Lülə Kabab (Azerbaijani Minced Lamb Skewers)
Local name: Lülə kabab
In short: Minced lamb and grated onion pressed onto wide skewers and grilled over charcoal, then served on lavash with sumac onions and grilled tomatoes. It takes about 40 min in total and makes 4 servings.
- Prep
- 25 min
- Cook
- 15 min
- Resting
- 1 h
- Total
- 40 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Calories
- 520 kcal
Lülə kabab is minced lamb pressed onto wide skewers and grilled over charcoal, a staple of Azerbaijani restaurants and weekend picnics. The mix is only lamb, onion, salt and pepper, so the quality of the meat counts. Fat keeps the kebabs juicy. Serve them on lavash with sumac onions and grilled tomatoes and peppers, and pull the meat off the skewer with the bread.
Instructions
- Mix the lamb, onion, salt and pepper in a bowl. Knead with wet hands for 5 minutes until the mixture turns sticky and paste-like.
- Cover and chill for at least 1 hour. This firms the meat so it stays on the skewers.
- Divide the mixture into 6 portions of about 115 g (4 oz). With wet hands, press each one firmly around a flat metal skewer into a sausage about 18 cm (7 in) long, pinching it in 3 or 4 places.
- Heat a charcoal grill until the coals are glowing and covered in gray ash, then oil the grates. Grill the tomatoes and peppers first, until the skins blister.
- Grill the kebabs for 10 to 12 minutes, turning every 2 minutes, until browned and the center reaches 71°C (160°F).
- Slide the meat off the skewers onto warm lavash, with the tomatoes, peppers, sumac onions and herbs. Wrap and eat right away.
Tips
- If your lamb is lean, ask the butcher to grind in 100 g (3.5 oz) lamb fat per 700 g meat. Without fat the kebabs come out dry.
- No skewers? Shape the mixture into flat 2 cm (3/4 in) thick sausages and cook in a very hot cast-iron pan or under a broiler for about 5 minutes per side.
Questions and answers
Why does my lülə kabab fall off the skewer?
The mixture was too wet or not chilled enough. Squeeze the onion dry, knead until sticky and rest the meat for at least an hour.
Can I use beef for lülə kabab?
Yes, though lamb is traditional. Use ground beef with 20 percent fat or a half-and-half mix with lamb.
What do you serve with lülə kabab?
Lavash, grilled tomatoes and peppers, sumac onions and fresh herbs. Plain yogurt and a bowl of plov make it a feast.
How long does it take to make Lülə Kabab (Azerbaijani Minced Lamb Skewers)?
About 40 min in total: 25 min of preparation and 15 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Lülə Kabab (Azerbaijani Minced Lamb Skewers)?
About 520 kcal per serving, with 30 g of protein, 12 g of carbohydrates and 37 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 520 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 30 g |
| Carbohydrates | 12 g |
| Fat | 37 g |
| Fiber | 3 g |
| Sugar | 6 g |
| Sodium | 800 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
