Lamb Shashlik Recipes

Steps:

• Mix the lamb with the lemon and juice, oil, garlic and rosemary. Season well. Cover with cling film and leave to chill for a few hours or, if possible, overnight.
• Thread the lamb onto large metal or wooden skewers, alternating with the peppers and onions. (If using wooden skewers, soak for 20 mins before using.)
• Get your coals hot, then put the lamb skewers over the heat and cook for about 5 mins until well coloured. Turn over and cook for a further 5-10 mins until cooked to your liking and nicely charred. To test if the lamb is done, put a large skewer into the middle of the meat and press down on the flesh. If the juice that runs from it is bloody, it's not cooked enough. If the juice is pink and watery, the lamb is cooked the way I like it. If the liquid is completely clear, the lamb is well done. Allow the meat to rest for a few mins before serving with flatbreads, yogurt, chilli sauce, and tomato and cucumber.

Steps:

• Marinade: In a large bowl, beat together the grated onion, lemon juice, olive oil, salt and pepper.
• Add the meat and toss it in the marinade to coat it thoroughly, then allow to marinate at room temperature for at least 3 hours, tossing every hour or so to keep the meat moist.
• Light a layer of coals in a charcoal broiler and burn until a white ash appears on the surface, or preheat your kitchen broiler to its highest point.
• Remove the meat from the marinade and string them on 4 long skewers, pressing them firmly together, alternate the lamb with the chunks of onion.
• Broil 4" from the source of the heat, turning the skewers occasionally, until the meat is done to your taste and the onions are brown.
• For rare allow about 10 minutes; well-done (which is more typical of Georgian cooking) will take about 15.
• Slide the meat off onto individual plates and garnish with scallions and lemon.

Steps:

• Remove the bone and skin from the meat and cut off excess fat.
• Cut the meat into 1x2 inch pieces and put them into a bowl.
• Combine all the ingredients, pour over the meat, and mix thoroughly.
• Cover and let the mixture stand for 2 hours or longer at room temperature to marinate and tenderize the meat.
• This is very important for successful results.
• Drain the meat and pat dry each piece very thoroughly to prevent sputtering during cooking.
• Save the marinade for tenderizing roasts.
• Arrange the meat cubes on a skewer.
• Brush the filled skewers very generously with cooking oil.
• Place the skewers under the broiler close to strong heat.
• Turn the skewers every few minutes and baste frequently with cooking oil or with the fat that drips into the pan.
• Total broiling time will be about 12 minutes.
• Slip the meat off the skewers onto a hot plate and season with salt and pepper.
• When steamed rice is used, place the shashlyk over it and garnish attractively.
• Serve at once.

Steps:

• Beat the lemon juice with the oil and add the bay leaf.
• Pour the mixture over the meat cubes and marinate for a minimum of three hours at room temperature.
• To serve, heat the broiler or a charcoal grill, drain the marinade from the meat and arrange the cubes of meat on skewers. Broil or grill for about 10 minutes, turning to brown on all sides, until medium rare, and serve with tkemali (plum sauce.)

Steps:

• Grate the onion and crush the garlic cloves, then put in a bowl with all the shashlik ingredients except the lamb and half the olive oil, and mix together. Put the lamb in the mixture, turning it with your hands, then cover with cling film and put in the fridge to marinate for a few hours or overnight.
• For the rhubarb sauce, put the vinegar and sugar in a pan and bring to the boil, stirring a little to help the sugar dissolve. Add the cinnamon and ginger, and simmer for 10 mins. Add the onion and continue to simmer, uncovered, for 10 mins. Add the rhubarb and simmer gently for about 4 mins more or until the rhubarb is only just tender. Don't overcook the fruit as you want the pieces to remain intact. Add the mint and leave to cool. The mixture will thicken a little more.
• Lift the lamb out of the marinade, shaking off the excess. Thread the meat onto skewers. Brush a griddle pan with some of the remaining oil and cook the skewers, seasoning them well and turning for 5-7 mins until brown all over - you may have to do this in batches. Serve with the rhubarb sauce, flatbreads and yogurt.