Yogurtlu Kebabs Recipe

Introduction

Yogurtlu Kebabs are a flavorful and juicy Turkish-inspired dish featuring spiced ground beef kebabs served with tangy yogurt and rich tomato sauce. This recipe balances smoky, savory, and fresh elements, making it a perfect crowd-pleaser for any occasion.

Ingredients

• 2 lb ground beef (80/20) or ½ lb ground lamb
• 2 tablespoons dry minced onion
• ¼ cup finely chopped fresh parsley
• 1 tablespoon sumac or zest of one lemon plus a pinch of salt
• 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon ground coriander
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 2 tablespoons breadcrumbs
• 1 large egg, beaten
• 4 large ripe roma tomatoes (about 1 ¼ cups grated pulp)
• ½ tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 5 cloves garlic, minced
• ¼ cup tomato sauce
• 2 teaspoons ground cumin (for tomato sauce)
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika (for tomato sauce)
• 2 sprigs fresh oregano
• Salt and pepper to taste
• ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
• 1 ½ cups plain Greek yogurt
• 2 cloves garlic, minced (for yogurt sauce)
• Sea salt to taste (for yogurt sauce)
• Juice from ½ of a lemon
• Drizzle of milk (optional, for thinner yogurt sauce)

Instructions

1. Step 1: In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground meat with dry minced onion, parsley, sumac (or lemon zest and salt), smoked paprika, dried oregano, ground coriander, ground cumin, kosher salt, black pepper, breadcrumbs, and beaten egg. Mix gently until just combined; avoid overworking the meat. Refrigerate the mixture for 30 minutes.
2. Step 2: Cut the roma tomatoes in half. Using the large holes of a box grater, grate the tomato flesh into a bowl, leaving behind the skin. Set aside the grated pulp for the sauce.
3. Step 3: Heat olive oil and butter in a skillet over medium heat. Once melted, add the minced garlic and cook for about 30 seconds until fragrant. Stir in the grated tomato pulp and cook for 3 minutes. Add the tomato sauce and cook for another minute. Reduce heat to medium-low, then add the cumin, smoked paprika, fresh oregano sprigs, salt, pepper, and crushed red pepper flakes. Stir and cook the sauce for 3-5 more minutes, then remove from heat.
4. Step 4: In a separate bowl, mix together the Greek yogurt, minced garlic, sea salt, lemon juice, and a drizzle of milk if you prefer a thinner sauce consistency. Set aside.
5. Step 5: Preheat your grill or grill pan to medium heat and lightly grease it with oil. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Divide the meat mixture into 15 equal portions (about 67 grams each) and shape each into a sausage about 4 inches long. Place the shaped kebabs on the baking sheet.
6. Step 6: Grill the kebabs, turning every few minutes to ensure they cook evenly and are browned on all sides. Cook just until they are cooked through.
7. Step 7: To serve, place a small handful of raw onions at the bottom of each serving plate. Top with three kebabs, spoon a generous amount of the yogurt sauce on top, then add a big spoonful of the tomato sauce. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley and serve warm with pita bread on the side.

Tips & Variations

• For a richer flavor, substitute half the ground beef with ground lamb.
• If sumac is unavailable, lemon zest and salt make a great alternative to achieve a similar tangy flavor.
• Add chopped fresh mint to the yogurt sauce for a refreshing twist.
• Serve with grilled vegetables or a fresh salad for a complete meal.

Storage

Store leftover kebabs, tomato sauce, and yogurt sauce separately in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat kebabs gently in a skillet or oven to keep them moist. The yogurt sauce is best served fresh but can be stirred before using if refrigerated.

How to Serve

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I make these kebabs ahead of time?

Yes, you can prepare the meat mixture and shape the kebabs a day ahead. Keep them covered and refrigerated until ready to grill.

What can I substitute for Greek yogurt if I don’t have it?

You can use plain regular yogurt, but strain it through a cheesecloth or fine sieve to thicken it for a similar creamy consistency.

