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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.

Ingredients

Scale

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

Find it online: https://cookedbycleo.com/yogurtlu-kebabs-recipe/