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ChineseAuthentic Cuisine

Chinese Grilled Skewers

Serves 4 to 6 Appetizer meat, Appetizers

Chinese Grilled Skewers

Chinese Grilled Skewers, a beloved staple in home kitchens, bring the essence of familial cooking to the table. Traditionally crafted with instinct rather than precision, this dish reflects the heart of Chinese home cooking with its generous use of fat and hand-judged salt. Here, lamb cubes and onion are threaded on skewers, a method that transforms simple ingredients into a shared table experience.

The skewers emerge from the grill aromatic with cumin and black pepper, the lamb tender and flavorful. Each bite is a balance of savory lamb, sweet onion, and fragrant spices, designed to be passed around a table set for sharing. This is Chinese home cooking at its most genuine, where flavors come together in harmony without fuss.

Ingredients

  • 600 glamb cubes
  • 1onion
  • 2 tbspolive oil
  • 1 tspcumin
  • to tastefine sea salt and black pepper

Method

  1. Begin by cutting the 600 g of lamb into uniform cubes, roughly 1-inch in size, to ensure even cooking. Peel and slice the onion into thin wedges. This will help the onion cook through quickly and impart its flavor to the lamb.
  2. In a large bowl, combine the lamb cubes and onion slices. Drizzle with 2 tbsp of olive oil, ensuring each piece is lightly coated. Sprinkle 1 tsp of cumin over the mixture, tossing everything together until the spices evenly coat the lamb and onion.
  3. Thread the lamb cubes and onion wedges alternately onto skewers, pressing them together gently to ensure they stay in place during grilling. This arrangement allows the onion's moisture to seep into the lamb, keeping it juicy.
  4. Preheat your grill or grill pan to high heat. Once hot, place the skewers on the grill, leaving a little space between each to allow heat to circulate. Grill the skewers, turning occasionally, until the lamb is browned on all sides and slightly charred at the edges. The lamb should feel firm to the touch but still springy, indicating it's cooked through.
  5. Remove the skewers from the grill and immediately sprinkle them with fine sea salt and black pepper to taste. This final seasoning enhances the flavors and provides a slight crunch. Serve the skewers hot, encouraging diners to enjoy them while the lamb is still succulent and the onions are sweet and tender.
Cover of Authentic Chinese Cuisine
From the cookbook

Authentic Chinese Cuisine

This recipe is from Authentic Chinese Cuisine by Yassine Sbiti — the Chinese volume in the ComidaTime International Cuisines series.

Available soon on Amazon…

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