Persian Beef Kebabs

Recipe courtesy Aida Mollenkamp, 2009

Prep Time:
    25 min
Inactive Prep Time:
    12 hr 0 min
Cook Time:
    10 min

Level:
    Easy

Serves:
    4 to 6 servings

Ingredients

    * 2 pounds sirloin steak
    * 1 medium white onion, roughly chopped
    * 5 medium garlic cloves, crushed
    * 1 medium lime, juiced (about 4 teaspoons)
    * 2 tablespoons kosher salt
    * 2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
    * 2 pinches saffron (steeped a few minutes in 2 tablespoons boiling water) or 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
    * 8 (12-inch) metal or wooden skewers, if wooden, soak in water for 15 minutes
    * 8 medium Roma tomatoes
    * Olive oil
    * Lavash bread, for serving
    * Plain yogurt, for serving
    * Cilantro leaves, for serving

Directions

Trim any excess fat from the steaks, cut into 1-inch cubes, and place in a large nonreactive bowl.

Place onion, garlic, lime juice, salt, pepper, and saffron or cumin, in a food processor and process until smooth. Pour mixture over meat, toss to coat, cover and marinate 30 minutes at room temperature, or up to 12 hours in the refrigerator.

When ready to cook, heat grill to medium heat (350 degrees F) and oil well. Thread meat on skewers, leaving at least 1/2-inch space between each piece of meat. In a small bowl and the tomatoes, drizzle with oil, season with salt and pepper, and toss to coat thoroughly. Place meat and tomatoes on grill. Cook meat, turning once, until charred and medium-rare, about 7 to 10 minutes. Cook tomatoes, turning rarely, until blistered and soft, about 10 minutes.

Remove meat from skewers and have guests assemble their own sandwiches with meat, tomatoes, lavash, yogurt, and cilantro.

