Turkish Braised Lamb Tas Kebap Recipes

TURKISH KEBABS

Steps:

• To make the marinade:
• Mix together the garlic, olive oil, tomato paste, spices, thyme, and salt and pepper to taste.
• To prepare the kebabs:
• Add the meat to the marinade and toss. Let marinate for at least 2 hours.
• Prepare a charcoal fire in an outdoor grill, switch on the gas if you have an outdoor gas grill, or preheat the broiler to high.
• Thread the meat onto 7 long skewers and the tomatoes onto an eighth one. Grill over high heat or broil 3 to 4 minutes on each side, or until the meat and tomatoes are done to your liking. Slip the meat and tomatoes off the skewers onto flatbread and serve immediately.

TURKISH BRAISED LAMB (TAS KEBAP)

Steps:

• Trim and cut meat into 2 cm (3/4 inch) cubes.
• Heat 1/2 the olive oil in a heavy pan and brown meat quickly on each side.
• Transfer to a plate.
• Add remaining olive oil, onion, garlic and sweet pepper.
• Fry gently until onion is transparent.
• Add tomato and water.
• Stir well, and add bahrat or allspice, salt and pepper to taste and most of the parsley.
• Return lamb to pan, cover and simmer gently for 1 1/2 hours or until lamb is tender and sauce is thickened.
• Very good on a bed of Turkish Wedding Pilaf (Dugun Pilav).
• Sprinkle hot meat with reserved chopped parsly before serving.

TURKISH LAMB KEBABS

Steps:

• If using a charcoal grill, open vents on bottom of grill, then light charcoal. Charcoal fire is medium-hot when you can hold your hand 5 inches above rack for 3 to 4 seconds. If using a gas grill, preheat burners on high, covered, 10 minutes, then reduce heat to moderate.
• Stir together onion, parsley, tomato, oregano, Urfa and Maras peppers, 2 tablespoons oil, and 1/4 teaspoon salt.
• Pat lamb dry, then toss with black pepper, 1 tablespoon oil, and remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt and thread 4 lamb cubes onto each skewer, leaving a little space in between cubes. Brush lavash (on both sides) with remaining 3 tablespoons oil and transfer to a platter.
• Grill lamb, covered only if using a gas grill, on lightly oiled grill rack, turning over once, until medium-rare, 6 to 8 minutes total. Transfer lamb skewers to a platter and cover with foil to keep warm.
• Grill lavash, covered only if using a gas grill, turning over once, until just heated through and lightly browned but still flexible, about 45 seconds total.
• Remove lamb from skewers and divide among pieces of lavash. Top lamb with tomato mixture and roll up lavash to enclose lamb. Serve immediately.

TAS KEBAP (A GREEK BEEF OR LAMB STEW)

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a medium-size saucepan over medium neat until hot and saute the cubes of meat, in batches, until browned; remove with a slotted spoon as the meat browns.
• In the oil in which you have just browned the meat, add the onions and garlic and saute until just starting to turn golden, about 6-7 minutes; return the meat to the saucepan.
• Add the pureed tomatoes, sugar, wine, parsley, cinnamon, oregano, bay leaf and cloves and season to taste; cover pot and simmer on low until meat is fork-tender- this could take anywhere from 1 to 1 1/2 hours; fish out the 2 cloves; if, at any time, the gravy has reduced too much (there should always be some thick liquid), add hot water in 1/4 cupfuls.
• You should be left with very tender meat in a thick, rich sauce, into which the onions have melted.
• Serve with a rice ring: molded buttered rice, cooked egg noodles, french-fried potatoes or Hunkar Begendi (recipe#95402).