Persian Beef Metal Skewers (Print Version)
# Ingredients:
→ Main
01 -
2 lbs ground beef, lean cut
02 -
1 big onion, shredded
03 -
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
04 -
2 teaspoons paprika powder
05 -
2 teaspoons sumac spice
06 -
1 ½ teaspoons sea salt
07 -
½ teaspoon cracked pepper
08 -
½ teaspoon turmeric powder
09 -
1 pinch saffron strands (under ¼ teaspoon)
10 -
3 tablespoons oil or melted butter
→ Side Vegetables
11 -
Small white onions
12 -
Plum tomatoes
13 -
Mild and spicy peppers
→ Garnish
14 -
Sumac powder
15 -
Chopped fresh parsley
# Instructions:
01 -
Shred onion and put it in a mesh strainer to drain well. You can also wrap the shredded onion in a kitchen towel and squeeze out the extra juice.
02 -
Throw ground beef, drained shredded onion, chopped garlic, paprika, sumac, sea salt, pepper, and turmeric in a big bowl. Mix everything well. Cook a tiny bit in a pan to check flavor and tweak if needed. Stick the mix in the fridge for 2 hours so it gets firm enough to work with.
03 -
Put saffron strands in a tiny bowl and smash them with a spoon. Drop in 2 ice cubes and let them melt to pull out the saffron flavor.
04 -
Heat up butter in a small pan, then pour in the saffron water you made. Set it aside for later. Don't want butter? Oil works too.
05 -
Grab some meat mix and gently push it around a flat Iranian-style skewer. Make little dents by pushing your thumb and finger into the meat every inch or so. No fancy skewers? Just roll the meat into long sausage shapes by hand.
06 -
Place skewers on hot coals or gas grill until they get nice char marks, flipping now and then.
07 -
When kebabs are almost done, brush your saffron butter mix on both sides to make them extra tasty.
08 -
While your meat cooks, rub some oil on the small onions, tomatoes, and peppers, then toss them on the grill until they're soft enough.
09 -
Put your tasty Koobideh kebabs on a big plate with yellow rice and grilled veggies. Sprinkle some sumac on top and throw on fresh parsley.
# Notes:
01 -
You'll need flat metal skewers for the real deal Iranian kebab look
02 -
Don't skip chilling the meat mix or your kebabs won't hold their shape
03 -
Yellow saffron rice makes this meal truly authentic