Cuisine : Shashlik - How to prepare this popular dish

 

Shashlik is a popular dish, typically consisting of skewered and grilled cubes of meat, often accompanied by vegetables. To prepare shashlik, marinate the meat (commonly lamb, beef, or chicken) in a mixture of oil, vinegar, herbs, and spices for a few hours. Thread the marinated meat onto skewers, alternating with vegetables if desired. Grill the skewers until the meat is cooked to your liking. 

Certainly! Here's a more detailed step-by-step guide for preparing shashlik:

Ingredients:

- 1.5 to 2 pounds of meat (lamb, beef, or chicken), cut into 1-inch cubes

- 1/4 cup vegetable oil

- 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar or white vinegar

- 2 cloves garlic, minced

- 1 teaspoon paprika

- 1 teaspoon ground cumin

- 1 teaspoon coriander powder

- Salt and black pepper to taste

- Vegetables for skewering (bell peppers, onions, cherry tomatoes, etc.)

Instructions:

1. **Marinate the Meat:**

   - In a bowl, combine vegetable oil, vinegar, minced garlic, paprika, cumin, coriander powder, salt, and black pepper.

   - Add the meat cubes to the marinade, ensuring they are evenly coated. Cover the bowl and let it marinate in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours, or ideally overnight for more flavor.

2. **Prepare Skewers:**

   - If using wooden skewers, soak them in water for about 30 minutes to prevent them from burning during grilling.

   - Alternately thread marinated meat cubes and vegetables onto the skewers.

3. **Grilling:**

   - Preheat the grill to medium-high heat.

   - Grill the skewers, turning occasionally, until the meat is cooked to your desired level of doneness. This typically takes about 10-15 minutes.

4. **Serve:**

   - Once the shashlik is cooked, remove the skewers from the grill.

   - Serve the shashlik hot, accompanied by rice, flatbread, or your preferred side dishes.

Enjoy your homemade shashlik!