Persian Kabob Koobideh

Persian Kabob Koobideh

SpiceBreeze
Kabob Koobideh is the most popular grilled ground meat in Iran and around the Persian Gulf. The meat is prepared differently to a burger. It's important to knead the meat well to receive a texture that sticks to the skewers and turns out light when served. The kabob is traditionally grilled on wide flat metal skewers "hanging" over the fire so that the meat doesn't get in contact with the grill. This recipe is an easier weekday version.
Hands-on Time 30 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine Persian
Servings 3

Ingredients
  

Protein

  • 1 lb ground beef lamb, or chicken *

Fresh Produce

  • 1 lemon for juice
  • 1 red cabbage ** finely shredded
  • 1 large onion grated
  • 2 cloves garlic grated

Packaged Goods/Staples

  • oil
  • salt & pepper

Koobideh Culinary Spice Kit

  • Sumac, turmeric, black pepper, parsley

Optional

  • 1 onion halved, thinly sliced
  • 1 cup radishes thinly sliced

Suggested Sides

  • Lavash or pita bread
  • Basmati rice
  • Grilled vegetables
  • Sabzi Khordan ***

Instructions
 

Cabbage

  • In a BOWL, mix 1 tbsp lemon juice, salt & pepper to taste, and 1 tbsp oil.
  • Add the cabbage and knead well.
  • Cover and let rest for 2 hours.

Prepare

  • In a BOWL, squeeze grated onions and discard most of the liquid.
  • Add garlic, Kabob Koobideh spices, salt to taste (recommended 1 tsp).
  • Mix well. Add meat. Knead well for 5 minutes.
  • Keep it in the fridge for 30 minutes.

Fry

  • Wet your hands with water.
  • Form 2 tbsp of meat into flat rectangle shaped meat patties. Make sure that they are as flat as possible.
  • In a PAN, heat 1 tbsp oil over medium heat.
  • Fry the kabobs for some minutes on each side until they are cooked and slightly browned.

Serve

  • Optionally, sprinkle the kabob with sumac and top it with onion & radish slices.
  • Serve the kabob with your preferred sides.
  • Enjoy!

Notes

* 2/3 beef, 1/3 lamb or all beef (20-30% fat), or ground chicken thighs.
** Substitute red cabbage with green cabbage, and/ or add some shredded carrots or apples.
*** Find the recipe for Sabzi Khordan here.
Marceline Reid-Jaques
Marceline Reid-Jaques
2022-12-14
Karen Jones
Karen Jones
2022-12-05
Wonderful, flavorful meals using readily available ingredients!
ann davis
ann davis
2022-11-29
My daughter gave me a subscription as a Christmas present while our families were quarantining together. It was so much fun! It introduced us to several cuisines that were totally new to us. The recipes were easy to follow and the spices were transformative - fresh and pungent and delicious.
Jessica Brown
Jessica Brown
2022-05-22
The best way to try new dishes!

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Persian Kabob Koobideh

Persian Kabob Koobideh

Kabob Koobideh is the most popular grilled ground meat in Iran and around the Persian Gulf. The meat is prepared differently to a burger. It’s important to knead the meat well to receive a texture that sticks to the skewers and turns out light when served. The kabob is traditionally grilled on wide flat metal skewers “hanging” over the fire so that the meat doesn’t get in contact with the grill. This recipe is an easier weekday version.

Protein

  • 2 lb ground lamb (beef, or chicken)

Fresh Produce

  • 1 lemon (for juice)
  • 1 red cabbage* (finely shredded)
  • 1 large onion (grated)
  • 3 cloves garlic (grated)

Dairy

  • 1 egg (whisked)

Packaged Goods/Staples

  • oil
  • salt & pepper

Suggested Sides & Toppings

  • Lavash or pita bread
  • cooked Basmati rice
  • onion & radish slices
  • grilled vegetables
  • Sabzi Khordan**
  • sumac

Koobideh Culinary Spice Kit

  • Sumac turmeric, black pepper, parsley

Cabbage

  1. In a BOWL, mix 1 tbsp lemon juice, salt & pepper to taste, and 1 tbsp oil.
  2. Add the cabbage and knead well.

  3. Cover. Let it rest for 2 hours.

Prepare

  1. In a BOWL, squeeze grated onions and discard all liquid.
  2. Add garlic, salt to taste (recommended 2 tsp), egg, and Kabob Koobideh spices. Mix well.
  3. Add meat. Knead well for 5 – 10 minutes.

Fry

  1. Wet your hands with water.
  2. Form 2 tbsp of meat into long, flat shaped meat patties.
  3. In a PAN, heat 1 tbsp oil over medium heat.
  4. Fry the kabobs for some minutes on each side until they are cooked and slightly browned.

Serve

  1. Serve the kabob in bread and/or with rice and with cabbage.
  2. Optionally, sprinkle the kabob with sumac and top it with onion & radish slices.
  3. Add grilled vegetables or Sabzi Khordan**.

  4. Enjoy!

* Substitute red cabbage with green cabbage, and/ or add some shredded carrots or apples.

** Recipe for Sabzi Khordan.

Main Course
Persian
sumac, turmeric