Delicious Lamb Shashlik Recipe (Russian Shashlik)

Shashlik is a suitable picnic food. This shish kebab is very popular in Russia and central Asia, but it is originally from the Caucasus. Cooking Shashlik has straightforward steps. Cutting, marinading, and grilling. There are many ways of marinading, and it is different in each country. For example, there is a similar kebab in Iran called Kebab Torsh. They use pomegranate molasses and walnuts for marinating.

There is another fantastic food with pomegranate molasses called Khoresh Fesenjoon. Do not miss it!

Shashlik kebab is mostly lamb, but pork, beef, chicken, and other types of red meat can be used, too. Also, some vegetables like bell peppers, onion, mushrooms, and tomato can be grilled along with the meat.

Shashlik ingredient

Shashlik ingredients vary according to what you use for marinating. You can add wine, yoghurt, or every acidic ingredient by means of making the meat soft and tender. I prefer using onion, bay leaf, salt, black pepper, and vegetable oil. 

Also, I like to grill vegetables like onions, mushrooms, and tomatoes. Using cherry tomatoes is better for grilling.

Shashlik kebab recipe

For cooking shashlik, we need to chop 1.5 kg of meat (boneless parts, shoulder or leg preferred) into small cubes (2 inches). Slice 3 onions into string pieces. Add the meat and onion pieces into a bowl. Pour three tablespoons of vegetable oil on them with one teaspoon of salt and one teaspoon of black pepper. Put two bay leaves on the mixture to exclude bad smells from the meat. Finally, pour 1 cup of water into them. Let them rest and allow flavors to mix overnight. If you are in a hurry, let them rest for at least 6 hours. The more time you give, the tastier they become. After resting, thread the shashlik pieces into the metal skewers. Also, thread vegetables into another skewer. Our lamb Shashlik is ready to grill!

The way that people traditionally grill is using charcoal in Mangal. According to standard.co.uk, “Mangal is the Turkish term for an open charcoal fire for cooking food on a kind of brazier.” Heat the charcoals in the Mangal till making them white outside and red inside. Put the skewers on Mangal and turn them once in a while. The duration depends on the height of the skewers and the heat. Check the kebabs; do not make them dry or burn.

How to serve Shashlik?

Serve Shashlik with bread or rice. Flatbread is a better choice than other types of bread. You can serve fresh herbs like parsley as a side dish with your meal. Bon appetite!