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Simit kebabı
Bulgur and lamb mince skewers
Simit kebabı: Gaziantep's grilled skewers of lamb mince kneaded with fine bulgur and chilli
In Gaziantep 'simit' means fine bulgur, not the sesame ring, and the city's kebab grills knead it into spicy lamb mince before shaping long flat skewers over charcoal. The bulgur soaks up the juices, so the kebab is tender inside with a crisp, charred crust. Serve on lavaş or thin flatbread with grilled tomatoes, peppers and a heap of sumac onions. Knead the mixture for a full ten minutes; under-kneaded meat falls off the skewer. Chef's tip: chill the shaped skewers for 30 minutes before grilling so they keep their shape over the heat.
- Total time
- 45 min
- Difficulty
- medium
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
For the kebab
- 3 ½ oz fine bulgur
- ¼ cup hot water
- 1 ⅛ lb lamb mince (20% fat)
- 1 oniongrated and squeezed dry
- 1 tbsp Turkish hot red pepper paste
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp salt
To serve
- 4 tomatoeshalved
- 1 red onionthinly sliced
- 1 tbsp sumac
- ½ oz flat-leaf parsleychopped
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What you'll need
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Method
0/6 doneStep 1: Pour ¼ cup hot water over 3 ½ oz fine bulgur and leave for 10 minutes to swell.
10 minStep 2: Add 1 ⅛ lb lamb mince (20% fat), 1 onion, 1 tbsp Turkish hot red pepper paste, 2 tsp pul biber (Aleppo chilli flakes), 1 tsp ground cumin and 1 tsp salt and knead hard for 10 minutes, until sticky and smooth.
10 minStep 3: With wet hands, mould the mixture into 8 long flat kebabs around wide metal skewers. Chill for 30 minutes.
30 minStep 4: Toss 1 red onion with 1 tbsp sumac and ½ oz flat-leaf parsley and set aside.
Step 5: Grill over hot charcoal or under a very hot grill for 10–12 minutes, turning every few minutes, until charred outside and cooked through to at least 160°F in the centre. Grill 4 tomatoes and 4 long green peppers alongside until blistered.
12 minStep 6: Warm 4 lavaş or thin flatbreads on the grill for a few seconds, slide the kebabs onto it and serve with the vegetables and sumac onions.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 620 kcal
- Protein
- 33 g
- Carbs
- 58 g
- Fat
- 28 g
- Fibre
- 7 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does simit kebabı take?
- About 45 minutes in total: 30 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 very spicy?
- It has some heat. Use less chilli for a milder version, or more if you like it hot.
- What can I use instead of onion?
- 2 shallots per onion.
- What can I use instead of ground cumin?
- Cumin seeds, toasted and ground.
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