Kabob Koobideh (کباب کوبیده) is a favorite Persian dish made from ground lamb or ground beef or a combination of the two. It is typically prepared on skewers and grilled over fire, but you can also make it in the oven, the stove or in an air fryer!
Place the onion mixture into a blender and puree until smooth, about 2 minutes.*
Place the onion mixture in a strainer over a bowl and drain the juice. Kabob will not hold its shape if mixture has too much water. Reserve the onion juice.
Using the food processor again, but with the chopping blade, place meat and salt in alternating layers with the onion mixture.
Add onion juice little by little if mixture is dry. Meat-onion mix should have elasticity and stretch to it.
Put kabob mix into big bowl and knead like dough. The more you knead the kabob mix, the lighter the kabob. Texture should be airy, not a solid mass like in a hamburger. Kabob mix shouldn't be sticking to your hands.
Allow kabob to marinate in a refrigerator in a covered bowl for 2-4 hours.
Remove kabob mixture from the refrigerator and start your charcoal at least 30 minutes prior to grilling.
The amount of meat you use, depends on the size of skewers you have. Long flat skewers work best with ground beef kabob as it holds the meat better than a thin round skewer. For our skewers we started with a baseball-size ball of kabob mix.
Gently pierce the meat patty with your skewer and slide it down to the middle of the skewer. Use reserved onion juice or water to keep your hands moist and to keep them from sticking to the meat.
Softly squeeze the meat flat as you position the meat onto the skewer. Make sure you leave room on either ends of the skewer as it rests over your grill.
Using two fingers to mimic scissors, pinch both ends of the kabob meat, cutting off any excess. Also using two fingers softly squeeze down the skewer leaving ridges.
You know your grill is ready when you hold your hand over the grill for 3 seconds and your hand feel too hot to remain there. Place the kabob skewers on your grill, leaving space in between to allow for hot air to flow. The meat should not touch any grill plates. Instead the skewers should be propped up over your coals or flame.
Once you arrange the skewers, you will start turning the them over so each side will cook evenly. If you do not rotate the skewers every minute, one side will cook faster than the other, causing the meat to constrict on one side and your kabob will fall off the skewer. Cook until done, approximately 15-20 minutes.
As kabobs are done, remove from grill and remove meat from skewers by grabbing it with a sheet of lavash bread and sliding it down the skewer.
Place the kabob on a serving dish and cover with another sheet of lavash to keep the meat warm.
Notes
* This step can be skipped. The secret to great ground beef kabob is to make sure your onions are pureed very smoothly. You don't want to taste the onion pieces, as you would in a hamburger. The texture is very different.Serving Suggestions: Serve with basmati rice or lavash bread. Other side dishes include mast o khiar (Persian yogurt with cucumbers), Shirazi salad, homemade torshi (pickled vegetables), a platter of fresh herbs, or sabzi khordan. Many Persians like to add a raw egg yolk in the middle of the rice. You mix the yolk in with the rice for a creamier texture.This can also be made with a mixture of beef and lamb. But for practicality purposes, we primarily use ground beef.Cooking Tips: The ingredients are simple, but the technique is key. You want the meat mixture to be sticky enough to stay on the skewers and not fall off during the grilling process. Long flat skewers work best with this kabob.To cook in the oven: Form kabob mix into desired shape and place onto a broiler pan coated with non-stick spray. Broil in the oven on the top-most shelf until kabob starts to brown, about 5-7 mins. Turn kabob over & broil for 5 more mins or until cooked through. You can also prepare kabob koobideh in the air fryer! So many ways to enjoy this delicious meal!TO STORE: Store any leftover kabob in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 4 days.TO FREEZE: You can also freeze leftovers. Transfer to a resealable bag or freezer safe container and freeze for up to 4 months.