Moroccan Mechoui Recipe

Moroccan Mechoui Recipe - Slow Roasted Leg of Lamb or Shoulder:



Mechoui

 Mechoui is traditionally prepared by roasting a whole lamb either on a spit over a fire or in a pit in the ground. The meat is eaten by hand with salt and cumin for dipping.
This mechoui recipe calls for very slowly roasting a leg of lamb or shoulder in the oven until the meat is tender enough to pull off the bone. Slow roasting with a very low temperature can take up to nine hours, depending on the thickness of the cut. Shorter roasting methods are also described below.
Plan to serve mechoui for a special family dinner or when entertaining.

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 8 hours

Total Time: 8 hours, 15 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1 whole leg of lamb (or shoulder) on the bone.
• 4 tablespoons soft unsalted butter (use smen if desired)
• 3 or 4 cloves of garlic, pressed
• 2 teaspoons salt, or to taste
• 1 teaspoon pepper, or to taste
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon saffron threads, crushed
• 1/4 teaspoon turmeric, or pinch of Moroccan yellow colorant
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• ------------------------------------------------------------
• salt
• cumin

Preparation:

Trim excess fat from the leg of lamb, and make a dozen or more cuts deep into the meat with the tip of a sharp knife.
Combine the butter with the garlic, spices and olive oil. Spread the mixture over the entire leg of lamb, working some butter into the incisions made with the knife. Place the leg of lamb in a roasting pan, and proceed with one of the roasting methods below.

Very Slow-Roasting Method - 7 1/2 to 9 Hours

This is my preferred method, taught to me by a friend in Marrakesh, who learned it from her Moroccan mother-in-law. You can reduce cooking time to between four and five hours by using a 350° F (180° C) oven temp.
Preheat an oven to 250°F (120/130°C).
Cover the lamb with foil, sealing the edges tightly. Roast the lamb, basting hourly and resealing the foil each time, for 7 to 8 hours, or until the juices run clear and the meat is tender enough to pinch off the bone. Note: Small legs (under 2 kg) may finish cooking in six hours; large legs may take closer to nine hours.
Remove the foil and increase the oven temperature to 475° F (240° C). Brown the lamb, basting frequently, for 15 to 30 minutes, or until the meat is well-colored.
Transfer the lamb to a platter and allow it to rest for 10 minutes before serving. If desired, the juices can be poured over and around the lamb. Serve dishes of salt and cumin on the side for dipping.

Traditional Roasting Method - 3 to 4 Hours

When shorter on time, this method also works very well, but the meat won't be quite as tender as the above method. The lamb will, however, have more of a crisp crust, which some Moroccans find desirable.
Preheat an oven to 475° F (240° C). Add 1/2 cup of water to the pan, and roast the lamb, uncovered, for 20 minutes.
Reduce the oven temperature to 325° F (160° C) and continue roasting the lamb, basting occasionally, for 2 1/2 to 3 hours, or until the meat is tender, the juices run clear and the lamb has a dark, crisp crust.
Transfer the lamb to a platter and allow it to rest for 10 minutes before serving. If desired, the juices can be poured over and around the lamb. Serve dishes of salt and cumin on the side for dipping.

Fast Roasting Method - 1 to 2 Hours

This is the first way I ever tasted mechoui, as prepared for me by a Moroccan friend. It was part of my early and impressive introduction to Moroccan food.
Preheat an oven to 475° F (240° C). Wrap the exposed lower leg of the lamb in foil to prevent burning. Add 1/2 cup of water and a few tablespoons of olive oil to the pan, and roast the lamb, uncovered, for 1 to 2 hours, basting frequently, until the lamb is well browned and the juices run clear when a knife is inserted deep into the meat. If the meat has browned before the juices are clear, cover the meat with a loose foil to prevent further darkening.
Transfer the lamb to a platter and allow it to rest for at least 10 minutes before serving. If desired, the juices can be poured over and around the lamb. Serve dishes of salt and cumin on the side for dipping. In Pakistan we call it bakre ki raan ;)

note: please note that this recipe is taken from Internet.

Shami Kabab (kebab) recipe

Authentic Pakistani Shami Kabab recipe


Ingredients: 

Shami Kababs

Mutton/beef: 1 kg
Gram lentil: 1 cup
Garlic: 2 whole bulbs
Ginger: 3 inch piece
Cumin seed: 3 tspn
Whole corriander: 3tspn
Cloves: 6
Black pepper: 1 1/2 tspn
Red chillies (whole) 15-20
Black cardamom: 4
Cinnamon: 1 stick ( 4-5 inch)
Garam masala powder: 1 table spoon
Red chilli powder: 1 tspn
Salt: 2 tspn ( or to taste)
Egg: 1 ( if required add one more)
Onion: 1 large
green chillies: 5
fresh corriander (hara dhania)
Mint

Method: 

1. Pour 5 cups of water in a pan, add mutton, cumin seeds, whole corriander, cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, garlic (whole bulbs), whole red chillies, salt, black pepper and start boiling on medium heat.
2. After an hour of boiling add gram lentils and keep boiling until meat is tender and water is absorbed.
3. Seperate and throw the boiled garlic from the mixture.
4. Now chop the dried mixture in chopper.
5. Add fresh green corriander, mint, green chillies, ginger, onion, red chilli poweder, garam masala powder, egg and salt and mix/stirr well.
6. Shape the dough into small round flattened balls or kababs.
7. Fry and enjoy your shami kababs (some people call it kobab as well)!

We serve shami kababs with green raita (mint + fresh corriander + green chilli raita).
Try this recipe this Eid and let me know.

mutton/lamb beef Kaleji (liver) recipe

Here is a special Eid al adha (eid al Azha or baqr/bakra eid) recipe! One of the best treats of Eid-ul-Adha is kaleji. It is usually served at lunch or as a evening snack on eid.

Ingredients:

1- Liver (Kaleji) 1 kg
2- Salt to taste
3- Red chilli 2 - 3 tsps
4- White cumin seeds (roasted, powdered) 1 tsp
5- Lemon juice 1-2
6- Garlic ginger paste 1 tbsp
7- Green chillies 1-2
8- Oil as required
9- Qasoori methi 1 tsp

Method:



1. Heat oil in a wok on medium flame, add liver.

2. Then add garlic and ginger paste..

3. Once the water dries up, add red chilli powder, qasuri methi and cumin powder..

4. Add chopped green chillies and stir.

5. Add lemon juice, and salt..

6. Serve delicious kaleji (qurbani ki khaas recipe, bakre ki kaleji!).


Note: Don't cook kaleji too much otherwise it will start to get harder.
** Above recipe can be used to cook mutton/lamb/beef liver.