Yogurtlu Kebabs Recipe

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★★★★★

4.9 from 95 reviews

Yogurtlu Kebabs is a flavorful Turkish-inspired dish featuring spiced ground beef kebabs grilled to perfection and served with a rich tomato sauce and creamy garlic yogurt sauce. This recipe combines aromatic spices like sumac, smoked paprika, cumin, and oregano for a deliciously seasoned meat, perfect for a hearty yet fresh meal served with warm pita bread.

• Author: Cleo
• Prep Time: 40 minutes
• Cook Time: 15 minutes
• Total Time: 55 minutes
• Yield: 15 kebabs (serves 5, 3 kebabs per person) 1x
• Category: Main Course
• Method: Grilling
• Cuisine: Turkish

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Kebab Mixture

• 2 lb ground beef (80/20) or ½ ground lamb
• 2 Tablespoons dry minced onion
• ¼ cup finely chopped fresh parsley
• 1 Tablespoon sumac (or zest of one lemon + pinch salt)
• 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon ground coriander
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 2 Tablespoons breadcrumbs
• 1 large egg, beaten

Tomato Sauce

• 4 large ripe Roma tomatoes (1 ¼ cup grated pulp)
• ½ Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 2 Tablespoons butter
• 5 cloves garlic, minced
• ¼ cup tomato sauce
• 2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 2 sprigs fresh oregano
• Pinch salt and pepper, to taste
• ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

Yogurt Sauce

• 1 ½ cups plain Greek yogurt
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• Sea salt, to taste
• Juice from ½ of a lemon
• Drizzle of milk (for thinner sauce consistency)

Instructions

1. Prepare Kebab Mixture: In a large mixing bowl, add the ground beef followed by all spices, dry minced onion, chopped parsley, breadcrumbs, and beaten egg. Mix gently until just combined to avoid overworking the meat. Refrigerate the mixture for 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld.
2. Grate Tomatoes: Cut the Roma tomatoes in half and use the large holes of a box grater to grate the pulp into a bowl, stopping once only the skin remains.
3. Make Tomato Sauce: Heat a skillet over medium heat and add olive oil and butter. Once melted, add minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant. Add the grated tomato pulp and cook for 3 minutes. Stir in tomato sauce and cook for an additional minute. Reduce heat to medium-low, add ground cumin, smoked paprika, fresh oregano sprigs, salt, pepper, and crushed red pepper flakes. Stir and simmer for 3-5 minutes, then remove from heat.
4. Prepare Yogurt Sauce: In a bowl, mix together Greek yogurt, minced garlic, sea salt, lemon juice, and a drizzle of milk until smooth and creamy. Adjust thickness with milk as desired.
5. Shape Kebabs: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Divide the chilled meat mixture into 15 equal portions (about 67 grams each). Form each portion into a sausage shape approximately 4 inches long. Place the formed kebabs on the baking sheet.
6. Grill Kebabs: Preheat a grill or grill pan on medium heat. Grease the grill surface well with oil. Cook the kebabs, rotating every few minutes to ensure even cooking. Cook just until fully cooked through, about 10-12 minutes total depending on heat.
7. Serve: In serving dishes, place a small handful of onions at the bottom. Top with 3 kebabs each, spoon a generous amount of yogurt sauce on top, followed by a big spoonful of the tomato sauce. Garnish with chopped parsley and serve alongside warm pita bread.

Notes

• Use ground lamb for a traditional flavor variation.
• Do not overwork the meat mixture to keep kebabs tender.
• The tomato sauce is made with fresh grated tomatoes for a light, fresh flavor; canned tomatoes can be substituted if necessary.
• The yogurt sauce can be thinned to preference by adding more milk or lemon juice.
• Serve with warm pita bread or flatbread to soak up the sauces.
• Adjust the spice levels in the tomato sauce by increasing or decreasing crushed red pepper flakes.

Keywords: Yogurtlu Kebabs, Turkish kebabs, grilled kebabs, yogurt sauce, ground beef kebabs, tomato sauce kebabs