The best lamb video you’ll never see

When the American Lamb Board invited TheArmenianKitchen.com to enter its annual grilling contest, we immediately started sharpening our “shishes.”

Is there a grilled-lamb recipe anywhere in the world that can beat real Armenian shish kebab?

Hah! Of course not!
Our only question was: Which Armenian shish kebab recipe should we use?

Robyn and I have each eaten dozens of variations on shish kebab — khorovatz, if you like — over the years. The one common element (besides lamb) is onions. Otherwise, it just isn’t Armenian.

After that, the arguments begin. Some kebab chefs insist on plenty of garlic. Others say never use garlic.

We both agree that coriander (keens as my mother called it) is essential because we’re both at least part Dikranagertsi. But other Armenians never heard of the stuff and like their kebab just fine.

And what to marinate the meat in? I like to use a semi-sweet wine, but others insist on a dry red — or no wine at all.

What do you think?

We settled on a simple mix of Armenian signature seasonings: onion, pepper and coriander with salt and olive oil reserved to be brushed on just before grilling.

Then, for killer ingredient guaranteed to make the judges swoon, we marinated the lamb in pomegranate juice.

Americans, who generally believe pomegranates were discovered about two years ago in California, are suddenly wild about pomegranate juice. You’ve seen the stories about its anti-oxidant properties and heart-healthy benefits.

I made the point for our video audience that we Armenians have been conducting our own experiments with pomegranate juice for at least 3,000 years — and we’re still around, so it must be good stuff.

I was feeling very confident at this point — a little too confident for a guy who messed up in a big way.

We’d been waiting out a couple of weeks of rotten weather, pushing the entry deadline as our vacation also neared. Finally, when the rain took a day off, I rushed to the store for a fresh leg of lamb and set to butchering while we videoed the process.

I like to marinate the meat for 24 hours, so we carefully scanned the weather report for the next day: Sunny in the morning, rain in the afternoon. I got up early and started the fire while Robyn skewered the meat, sliced the veggies and put the bulgur pilaf on the stove.

As I dashed into the house to get the meat, I could feel the darkness suddenly closing in. Enormous, black clouds rolled in from nowhere. Thunder crashed.

I could hear the pounding rain before I had the heart to look out the window.

We sat and stared for the longest time. We stared at the beautiful chunks of raw lamb. We stared at the grill as the coals sizzled and fizzled in the downpour. We stared at each other, knowing our chance to win an American contest with an Armenian recipe had just floated away.

After an hour, when the rain showed no sign of letting up, Robyn carefully slid the meat off the skewers and emailed the American Lamb Council’s representative. We were leaving town the next morning, so there would be no rain date for our kebab. We were forced to forfeit.

So that’s why you’ll never see the video: I never got a chance to finish it.

Our story does have a semi-happy ending, however. We did get to eat the kebab.

Despite the forecast, the rain let up later in the day. Although our coals were soaked, my brother-in-law Drew Dabbakian, rolled out his gas grill and finished what I’d started.

It’s a shame we’d already withdrawn from the contest. The kebab was fantastic!

By the way, don’t worry that the pomegranate juice will make the lamb too sweet. The effect is subtle but distinctive.

Armenian Shish Kebab
1 whole leg of lamb, (5 lbs.) cubed
3 medium yellow onions, roughly chopped
2 tablespoons coriander
1 tablespoon freshly ground pepper
salt
olive oil
2 cups pomegranate juice

Directions:
Place the lamb in a large mixing bowl.
Add onions, coriander and pepper and mix thoroughly
Pour in pomegranate juice and mix again
Cover tightly and refrigerate for 24 hours, mixing again at least once
Skewer the meat, then brush on enough olive oil to coat lightly
Add salt last to keep the meat from losing moisture
Cook over hot coals after flame has died down, rotating skewers evenly. Cooking time depends on how well-done you like your meat.

Important Grilling Information: If you’re new to grilling, or just want to up-your-grilling game, check out this link for a grilling time and temperature chart created by Jack Thompson of BroBBQ.com. It’s all you’ll ever need to know for grilling perfection!

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9 Comments

  1. Anonymous August 4, 2009 at 5:29 pm

    Alas! Blasted Florida weather!

    I'm glad they were delicious anyways. 🙂

    – Erin

    Reply
  2. David Blasco August 11, 2009 at 12:28 am

    No, not Florida. New Jersey, right? But it coulda happened anywhere. Man oh man…

    Reply
  3. DIANNE BORANIAN January 31, 2010 at 5:10 pm

    I AM A SECOND GENERATION BORN ARMENIAN-AMERICAN. MY GRANDPARENTS AND PARENTS USED LAMB SHOULDER/LEG OF LAMB FOR KEBAB CUT BY OUR RUSSIAN BUTCHER, CHOPPED ONIONS AND PARSLEY, SALT/PEPPER, AND SQUEEZED A ZILLION LEMONS ON THE MIXTURE AND MIXED ALL INGREDIENTS WELL, PLACED IN A POT, TIGHTLY COVERED. MY MOM WOULD DO THE PREP THE MORNING BEFORE THE DAY OF THE KEBAB COOKING, AND WOULD REMIX THE KEBAB TO ENSURE EVEN MARINATING AFTER 12 HOURS. IT WAS COOKED OVER HOT WOOD COALS. (THEN CAME CHARCOAL LATER ON IN LIFE).IT WAS ABSOLUTE HEAVEN!! THOSE WERE THE ONLY INGREDIENTS BESIDE THE TWO CUTS OF LAMB. ONIONS, PARSLEY, SALT, PEPPER AND TONS OF LEMON JUICE FOR MARINADE. I COULD TASTE IT RIGHT NOW!! OH, GOSH. I ALMOST FORGOT!!! SWEET BASIL WAS USED FOR THE OTHER HERB SEASONING IN THIS RECIPE. GOSH, HOW DID I FORGET TO MENTION THAT? MUST BE ALZHEIMER'S CREEPING UP ON ME!! LOL!!!

    DIANNE FROM WHITTIER, CA

    Reply
    1. Darlene May 7, 2021 at 4:49 pm

      Finally this is the recipe I have been looking for for years.. The lemon juice and fewer seasonings and NO wine. Thank you lamb not beef I am so excited.

      Reply
  4. Robyn January 31, 2010 at 7:42 pm

    Mmmmmm, sounds delicious!

    Reply
  5. Anonymous October 16, 2010 at 12:58 am

    I have to say that the best Kebabobs I've had consistently were in Fresno . As I recall it was "Alfred's" @ the corner of Dakota and Blackstone.
    yum. I'm trying to duplicate them now.

    Reply
    1. Threewishes March 25, 2016 at 4:04 am

      March 23, 2016 The restaurant in Fresno was Zelfred's. There are several good Armenian places in Fresno. Ask the locals for recommendations.

      Reply
  6. Anonymous August 24, 2012 at 7:38 pm

    My family came from Harput. As from my Great Grandmother's recipe…we use Peppers, Onions, Garlic, Salt, Pepper, and Parsley. 1 leg of lamb cubed, (with the fat meat ground up for Kufta later). Marinated for 24-48 hours….skewer roast, and then eat with Pilaf….

    Reply
  7. shar July 14, 2017 at 2:42 am

    I grew up in the Fresno area. We would buy it from the Meat Market, fresh. I have come pretty close with the recipe over the years. At one point A 1 had a bottled version the was great however they don't make it anymore.

    Reply

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