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Abrisham kebab
Egg thread rolls in syrup
کباب ابریشم (kabab-e abrisham): Kabul's 'silk kebab' of fried egg threads rolled and soaked in cardamom syrup with pistachio
Despite the name there is no meat in abrisham kebab, the silk kebab: it is a show-off Kabul sweet made from nothing more than beaten egg drizzled in fine threads over hot oil until it sets into a lacy golden net, which is rolled up like a kebab on a skewer, dipped in syrup and dusted with ground pistachios. It is made for weddings, engagements and Eid, and the skill is in the wrist, so many families leave it to one aunt who has the knack. The texture is unusual and delightful, soft and springy, slightly chewy and soaked with cardamom-scented syrup. Pouring the egg too thickly gives you an omelette rather than silk; let it fall from your fingers in thin streams and keep moving. Chef's tip: strain the eggs first, as removing the stringy white makes the threads much finer and more even.
- Total time
- 45 min
- Difficulty
- hard
- Serves
- 6
Ingredients
For the syrup
- 7 oz caster sugar
- ¾ cup water
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- 1 /2 tsp ground cardamom
- 1 tsp rosewater (optional)
For the egg nets
- 6 eggs
- 2 cups sunflower oilfor frying
- 1 ⅜ oz shelled pistachiosfinely ground
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Method
0/8 doneStep 1: Bring 7 oz caster sugar, ¾ cup water and 1 tsp lemon juice to the boil in a small pan, stirring until the sugar dissolves, then simmer for 5–6 minutes until slightly syrupy. Stir in 1 /2 tsp ground cardamom and 1 tsp rosewater and pour into a wide, shallow dish to cool.
6 minStep 3: Heat 2 cups sunflower oil in a wide frying pan, about 2 cm deep, over a medium heat to 350°F, when a drop of egg puffs and sets in a couple of seconds.
Step 4: Dip one hand in the egg and let it run off your fingertips into the oil in thin threads, moving quickly back and forth in one direction, then across, to build a lacy round net about 20 cm wide. Or use a squeeze bottle with a fine nozzle.
1 minStep 5: Fry for about 30 seconds until the threads are set and pale gold, then turn it over with two skewers or a fish slice and fry for 20 seconds more, until cooked through.
1 minStep 6: Lift the net out, let the oil drip off, lay it on a board and roll it up tightly around a skewer into a log. Slide out the skewer.
Step 7: Dip each warm roll in the cool syrup for a few seconds, turning, and set it on a plate. Repeat with the rest of the egg, making about 6 rolls and keeping the oil at an even heat.
20 minStep 8: Sprinkle the rolls thickly with 1 ⅜ oz shelled pistachios and serve at room temperature, cut in half if you like.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 280 kcal
- Protein
- 7 g
- Carbs
- 36 g
- Fat
- 13 g
- Fibre
- 1 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does abrisham kebab take?
- About 45 minutes in total: 15 minutes to prepare and 30 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 6 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of caster sugar?
- Caster sugar, same amount.
- What can I use instead of lemon juice?
- Lime juice, same amount.
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