tupperware but not metal or stainless steel) pack in the skewers of meat, and cover every layer with sauce. I take the pot of sauce, roll each sosatie skewer in the sauce, and pack in a plastic container. When all the skewers have been "sauced", up-end the leftover sauce over the sosaties in the container. Seal airtight and refrigerate.
• You will probably have 2 - 3 layers of skewers. To make sure they're all coated, turn the container upside down once a day.
• Cover and keep in fridge for 2 - 3 days before use. The sosaties will improve on standing, and can be kept up to 5 days in the sauce.
• Grill as explained in the introduction. Goes well with traditional yellow rice or basmati, or potato salad and a mixed green salad. Ideal food to take on a picnic!

SOSATIES

Steps:

• Finely chop the onion then soften it in a little oil in a small pan until it is becoming translucent but not browning.
• Add the garlic and ginger and cook a minute then add the vinegar, jam, curry powder, cumin and salt. Mix well then remove from heat and leave to cool.
• Dice the lamb into relatively large dice (around 1 1/2-2 inch/ 4-5cm dice), trimming excess fat or sinew. Mix the cooled marinade through the lamb then cover and leave a few hours or overnight, refrigerated.
• Soak the apricots in hot water to soften for around 15-20 minutes.
• Thread the meat onto skewers along with the soaked dried apricots and chunks of onion, putting one or other between each chunk of meat.
• Cook on a grill/bbq until the meat is cooked through then serve.

SOSATIES (SOUTH AFRICAN KABOBS)

Steps:

• For the marinade, cook the onion and garlic in hot oil till the onion is tender but not brown. Stir in the curry powder, sugar, and 1/2 tsp turmeric. Remove from the heat. Stir in the lemon juice, chili peppers, bay leaf, and 1/2 cup water. Let cool.
• Place the lamb or beef in a plastic bag set in a bowl. Add the marinade. Chill 8-12 hours, turning bag often. Drain the lamb (or beef), reserving the marinade.
• Strain the marinade, discarding the vegetables. Divide the marinade, use 1/3 for basting the sosaties while cooking; set aside 2/3 for the serving sauce.
• Thread the lamb or beef on 8 short skewers. (If using bamboo or wood skewers, soak in water before using). These are typically grilled in South Africa, and if so, you need to start your grill. You can also broil them. If so heat your broiler.
• Combine the rice, 1/2 tsp turmeric, saffron, 2 cups cold water, and 1/2 tsp salt; Cover. Bring to a boil, and immediately reduce heat. Cook 14 minutes more (do not lift cover!). Remove from heat; let stand, covered, for 10 minutes.
• Grill or broil the lamb for 10 to 12 minutes or until desired doneness, brushing with 1/3 of the reserved marinade and giving a quarter turn every 3 minutes. (If broiling, broil 4 inches from heat.)
• While the sosaties are cooking, bring 2/3 of the marinade to a boil; reduce heat. Simmer, uncovered for 5 to 6 minutes to reduce.
• Serve the sosaties over rice, and pass the sauce.