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Peruvian Grilled Skewers

Serves 4 to 6 Appetizer meat, Appetizers

Peruvian Grilled Skewers

Peruvian Grilled Skewers, a staple of home-cooked meals, captures the essence of communal dining in Peru. The dish is a familiar sight on family tables, prepared with an instinctual touch — salt measured by feel, and olive oil lavished with generosity. Its roots are not in the bustling markets or festive gatherings, but rather in the everyday warmth of a Peruvian home, where each skewer brings comfort and connection.

Expect a succulent bite with each morsel of lamb, kissed by the aromatic presence of cumin and the subtle sweetness of onion. The skewers offer a harmonious blend of flavors, with the salt and pepper adjusted to personal preference. This is comfort food in its purest form, meant to be shared and savored leisurely, one skewer at a time.

Ingredients

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

Method

  1. Begin by preparing all the ingredients. Cut the 600 g of lamb into uniform cubes, approximately 2.5 cm each, ensuring even cooking. Peel and cut the onion into similar-sized chunks to match the lamb cubes. This ensures that both the lamb and onion cook evenly on the skewers.
  2. In a large mixing bowl, combine the lamb cubes with 2 tbsp of olive oil. Add 1 tsp of cumin and a generous amount of fine sea salt and black pepper to taste. Toss the lamb cubes thoroughly in the mixture, ensuring each piece is well-coated with the oil and spices. This step builds the foundational flavor for the skewers.
  3. Thread the lamb cubes and onion chunks alternately onto metal or soaked wooden skewers. Make sure to leave a small gap between each piece to allow for even cooking. This arrangement ensures that the lamb and onion cook at the same rate and the flavors meld together.
  4. Preheat a grill or grill pan over medium-high heat. Once hot, place the skewers on the grill. Cook the skewers, turning occasionally, until the lamb is browned on all sides and the onions are slightly charred, about 10-12 minutes. The lamb should be juicy with a slightly pink center, indicating it's perfectly cooked.
  5. Once the skewers are cooked to your desired doneness, remove them from the grill. Sprinkle with additional fine sea salt to taste, enhancing the flavors. Serve immediately, allowing the warm skewers to be the centerpiece of a shared meal, as is traditional in Peruvian home cooking.
Cover of Authentic Peruvian Cuisine
From the cookbook

Authentic Peruvian Cuisine

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

Available soon on Amazon…

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