Grilled Lamb Kofte

Category	Meats
Classification	Eastern Mediterranean
Added By	phyllis.watson@gmail.com
Added On	Wed Nov 13 22:01:11 UTC 2013
Prep Time	mixing of meat and sauce and grilling, plus chilling time
Yield	4-6 servings
Source	Cook's Illustrated #123 July-August 2013
Comment	Easy

Ingredients

Yogurt-Garlic Sauce
1 cup yogurt
2 tablespoons lemon juice
2 tablespoons tahini
1 garlic clove minced
1/2 teaspoon salt
Kofte
1/2 cup pine nuts
4 peeled garlic cloves
1 1/2 teaspoons hot, smoked paprika
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/4 teaspoon ground coriander
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 1/2 pounds ground lamb
1/2 cup grated onion, drained
1/2 cup minced, fresh parsley
1/3 cup minced, fresh mint
1 1/2 teaspoons unflavored gelatin
1 large disposal, aluminum roasting pan (if using charcoal grill)

Directions

1. Whisk all ingredients for sauce in a bowl. Set aside

2. Process: pine nuts, garlic, paprika, salt, cumin, pepper, coriander, cloves, nutmeg, and cinnamon in food processor until coarse paste forms, 30 to 45 seconds. Transfer mixture to large bowl. Add lamb, onion, parsley, mint, and gelatin; knead with your hands until thoroughly combined and mixture feels slightly sticky, about 2 minutes. Divide mixture into 8 equal portions. Shape each portion into 5-inch-long cylinder about 1 inch in diameter. Using 8 (12-inch) metal skewers, thread 1 cylinder onto each skewer, pressing gently to adhere. Transfer skewers to lightly greased baking sheet, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or up to 24 hours.

3A. For charcoal grill: Using skewer, poke 12 holes in bottom of disposable pan. Open bottom vent completely and place pan in center of grill. Light large chimney starter filled 2/3 with charcoal briquettes (4 quarts). When top coals are partially covered with ash, pour into pan, Set cooking grate in place, cover, and open lid vent completely. Heat grill until hot, about 5 minutes.

3B. For gas grill: Turn all burners to high, cover, and heat grill until hot, about 15 minutes. Leave all burners on high.

4. Clean and oil cooking grate. Place skewers on grill (directly over coals if using charcoal) at 45-degree angle to grate. Cook (covered if using gas) until browned and meat easily releases from grill, 4-7 minutes. Flip skewers and continue to cook until browned on second side and meat registers 160 degrees, about 6 minutes longer. Transfer skewers to platter and serve, passing yogurt-garlic sauce separately.

Beef Kofte: Substitute 80% lean ground beef for lamb. Increase garlic to 5 cloves, paprika to 2 teaspoons, and cumin to 2 teaspoons.

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