Kebab Meats

michaelmac · 26-Jun-2008, 02:44 PM

What are in these things and is there any way to make a healthy and heart attack free kebab?

Ive heard of shish which is chicken but I dont really like it.

Any other kebab based recipes?

Kerry · 15-Jul-2008, 12:21 AM

Generally any meat can be used, but never Pork (due to muslim beleifs). Generally it is lamb or mutton with a fair quantity of fat from the source meat. Can be ground (and moulded into the big jobby) or sliced meat (skewered onto the rotisserie spike) or a combination of both. Traditional Turkish Doner Kebabs in Turkey, are slices of meat, with vegetables such as carrot onion etc wedged onto the skewer, and these taste very little if nothing like our favourite friday/saturday night delights here in the UK.

To get that delightful Friday /Saturday kebab taste the following spices are generally used in the big jobby ....

Lamb (Shoulder or Leg normally but you can never be sure).
crumbed bread (to bind)
vegetable oil.
cumin seed.
coriander seed.
Dried Red Chillis.
black pepper.
salt
ghee, butter, or margarine.

This is a typical doner mix, but not traditional, and it can and does vary hugely, hence the reason that some shops are better than others.... A really good doner would have been made with fennel lemon juice, garlic and thyme.

There's generally a 60% minimum meat content, and it needs a high fat content to help cook all the way through. You'll notice the fat running off while the big jobby rotates on the spit.

Beleive it or not the company Rajah Spices do packets of kebab meat flavouring!

shammrok · 15-Jul-2008, 07:50 AM

Recipe 20056 of 281476

Title: Barbecued Shish Kebabs
Keys: Bbq
Yield: 8

Ingredients:

kebab marinade
2/3 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup cooking oil
2 tbl worcestershire sauce
1 x clove minced
3 tbl red wine vinegar
1/4 tsp pepper
4 lb beef sirloin or lamb steak 1/2 inch thick
16 x 16-24 whole mushrooms stems removed
4 x onions quartered
2 x green peppers cut in squares
2 x red peppers cut in squares
16 x cherry tomatoes
1 x zucchini sliced

Method:
Sitr first 7 ingredients together in bowl with tight fitting lid.

Cut meat into 1 inch thick slices then into squares. Combine with marinade, cover and chill for a minimum of 30 mins up to several hours. Shake bowl often.

Arrange meat on 8 or more skewers (presoak wooden skewers 30 mins) with vegetables. Place over medium-hot grill, turning as necessary, about 20 mins total time. Baste with marinade near end of cooking. If you prefer well done meat or if meat chunks are large, they may be partly precooked under broiler and chilled until needed.

shammrok · 15-Jul-2008, 07:53 AM

Caribbean Chicken and Vegetable Kebabs

Ingredients:

8 lrg garlic cloves minced
2 tsp ground coriander
2 tsp ground turmeric
2 tsp dried mustard
2 tsp ground cloves
2 tsp chili powder
1 tsp aniseed
2 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into 1-inch pieces
1 1/3 lb boneless skinless chicken thighs cut into 1-inch pieces
4 x red onions cut into 1-inch pieces
6 x yellow summer squash cut into 1/2-inch-thick rounds
4 x chayote squash halved lengthwise, cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices or 4 zucchini, cut into 1/2-inch-thick rounds
1 1/2 cup olive oil
1/3 cup fresh lime juice
12 x bamboo skewers (about)

Method:
Combine garlic, coriander, turmeric, dried mustard, ground cloves, chili powder and aniseed in small bowl. Place chicken in 1 glass baking dish and vegetables in another. Sprinkle each with half of spice mixture. Add

half of olive oil and half of fresh lime juice to each and mix to coat well. Cover and refrigerate 6 to 8 hours.

Soak skewers in water 30 minutes. Drain. Alternate chicken and vegetables on skewers. (Can be prepared 2 hours ahead. Cover and refrigerate.)

Prepare barbecue (medium heat) or preheat broiler. Season kebabs with salt and pepper. Grill until chicken is cooked through, about 5 minutes per side. Transfer to platter.

Serves 12.

JDog · 02-Mar-2009, 09:52 AM

I love a good kebab. The donners (elephant leg)are probably the worst for you but are so nice.

I normally have kofte or adana (the minced one on the skewer) as these are lush.

Shish chicken or lamb is probably the healthiest as its just the meat?

Extra chilli sauce my fren?

gymbunny · 26-Jun-2009, 11:53 AM

Hi ya
Just a thought but why do kebabs have to involve meat? Seafood is really healthy and makes perfect kebabs ...
Fish such as salmon, tuna, swordfish, marlin and monkfish can be cut in to bite sized chunks and threaded onto a skewer along with your choice of veg such as courgette slices, cherry tomatoes, red onion, peppers or pineapple. Takes minutes to cook and low in calories and fat. You can also add to the flavour with a marinade - shop bought ones can be high in calories so check the nutritionals first but you won't need a lot so shouldn't really matter - or make your own using a squeeze of lemon juice or something like soy sauce or teriyaki.
If you like shellfish, you can also make kebabs with king prawns or scallops, alternate as above with veg and as an extra treat wrap the shellfish in parma ham before skewering, baste with a spot of sweet chilli sauce and grill for a few minutes - providing you don't serve them with chips they won't harm your waistline anywhere near as much as your usual kebab shop offerings.
Try the regalfish site for some really simple kebab ideas

Hope this helps XX