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Kabab bakhtiari
Lamb and chicken kebab
کباب بختیاری (kabab bakhtiari): alternating lamb fillet and saffron chicken on one skewer
Named after the Bakhtiari tribes of the Zagros mountains but really a creation of Iran's big city kebab houses, kabab bakhtiari puts lamb fillet and saffron chicken side by side on the same skewer, so each person gets both. It is a celebration order in Tehran and Isfahan restaurants, served with buttered chelow and grilled tomatoes. Each meat has its own marinade: onion and pepper for the lamb, saffron, lemon and yogurt for the chicken. The common mistake is cutting both meats to the same size; chicken needs slightly smaller pieces so it cooks through as the lamb reaches pink. Chef's tip: press the lamb and chicken pieces tightly together on the skewer so the juices pass between them as they grill.
- Total time
- 165 min
- Difficulty
- medium
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
For the lamb
- 14 oz lamb fillet or loincut into 3 cm pieces
- 1 oniongrated, juice only
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 1 tbsp olive oil
For the chicken
- 14 oz chicken breastcut into 2.5 cm pieces
- 3 tbsp plain yogurt
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- ¼ tsp saffron threadsground and steeped in 3 tbsp hot water
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What you'll need
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Method
0/6 doneStep 1: Mix 14 oz lamb fillet or loin with 1 onion juice, ½ tsp black pepper and 1 tbsp olive oil in one bowl. In another, mix 14 oz chicken breast with 3 tbsp plain yogurt, 2 tbsp lemon juice and half of ⅛ tsp saffron threads.
5 minStep 2: Cover both bowls and marinate in the fridge for 2 hours.
120 minStep 4: Grill, turning every 2–3 minutes, until the chicken is golden and reaches 165°F in the centre and the lamb is charred outside. Grill 4 tomatoes alongside.
12 minStep 5: Mix ⅔ oz butter with the rest of ⅛ tsp saffron threads, brush it over the skewers and rest for 2 minutes.
2 minStep 6: Serve with chelow and the grilled tomatoes.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 450 kcal
- Protein
- 46 g
- Carbs
- 5 g
- Fat
- 27 g
- Fibre
- 1 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does kabab bakhtiari take?
- About 165 minutes in total: 150 minutes to prepare and 15 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- 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 onion?
- 2 shallots per onion.
- What can I use instead of chicken breast?
- Boneless chicken thighs, same weight (a few minutes longer).
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