Lamb And Eggplant Kebabs Sedzeli Kebab Recipes

LAMB AND EGGPLANT KEBABS / SEDZELI KEBAB

Steps:

• 1. If desired, set up the grill for grateless grilling. Preheat the grill to high.2. Place the lamb in a large bowl and mix in the onion, garlic, parsley, 1 teaspoon salt, the cumin, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Knead and squeeze the mixture with your hands until thoroughly blended, 3 to 4 minutes. To test the mixture for seasoning, sauté a small amount of it in a nonstick skillet until cooked through, then taste, adding salt or pepper to the remaining mixture as necessary it should be highly seasoned.3. Trim the ends off the eggplants and discard cut each eggplant crosswise into 1 1/2-inch rounds. Thread each round, through the cut sides, on a skewer, 4 to a skewer, spacing about 1 1/2 inches apart.4. Line a baking sheet with plastic wrap. Divide the meat mixture into 24 equal portions. Lightly wet your hands with cold water, then take one of the portions of meat and mold it around a skewer, between 2 eggplant rounds, making it as much as possible the same size and shape as the eggplant. Repeat with the remaining portions of meat so each skewer contains 4 eggplant rounds alternating with 3 portions of meat. Place each kebab as it is made on the prepared baking sheet (see Note).5. When ready to cook, if not using the grateless method, generously oil the grate. Arrange the kebabs on the grill as described in the grateless method, or arrange directly on the hot oiled grate. Grill, turning with tongs, until nicely browned and cooked through, 12 to 16 minutes in all.6. Use a lavash to protect your hand as you slide the meat and eggplant off their skewers onto serving plates. If desired, trim away the charred eggplant skin before eating. Serve accompanied by lavash.Serves 4Note: If not planning to cook immediately, cover loosely with plastic wrap and refrigerate.

MAMA'S OH-SO-SAVORY LAMB AND EGGPLANT CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Place eggplant in a colander set in a bowl or the sink; sprinkle with 1 teaspoon salt and toss to coat. Let eggplant stand for at least 1 hour. Rinse off the bitter liquid and excess salt and drain well.
• Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Stir in onion and celery; cook and stir until onion has softened and turned translucent and celery is fragrant, about 5 minutes.
• While vegetables are cooking, combine ground cumin, oregano, rosemary, paprika, mint, salt, and black pepper in a small bowl or mortar and pestle and mix well; this is the lamb seasoning (see Cook's Note). Set seasoning aside.
• Stir eggplant cubes and garlic into the vegetables in the skillet, mixing well, and cook for an additional 5 minutes. Add chopped tomatoes and sprinkle with half of the lamb seasoning mixture. Reserve remaining seasoning. Stir gently and cook for 5 minutes more.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease a 2-quart casserole dish.
• Pour chicken broth and half the can of tomato sauce into the skillet and simmer for 10 minutes; add a little water if the sauce starts to get dry. Transfer the sauce to the prepared casserole dish.
• Return the skillet to the stove over medium-high heat and heat the reserved tablespoon of olive oil over medium heat. Place ground lamb into skillet and sprinkle with remaining seasoning mixture. Brown lamb in the hot oil, stirring frequently, until the meat is evenly browned; it should look like imperfect meatballs.
• Gently transfer the lamb to the casserole dish, pushing it down into the vegetable mixture so that it is at least partially submerged. Stir fresh lemon juice into the remaining tomato sauce and pour the sauce over the casserole.
• Bake uncovered for 45 minutes to 1 hour, depending upon how tender you like your vegetables.