Mini Kebab Burgers
The traditional way to make kebab is to wrap the ground meat around long, flat metal skewers known as shipudim, but I find this method challenging. The meat needs to be really finely chopped, and sometimes it has a hard time adhering to the skewers. Making patties and cooking them straight on the grill—like little burgers but so much better—makes this an easy every-night thing instead of a production.
Category
Main Course
Servings/Yield
4-6
Author
Adeena Sussman, adapted from Sababa, by Helen Park
Ingredients
- 1 small red onion, roughly chopped
- ½ small red bell pepper, seeded
- 3 large garlic cloves
- 1 cup lightly packed parsley leaves
- 1 cup lightly packed cilantro leaves
- ½ cup lightly packed mint leaves
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1 Tbsp Herbes De Carmel
- ¾ pound ground lamb (at least 20–25% fat)
- ¾ pound ground beef (at least 20–25% fat)
2 tsp kosher salt
-
1½ tsp ground cumin
-
½ tsp ground coriander
-
½ tsp freshly ground black pepper
-
2 tsp Honey Harissa or ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
¼ tsp baking soda
- 2 large Russet potatoes (about 1½ pounds), scrubbed
3 Tbsp vegetable oil
¾ tsp kosher salt, plus more for seasoning
-
¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper, plus more for seasoning
Burgers
Fries
Directions
Prep the burgers
- In the bowl of a food processor, pulse the onion, bell pepper, and garlic until finely chopped, 20 pulses.
- Add the parsley, cilantro, mint, and Herbes De Carmel and pulse until the herbs are finely chopped, 15 pulses.
- Transfer the mixture to a large bowl. Add the lamb, beef, salt, cumin, coriander, black pepper, harissa, and baking soda and gently mix with your hands to incorporate.
- Form the mixture into 12 equal-sized round patties about 1 inch thick, arrange on a plate, cover, and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
Make the fries
- Preheat the oven to 425°F.
- Cut the potatoes into ½-inch batons, then pat them dry with paper towels.
- In a large bowl toss the potatoes with the oil, salt, and pepper.
- Arrange in a single layer on a large rimmed baking sheet and bake until crisp and golden, flipping the fries once after 20 minutes only if they seem like they’re burning, 30 to 35 minutes.
Grill the burgers:
- Preheat a grill, grill pan, or cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Cook the patties, trying not to move them, until a slight crust forms and the meat is cooked to medium, 3 to 4 minutes per side.
- Serve the kebabs with fries, tahini sauce, and a green salad.
Recipe Note
Learn more about Adeena Sussman and her cookbook Sababa: Fresh, Sunny Flavors From My Israeli Kitchen
© 2019 Avery Books
Photo © Dan Perez
Questions? Contact helen@laboiteny.com
