Kofta Meshweya
- 1 1/2 pounds lamb from the shoulder, with some fat
- Salt and pepper
- 1/2 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley
- 2 medium onions, grated or very finely chopped
- Cut the meat in chunks, then blend in the food processor to a soft paste, adding salt and pepper.
- Put it in a bowl with the parsley and the onion-drained of juicesand knead well with your hand until well blended.
- Divide the meat into 8 balls and wrap each one around a skewer, pressing firmly so that it holds together in a long, flat sausage shape.
- Place the skewers on an oiled grill over a fire, or on a rack under the broiler, and cook for 58 minutes, turning over once or more, until lightly browned.
- Serve with warmed pita bread or on top of those very thin Arab flatbreads or with rice or bulgur.
- Slice 1 large onion thinly and sprinkle generously with salt.
- Leave for 30 minutes, until the juices run out and it loses its strong flavor.
- Then rinse and drain and sprinkle with 1 tablespoon sumac.
- Serve on a bed of chopped flat-leaf parsley and mint mixed with 1 thinly sliced onion and sprinkled with 1 tablespoon sumac.
- Serve with chopped flat-leaf parsley and diced lemon (the lemon is peeled and cut into tiny cubes).
- Serve with 8 or more broiled cherry tomatoes.
- Roast 4 long, mild green peppers (you find them in Middle Eastern stores) until softened.
- In Turkey they serve kofta kebab on a bed of yogurt beaten with a sprinkling of salt, pepper, and chopped parsley and mint, and topped with chopped tomatoes.
- Use chopped fresh mint as well as parsley.
- Add to the meat mixture 1 teaspoon cinnamon and 1/2 teaspoon allspice.
- Add to the meat 1/2 teaspoon cumin and 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander seed.
- Add 1/2 teaspoon red-pepper flakes or a pinch of chili pepper.
- Instead of pressing the meat on skewers, you can make it into hamburgers and grill them or cook them in a pan filmed lightly with oil.
- Cut long, thin eggplants into 1 1/2-inch slices and thread them in between lumps of kofta.
- The skin protects the flesh from drying out.
- This is a specialty of Aleppo.
salt, flatleaf, onions
Taken from www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/kofta-meshweya-373393 (may not work)