Adana kebab is one of the most popular types of kebab in the world, let alone in Turkey where the dish originates.
Kebabs are an essential character in Turkish cuisine. Every city in Turkey has their own unique recipe for kebabs, the most popular includes beef kofta, iskender, doner, chicken shish and marinated lamb shish kebabs.
Adana kebabs are generally made with minced lamb meat, seasoned with lots of spices. The spicy meat is mounted on large skewers which are then grilled on a charcoal fire or sometimes fried in a pan. The resulting kebabs are extremely tender, juicy and packed with deep quintessential Middle Eastern flavor.
Adana kebab originates from the Turkish city of Adana and can be made in a variety of different. The most traditional recipe uses lamb as the quintessential ingredient; however the meat of lamb can be substituted with mutton or beef depending upon your choice.
Turkish Adana Kebab Recipe
The preparation of this Adana kebab recipe is super easy and the ingredients are easy to source.
Ingredients
For the yoghurt and garlic sauce:
- Yogurt – 1 cup
- Garlic (chopped) – 4 cloves
- Lemon juice – 4 tbsp
- Salt - to taste
For the Turkish salad:
- Onion (sliced) – 1
- Tomato (sliced) – 1
- Lemon juice – 3 tbsp
- Olive oil – 1 tbsp
- Sumac – ½ tsp
- Coriander (chopped) – 2 tbsp
- Black pepper – 2 tsp
- Salt - to taste
For the kebabs:
- Minced lamb – 1kg
- Onion (chopped) – 1
- Garlic (chopped) – 4 cloves
- Ginger garlic paste – 2 tbsp
- Yogurt – 2 tbsp
- Ground sumac – 2 tsp
- Ground cumin – 2 tsp
- Ground black pepper – 2 tsp
- Red chilli flakes – 2 tsp
- Fresh coriander leaves (chopped) – 2-3 tbsp
- Salt - to taste
Instructions
For the yoghurt and garlic sauce:
- Take a bowl. Add yoghurt, garlic, lemon juice and salt. Mix all the ingredients together until a thick creamy sauce is formed.
For the Turkish salad:
- Take a bowl and add tomato, onion, coriander, olive oil and lemon juice. Add in salt and sumac and mix them together.
For the kebabs:
- Take a medium sized bowl and add the minced lamb. Season it with black pepper, red chilli flakes, ginger garlic paste. Add all the other ingredients to the bowl and mix well.
- Now put the spicy minced lamb in the food processor and allow it to blend until it is incorporated well.
- Put the meat in a bowl and let it rest in the fridge for around 3-4 hours.
- Once the meat is set, make balls of the mixture. Moisten your hands while making these balls so that it doesn’t stick to your hands.
- Now take the skewers and gently assemble the meat balls on the sticks to make long and flat kebab shapes.
- Take a flat pan or tawa. Drizzle around 2-3 tbsp of oil on it and allow it to heat on the grill.
- Place the kebabs on the pan and allow them to cook on a medium heat. Turn them over so that they get cooked from both the sides. This may take around 7-8 mins. Avoid over-cooking as it may make the kebabs dry.
- Once the kebabs are cooked, take them out on a platter and sprinkle black pepper, cumin, red chilli flakes and sumac.
- Your kebabs are ready to be served. Serve them with the Turkish salad and the garlic and yoghurt sauce in order to enhance its flavors.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 6 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 601Total Fat: 41gSaturated Fat: 16gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 21gCholesterol: 165mgSodium: 583mgCarbohydrates: 14gFiber: 3gSugar: 6gProtein: 45g