Iskender kebab, also known as "Kebab Iskender" is a Turkish dish that is similar to the traditional Adana kebab, but it's served differently. It's named after its inventor, Iskender Efendi, who lived in the 19th century in the city of Bursa, Turkey.
The dish consists of thinly sliced grilled meat, typically lamb, which is served on a bed of pide bread, and topped with a tomato-based sauce, yogurt, and butter.
Ingredients:
- 1 lb ground lamb or beef
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves of garlic, minced
- 1 tsp red pepper flakes
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- Skewers (if grilling)
- 1 cup tomato sauce
- 1 cup yogurt
- 2 tbsp butter
- Pide bread
Instructions:
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground lamb or beef with the finely chopped onion, minced garlic, red pepper flakes, cumin, salt, and black pepper. Mix well.
- Divide the meat mixture into 8 portions and shape each portion into a sausage shape, about 4-5 inches long.
- If you are grilling the kebab, thread each sausage shape onto a skewer. If you are cooking them in a pan, you can skip this step.
- Preheat grill or stovetop pan to high heat. Grill or pan-fry the skewers for about 5-7 minutes per side, or until the meat is cooked through and slightly charred.
- While the meat is cooking, prepare the tomato sauce by heating tomato sauce in a saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally.
- To assemble the Iskender kebab, place a slice of pide bread on a plate and top it with the cooked meat slices.
- Pour the tomato sauce over the meat and top it with a dollop of yogurt.
- Melt the butter in a small saucepan and drizzle it over the yogurt.
- Serve the Iskender kebab immediately, garnished with fresh parsley or mint.
Note: You can also serve it with a side of yogurt and ayran (a traditional yogurt drink).
Iskender kebab is a classic Turkish dish that is delicious, hearty and perfect for a satisfying meal. It's usually served with ayran or yogurt, which helps to balance the spiciness of the meat.
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