During the summer months, we do a lot of entertaining. I'm always trying to plan as much as I can in advance so I can spend time with our guests instead of working in the kitchen. One of my favorite things to serve guests are lamb kebabs. They're incredibly flavorful and all they need is a little sauce, bread, and a big salad. Here I marinated the lamb in a simple garlic-olive oil mixture and then grilled the lamb to perfection. Served with a delicious homemade Tzatziki sauce it's the perfect complement to the kebabs. The seasoned charred lamb, when dipped in the cool cucumber sauce, is a match made in heaven. And the best part is that except for the grilling everything can be prepared in advance.
Lamb Kebabs with Tzatziki:
3 1/2 pounds leg of lamb cut into 1 1/4" cubes
Marinade:
1/3 cup olive oil
5 cloves of garlic, chopped
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
10-14 bamboo skewers, soaked in water for an hour
Serve with Tzatziki and pita or naan
Tzatziki:
1- 17.6-ounce container Greek yogurt
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 English cucumber, peeled, seeded and chopped
2 small cloves of garlic, finely chopped
3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
4 teaspoons fresh chopped dill
3 teaspoons chopped fresh mint
1/2 teaspoon + 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
Time-Saving Tips: The meat can marinate earlier in the day and threaded onto skewers. The Tzatziki can be prepared a few hours in advance; stir before serving.
Let's see what we need.
We're ready to cook.
Combine the meat with the marinade ingredients and toss. Refrigerate for 4-6 hours.
Place the chopped cucumber in a small colander resting over a dish. Toss with 1/2 teaspoon of salt and let rest 15-20 minutes; discard any liquid. Transfer the cucumbers to a bowl and add in the remaining Tzatziki ingredients together and stir. Taste and adjust the seasonings: set aside.
Bring the meat to room temperature for about an hour then thread the meat onto the soaked skewers. Place on a medium hot grill and cook until done. The kebabs should be turned while cooking so they are well browned all over. This will take about 5-8 minutes depending on how well cooked you like the lamb.
It's ready! This is totally delicious and easy to prepare. Try this at your next gathering and you'll be so happy that you did.
Enjoy!