Ingredients:
2 small yellow onion, peeled and food processed
1 lb. of meat, half ground lamb and half ground beef
1 clove garlic, peeled and finely chopped
1 egg, lightly beaten
1⁄4 cup dry bread crumbs
2 tsp. salt
1⁄2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
1⁄2 tsp. ground turmeric
1⁄4 tsp. paprika
1 pinch saffron threads
1 tbsp. butter, melted
Ground sumac, optional
Method:
1. Drain onions in a sieve set over a bowl for up to 2 hours. Press onions to release more juice, then transfer to a large bowl, discarding juice.
2. Add ground meat, garlic, egg, bread crumbs, salt, pepper, turmeric, and paprika, and mix well.
3. Divide meat mixture evenly into eighths and shape into 5″ cylinders.
4. Slide meat cylinders onto 8 large flat wide metal skewers, molding and flattening meat around skewer to make each kebab about 8″ long, 1 1/2″ wide, and 1/4″ thick (or if not using skewers, shape meat into eight 8″ × 1 1/2″ × 1/4″ rectangles. Set kebabs aside.
5. Preheat a charcoal grill if using metal skewers, or heat a grill pan without sides over medium-high heat for non skewered meat.
6. Meanwhile, heat a small skillet over medium heat for 2 minutes. Remove skillet from heat, add saffron, and swirl threads around until lightly toasted, about 30 seconds. Crush saffron with a mortar and pestle, then add 1 tbsp. boiling water and stir in butter.
7. Brush kebabs with saffron butter. Put skewered kebabs over medium-hot coals or on grill pan; if cooking kebabs without skewers, put them on grill pan. Grill kebabs until browned on each side and cooked through, 3–4 minutes per side. Or broil them for 6-8 minutes flipping once.
8. Brush kebabs with remaining saffron butter and sprinkle with a little sumac (if using).
9. Slide kebabs off skewers (if using skewers) and serve with rice and lemon wedges.
Roasted Red Pepper Chutney
1. Roast a red pepper according to any roasted red pepper instructions like this one.
2. Blend the red pepper in a food processor with half a lemon, a drizzle of olive oil, a little sea salt and a teaspoon of parsley.
