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Saj
Sac içi: lamb, potatoes, aubergine and peppers fried on a domed saj
Saj is named after the shallow, domed iron pan it is cooked in, which Baku restaurants set over a tray of coals at the table so the meal keeps sizzling as you eat: lamb pieces fried in their own fat, ringed by potatoes, aubergine, peppers and tomatoes that were fried separately, all finished together on the hot metal. It is a feast dish for weddings and family celebrations across Azerbaijan. At home a wide cast-iron pan or wok works. A common mistake is frying all the vegetables together; each needs its own time and the aubergine soaks up everything. Chef's tip: fry the vegetables first, then the lamb in the same oil, so the meat picks up their flavour.
- Total time
- 65 min
- Difficulty
- medium
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
For the lamb
- 1 ½ lb lamb leg or shoulderboneless, cut into 3 cm pieces
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 1 onionsliced
For the vegetables
- ¾ cup sunflower oil
- 1 ⅛ lb potatoescut into thick wedges
- 2 auberginessliced into 1.5 cm rounds
- 3 green peppershalved
- 3 tomatoeshalved
- ½ tsp salt
To finish
- ⅔ oz fresh coriander and basilchopped
- 1 tsp sumac
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Heat ¾ cup sunflower oil in a wide, heavy pan over a medium-high heat. Fry 1 ⅛ lb potatoes for 15 minutes, turning, until golden and soft. Lift out and salt with half of ¼ tsp salt.
15 minStep 2: Fry 2 aubergines for 3 minutes per side until golden, then 3 green peppers and 3 tomatoes for 2–3 minutes until blistered. Lift out and salt with the rest of ¼ tsp salt. Common mistake: frying them all at once; they stew.
12 minStep 3: Pour off all but 2 tbsp of the oil. Season 1 ½ lb lamb leg or shoulder with 1 tsp salt and ½ tsp black pepper and fry over a high heat for 8–10 minutes, until browned outside and just pink in the middle.
10 minStep 4: Add 1 onion and fry for 4 minutes until soft.
4 minStep 5: Arrange the vegetables around the lamb, heat everything through for 3 minutes, sprinkle with 1 tsp sumac and ⅔ oz fresh coriander and basil and serve sizzling.
3 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 640 kcal
- Protein
- 34 g
- Carbs
- 36 g
- Fat
- 40 g
- Fibre
- 8 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does saj take?
- About 65 minutes in total: 25 minutes to prepare and 40 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 potatoes?
- Sweet potato, same weight (sweeter, cooks a little faster).
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