Spiced Match Meat Kebab

You know those spicy Persian ground meat kebobs? I’d been thinking for a while that Match Meat would lend itself well to this. So I decided to give it a shot. And I was right. Instead of making it into kebobs, I just formed it into patties and pan fried it. It would be even better on a grill. These were spicy and delicious. Here I’m eating it with Israeli Couscous from Veganomicon and some mixed veggies.

Spiced Match Meat Kebab

  • 1 lb. ground beef style Match Meat
  • 6 tablespoons grated onion
  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 4 tablespoons paprika
  • 1 tablespoon kosher salt
  • 2 teaspoons ground cumin
  • 2 teaspoons dried oregano leaves
  • 2 teaspoons dried mint leaves, crumbled with your fingers
  • 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1. Combine Match Meat and onion in a large bowl; set aside. Heat oil in a 10″ skillet over medium-high heat. Add paprika, salt, cumin, oregano, mint, and pepper and cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant, about 45 seconds. Pour the spice mixture over the reserved Match Meat mixture and mix thoroughly with your hands.

2. Divide mixture into 4 portions and roll each into a thin cylinder about 10″ long and 1″ thick. Slide a flat metal skewer (see page 100) into each cylinder and press the Match meat around the skewer. 

3. Meanwhile, build a medium-hot fire in a charcoal grill or heat a gas grill to medium-high (alternatively, heat broiler and position rack 7″ from heating element or just form into patties and pan fry). Grill or broil the kebabs, turning once, until browned, about 4 minutes per side.

Adapted from this recipe.

Israeli Couscous and Lemony Chickpeas

israeli couscous and lemony chickpeas

I totally forgot to take a picture of this on a plate, so you’ll just have to live with it in a plastic bucket ready to go off to work. On the left is the Israeli Couscous with Pistachios and Apricots from Veganomicon. I’d never made the giant Israeli couscous before. It’s definitely more toothsome. And the flavor of this was wonderful. The Lemony Chickpeas came from this recipe but I probably used about half the olive oil. Also, the chickpeas I used were from a batch I had slowcooked and were extra soft. They ended up basically breaking down in this dish. Not very attractive visually, but they ate up just fine. Also I tossed in about a cup of frozen spinach to green it up a little. I think the flavors were even more intense after it sat overnight. Yummy!

Oh, and completely unrelated but while watching the news I saw why John McCain is done. Or heard I should say. His theme music in Iowa is Europe’s The Final Countdown. ‘Nuff said.