Best Spiced Turkey Skewers With Cumin Lime Yogurt Recipes

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SPICED TURKEY SKEWERS WITH CUMIN-LIME YOGURT



Spiced Turkey Skewers With Cumin-Lime Yogurt image

This recipe is a twist on the kebabs, kofte and grilled meats that are staples of Middle Eastern cuisines. Sumac powder, which is made from dried, ground sumac berries, is sprinkled on the kebabs to add a tart, lemony brightness to them, but if you don't have sumac, you can leave it out. Eat the skewers with a knife and fork, or, better yet, make little pita sandwiches with all of the fixings - the crunch of the cucumbers, cooling yogurt and the refreshing bite of mint are essential to balancing the dish. If you have trouble finding Persian cucumbers, use English cucumbers instead.

Provided by Yasmin Fahr

Categories     dinner, weekday, meat, skewers and kebabs, main course

Time 30m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 12

4 large pitas
1 tablespoon olive oil, plus more as needed
1 cup full-fat (at least 5 percent) Greek, skyr or other thick yogurt
1 lime, halved
1 tablespoon plus 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
Kosher salt
1 pound ground turkey, preferably dark
1 tablespoon ground turmeric
1 medium red onion, peeled and halved (one half grated and strained, and the other sliced into 1-inch wedges)
1/2 tablespoon sumac powder (optional)
1 packed cup fresh mint sprigs
2 Persian cucumbers, thinly sliced into thin coins

Steps:

  • Soak 8 bamboo or wooden skewers in water for 10 to 30 minutes before you begin the recipe.
  • Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Lightly brush the pitas with oil, place on a sheet pan under the broiler for 1 to 2 minutes per side, then wrap in foil to keep warm.
  • In a small serving bowl, stir together the yogurt, juice of 1/2 lime, 1/2 teaspoon cumin and 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt. Scoop out 1/4 cup of the yogurt mixture and place in a large mixing bowl. Place the remaining yogurt in the refrigerator.
  • Gently combine the turkey, remaining cumin, turmeric, grated onion and 1 teaspoon kosher salt in the bowl with the yogurt until most of it has a mustard-orange hue. Divide the meat into 8 similar-sized loose balls. Lightly wet your hands so the meat doesn't stick, then shape the meat around the skewers by placing the meat in one hand, pressing the skewer in the center, then using the fingertips and thumb of the bottom hand to shape the meat by lightly pressing it to create an oblong shape.
  • Place the skewers in the center of a sheet pan and sprinkle the sliced onion on the outskirts. Use your hands to rub the onions and the outside of the skewers with oil, then season the onions with salt. Place the remaining 1/2 lime on the pan cut-side up, and roast until the outside of the meat is a darker mustard color and no longer pink inside, 11 to 14 minutes.
  • Squeeze the lime juice on top of the turkey and slide the meat off the skewers. Place the pitas on a serving plate, spoon some of the reserved yogurt on them, then place the turkey and onion slices on top. Sprinkle all over with the sumac, if using, and serve with mint, cucumbers and the remaining yogurt.

TURKISH-SPICED HALIBUT SKEWERS WITH YOGURT SAUCE



Turkish-Spiced Halibut Skewers With Yogurt Sauce image

Turkish chefs make these beautiful skewers with local swordfish, usually dousing the fish in a garlicky lemony marinade before cooking. Bay leaves (they grow wild) are usually a presence, too. David Tanis took that inspiration and made the fish halibut, adding thinly sliced lemons and onions, along with pinches of aromatic cumin and coriander, and a heavy hand with the bay leaves. You would think this might be overkill, but in fact it only enhances the sweetness of the fish.

Provided by David Tanis

Categories     dinner, main course

Time 1h30m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 17

1 1/2 pounds boneless halibut or other firm-fleshed fish
Salt and pepper
1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds, toasted and coarsely ground
1/2 teaspoon coriander seeds, toasted and coarsely ground
1/2 teaspoon paprika
Pinch red pepper flakes
1 small red onion, thinly sliced
1 small lemon, thinly sliced
2 garlic cloves, minced, plus 1 garlic clove, grated or smashed to a paste
8 bay leaves
1/2 cup olive oil
1 cup plain yogurt
Pinch cayenne
1 small cucumber, about 2 ounces, peeled and diced
1 tablespoon chopped mint
1 tablespoon chopped dill
1 tablespoon chopped parsley

Steps:

  • Cut halibut into large chunks of equal size and thread onto skewers. You should have 4 kebabs weighing about 6 ounces each. Lay them in a shallow dish. Season on both sides with salt and pepper.
  • In a mixing bowl, put cumin, coriander, paprika, red pepper flakes, onion, lemon, minced garlic and bay leaves. Add olive oil and stir together. Spoon mixture over fish skewers and leave to marinate for at least 1 hour.
  • Put yogurt in a small bowl. Season with salt and pepper, then add garlic paste, cayenne and cucumber. Mix mint, dill and parsley together, add half to yogurt mixture, and reserve the rest. Stir to combine. Set aside.
  • Heat a grill or broiler. When it is hot, cook skewers for about 2 minutes per side, until just opaque. (Leave some lemon, onion and bay leaf clinging to fish, so they char a bit.) Transfer to a serving platter. Sprinkle with remaining herb mixture. Serve with yogurt sauce on the side.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 465, UnsaturatedFat 25 grams, Carbohydrate 9 grams, Fat 32 grams, Fiber 2 grams, Protein 37 grams, SaturatedFat 6 grams, Sodium 719 milligrams, Sugar 4 grams

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