Skewered Ground Meat Recipes

SPICED GROUND MEAT SKEWERS

Steps:

• In a large mixing bowl, combine the meat, onion, garlic, cilantro, cumin, sumac, salt, Urfa pepper, black pepper, and cinnamon, if using.
• With your hands, thoroughly knead and massage the meat to incorporate the ingredients, about 4 minutes. Breaking down the meat will create a sticky, cohesive mixture that results in a pleasing springy texture. You can also combine everything in an electric mixer with the paddle attachment, in which case it will take only about 2 minutes. Chill the mixture for at least 2 hours or up to overnight.
• Wet your hands with cold water, then divide meat into 6 equal portions and mold each around a metal or soaked bamboo skewer (see Tip). Transfer skewers to a large plate or baking sheet. You can grill them right away at this point, or cover and refrigerate them while preparing the grill (up to 4 hours).
• Heat the grill to high. When the grill is hot, lightly brush the grates with oil, and add the skewers. Cook, rotating them carefully every few minutes, until evenly browned and slightly charred in places, about 5 to 10 minutes. Transfer to a platter and let rest for a few minutes. Garnish with more herbs, sumac and flaky sea salt, and serve.

THAI-STYLE GROUND PORK SKEWERS

Steps:

• Combine pork, sugar, fish sauce, garlic, salt, and pepper in a bowl. Mix together thoroughly. Dissolve baking powder in 1 tablespoon water and blend completely into the pork mixture. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for 1 hour.
• Preheat an outdoor grill for medium heat and lightly oil the grate.
• Thread a handful of the pork mixture through a skewer using lightly oiled hands. Shape meat into a 1-inch-thick sausage around the skewer. Repeat with the remaining pork and skewers.
• Grill skewers, turning as needed, until browned on all sides and no longer pink in the center, about 15 minutes. Cut each sausage into bite-sized pieces before serving.

BEEF KOFTAS (GROUND BEEF ON SKEWERS)

Steps:

• If using bamboo skewers, soak in water for at least 1 hour.
• If you can, run the beef and onions through a food grinder twice. If you don't have a grinder, pulse the onion in a food processor until chopped finely and then add the beef and pulse until it reaches quite a fine consistency. Place in a bowl.
• Soak bread in milk and add to meat together with the seasonings.
• Mix well and form into football shaped meatballs 2-3 inch in diameter. About 2 or 3 meatballs should fit on each skewer. You can shape them right on the skewers.
• Grill on skewers until cooked through.

MOROCCAN GROUND BEEF KEBAB / SKEWERS

Steps:

• Combine the beef, onion, parsley, cilantro, & spices in a large bowl, refrigerate for 1 hour.
• Wash your hands but don't dry them. Gently pack small amounts of the meat mixture around the skewers, forming a 4-inch long sausage shape on each skewer.
• Grill over charcoal, turning the kebab time to time so not to burn. Cook throughly. Serve with Recipe #260654 or some other dense bread.