Kabob Koobideh (Minced Meat Kebab)

Step 1

Peel the onion and grate it using a box grater and squeeze out the juices. Save the juices for later.

Step 2

Combine the ground meat, grated onion, salt, pepper and turmeric in a mixing bowl. Knead the mixture for about 5 minutes into a cohesive pasty dough-like mass that can be molded and will not drop off easily.

Step 3

The kabob mixture should neither be too wet nor too compact. Make sure that the meat has no extra juices before adding to the mixing bowl. Tip: Freshly ground meat works great.

Step 4

Set the kabob mixture aside.

Step 5

Start the grill about 30 minutes before grilling. We recommend using hardwood charcoal and not briquettes for optimal flavor.

Step 6

The coals are ready when the flame has subsided, are glowing uniformly and covered with some ash. A portable fan or hair dryer can be helpful. Checkout this tutorial if you are new to charcoal grilling.Tip: Koobideh kabobs can be made on a gas grill but charcoal grill gives you the best results.

Step 7

Divide the kabob mixture into 8 portions. Dampen your hands with the saved onion juice or plain water.

Step 8

Take a portion of the mixture and roll it into an oval sausage shape of 4 to 5 inches.

Step 9

Holding it in one hand, press the thin edge of the sword-like skewer into the lump, simultaneously wrapping the meat around the middle section of the skewer by squeezing it all around.

Step 10

Continue to squeeze the meat gently unto the skewer, gradually spreading and molding it into a 7 to 8 inches long kabob that is snugly and evenly held all around the skewer. The kabob thickness should be about 2/3 inch.

Step 11

Using your thumb and index finger press indentations that are spaced about an inch apart. Alternatively you may use your index and middle fingers and press indentations in a scissor like manner, along the length of the kabob.

Step 12

Place the kabob skewers over a long tray or baking sheet with elevated rims to support the skewers just at the top and bottom. The meat should not touch the base of the pan.

Step 13

It is best to shape these kabobs just before grilling. Sprinkle a few drops of onion juice over the kabobs before placing on the grill.

Step 14

Start grilling the vegetables ahead of the kabobs (or grill them separately).

Step 15

Carefully slide the tomatoes and onions on one skewer. Quarter the bell peppers and slide those or the hatch chilies on other skewer. Brush some olive oil over the veggies.

Step 16

Place the skewers on the grill (check the next section for grilling tips). And when they are about half done, start with grilling the kabobs.

Step 17

Arrange the skewers spacing them apart, directly over the grill without the grate, about 3 to 4 inches above the glowing coals.Tip: Depending on your grill, you may place metal pipes on either side to help support the skewers. Bricks are sometimes lined on either side to create a platform for placing the skewers.

Step 18

Make sure that the kabobs do not touch the grill and are cooked with direct heat from the coals.Tip: If you are testing koobideh recipe first time and prefer to keep the grate on the grill, make sure the skewers are a bit elevated and the meat does not touch the grate. So while you are learning, even if the meat drops off, you don't lose the kabobs into the coals completely.

Step 19

Within a few seconds, start flipping the skewers over. This helps cook the meat on the outside and attach it to the skewer. It is important to flip them over before they cook too much on one side, or the meat on the other side will fall off.

Step 20

Once the other side is also cooked lightly, turn them over. A good way to do this is, to arrange the eight skewers one by one and then go back to the first skewer and start flipping it in the same order.

Step 21

The kabobs should be grilled for a total time of 4 to 5 minutes on each side. The meat should have a nice brown sear outside and cooked well inside (not pink).

Step 22

Take them off the grill while they are still juicy and tender. Do not overcook the kabobs or they will dry out.

Step 23

Brush the basting mixture just before taking the kabobs off the grill.

Step 24

Using a small piece of flat bread gently loosen the kabobs from one end and slide them out to a serving platter that has been lined with flat breads, such as, lavash or sangak. The hot juices from the kabobs soak up the bread.

Step 25

Garnish with a sprinkle of sumac or lemon juice. Keep the kabobs warm by covering with more flat breads.

Step 26

Serve the kabobs fresh off the grill with saffron flavored rice or flat breads, grilled veggies, sumac, fresh herbs and doogh (Persian mint-flavored fizzy yogurt drink).