Seekh Kebab

About This Recipe

Seekh kebabs ('skewer kebabs') are one of South Asia's defining grill items: hand-spiced minced meat moulded onto skewers and grilled over fierce heat until the surface caramelises into a smoky crust. Pakistani versions are bolder than Indian counterparts — more chilli, more raw onion in the mix, finished with a squeeze of lemon and chaat masala. They are the sound and smell of Karachi nights.

Ingredients

Serves 4

• 600 gminced lamb(20% fat ideal)
• 1 smallonion(very finely grated, water squeezed out)
• 1 tbspginger-garlic paste
• 2green chillies(very finely chopped)
• 1 small bunchfresh coriander(very finely chopped)
• 1 tspgaram masala
• 1 tspred chilli powder
• 1 tspfreshly crushed coriander
• 1 tspfreshly crushed black pepper
• 1 tspsalt
• 2 tbspgram flour (besan)(lightly toasted)
• 1 tbspraw papaya paste(or 2 tsp lemon juice)
• 2 tbspvegetable oil
• Lemon wedges and chaat masala, to serve

Instructions

1. 1

   Prepare onion

   Grate onion and squeeze out water — this is critical or kebabs will not bind. Use the squeezed onion only.

2. 2

   Mix

   Combine all ingredients except oil in a bowl. Knead with hands 4–5 minutes — the mixture should turn slightly sticky and bind together.

3. 3

   Rest

   Cover and refrigerate 1 hour. Resting allows the flavours to bloom and the texture to set.

4. 4

   Shape

   Wet hands. Take a fistful of mince and squeeze it around a flat metal skewer in a long sausage shape, about 15cm long.

5. 5

   Grill

   Heat barbecue or grill pan to high. Brush kebabs with oil. Grill 4 min per side, basting with oil — they should be charred outside, juicy inside.

6. 6

   Serve

   Slide off skewers. Sprinkle with chaat masala. Serve with lemon, sliced onion and mint chutney in naan or paratha.

Variations

• •

  Chicken seekh: use minced chicken thigh + 50g extra fat

• •

  Beef seekh: same recipe with minced beef chuck

• •

  Add chopped fresh mint and 1 tsp roasted cumin powder

Storage

Best fresh. Freeze raw shaped kebabs up to 2 months. Cooked kebabs refrigerate up to 3 days.

Frequently Asked Questions