RECIPE

Yogurt-Marinated Lamb Kebabs With Lemon Butter

  • ACTIVE: 25 MIN
  • TOTAL TIME: 45 MIN Plus Overnight Marinating
  • SERVINGS: 4 to 6

At Shahpura Bagh, a luxurious guesthouse in the Rajasthani countryside, chefs marinate lamb in yogurt to make it exceptionally tender, then give it an extra burst of tangy flavor with a basting of lemon butter just before serving.

  • ACTIVE: 25 MIN
  • TOTAL TIME: 45 MIN
  • OTHER TIME:
  • SERVINGS: 4 to 6

Ingredients

  • Ingredients
    1. 2 cups plain whole-milk yogurt
    2. 1 1/2 cups water
    3. 2 pounds trimmed boneless leg of lamb, cut into 1 1/2-inch cubes
    4. 1 1/2 teaspoons pure chile powder, such as ancho
    5. 1 teaspoon turmeric
    6. 1 large garlic clove, minced
    7. 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
    8. Kosher salt
    9. Six 1-by-2-inch strips of lemon peel
    10. 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
    11. 3 tablespoons ghee or unsalted butter, melted

Directions

  1. In a large bowl, whisk 1 cup of the yogurt with the water. Add the lamb cubes, toss to coat and refrigerate overnight.
  2. Light a grill. Drain the lamb and pat dry with paper towels. In a large bowl, whisk the remaining 1 cup of yogurt with the chile powder, turmeric, garlic, cayenne and 1 teaspoon of salt. Add the lamb, toss to coat and let stand for 10 to 20 minutes.
  3. On each of 6 metal skewers, thread a piece of the lemon peel. Thread the lamb cubes onto the skewers and season with salt. In a small bowl, combine the ghee with the lemon juice.
  4. Grill the skewers over moderately high heat, turning, until starting to char all over, about 3 minutes. Continue to grill, turning and basting with the ghee and lemon juice, until medium-rare, about 4 minutes longer. Serve the lamb on or off the skewers.

Serve With

Basmati rice.