Patlicanli Kebab

One of my all-time favourite Turkish dishes, sliced aubergine medallions sandwiched between kebab patties. It’s sooo yummy and unctuous. The aubergines act as little sponges here, collecting and storing all the beautiful cooking liquid from the flavoured meat and compliments perfectly with the braised tomatoes and peppers. A real crowd pleaser this summer!

Ingredients:

600g minced lamb
1 large onion, grated
1 tsp sweet paprika
1 tbsp ground cumin
1 tbsp of Niki’s Turkish Blend
½ tsp baking powder
½ tbsp sea salt flakes
2 tbsp of tomato purée

2 garlic cloves, peeled and crushed
About 2 aubergines (preferably long, thick ones)
5 tbsps of olive oil

A small handful of small red peppers or two red bell peppers, sliced into bite size chunks

A punnet of cherry tomatoes

A small bunch of fresh parsley

Method:

1. Soak 4-5 wooden skewers in water for 10 minutes (or use metal skewers). In a bowl, mix the lamb with the onion, spices, baking powder and sea salt. Knead well until completely combined, then divide the mixture into 10- 12 balls (about 50g each). Cut the aubergines widthways into 2cm-thick slices (halve or quarter the slices if large). Brush the meatballs and aubergines with olive oil.

2. Preheat a grill to high (or heat up the barbecue). Thread a slice of aubergine onto a skewer followed by a meatball, repeat twice then finish with an aubergine slice, pushing to compress the meat between the aubergine. (There should be 3-4 meatballs on each skewer.) Repeat with the remaining 3-4 skewers.

3. Once this is done in a small bowl dissolve the tomato purée with a few tablespoons of boiling water and the crushed garlic, pour this into your baking tray. Place your skewers on top and arrange the red peppers and cherry tomatoes around the skewers so they act as a border.

4.Put under the hot grill and cook for 15-20 minutes (checking on them halfway) until the aubergine starts to feel soft and the kebabs are golden and cooked through, the juices run clear and there are no pink bits in the middle. Serve immediately with a fresh scattering of chopped parsley.

Afiyet Olsun!