Grilled Lamb Skewers with Couscous Tabbouleh

Join me on a culinary adventure. Indulge in the delicious flavors and enticing aromas of grilled lamb skewers with couscous tabbouleh. Experience a heart-stopping moment when a customer suddenly choked and how I saved him! Don’t miss the chance to savor this mouth-watering dish by recreating it at home. Taste the delectable flavors that await you on this journey!

San Francisco is one of the most culturally diverse cities in the world. One of the best ways to experience its cultural richness is through its cuisine. I remember one morning when I decided to try a Middle Eastern restaurant located in the heart of the city. The place had a warm, cozy ambiance, and the aromas coming from the kitchen were irresistible. I ordered grilled lamb skewers with couscous tabbouleh, and I must say, it was one of the most delicious meals I have ever had.

As I was savoring the succulent lamb, a commotion broke out in the restaurant. One of the customers was choking on his food, and panic ensued. People rushed to his aid, but no one seemed to know what to do. As I watched the scene unfold, I remembered the Heimlich maneuver, which I had learned in a CPR class a few years ago. Without thinking twice, I ran to the man’s aid and performed the maneuver. Thankfully, the food dislodged from his throat, and he was able to breathe again.

The customers and staff at the restaurant applauded me, and the owner came out of the kitchen to thank me personally. She was a Middle Eastern woman with a kind face and a warm smile. She offered to bring me some more food, but I politely declined, as I was still reeling from the adrenaline rush of the emergency. Instead, I asked her if she would be willing to share the recipe for the lamb skewers and couscous tabbouleh with me.

At first, the owner seemed hesitant and explained that the recipe was a family secret that had been passed down through generations. However, I persisted and explained how much I wanted to recreate the dish at home so that my family and friends could experience it too. After a lot of convincing, the owner finally relented and agreed to share the recipe with me.

I was extremely happy and eagerly awaited the recipe, but to my surprise, the owner returned a few minutes later, looking somber. She explained that she had changed her mind and could not share the recipe with me after all. She apologized for getting my hopes up, but she said that the recipe was too valuable to share with outsiders.

I was disappointed, but I understood the owner’s perspective. Food is a way of preserving cultural identity, and recipes are often passed down from generation to generation, with each family adding its own unique touch. I realized that I had been naive to think that a restaurant owner would be willing to share a recipe that had been in her family for generations.

Despite the disappointment, I was determined to recreate the recipe on my own. I spent the next few weeks researching Middle Eastern cuisine, experimenting with different ingredients, and fine-tuning my recipe. It took several tries, but eventually, I managed to create a dish that was almost as delicious as the one I had tasted at the restaurant.

My experience at the Middle Eastern restaurant in San Francisco was one of the most memorable moments of my life. It reminded me of the power of food to bring people together and the importance of cultural identity. Although I was not able to obtain the recipe from the owner, I learned a valuable lesson about the value of tradition and the importance of preserving cultural heritage. And, in the end, I was able to recreate the recipe on my own, which gave me a sense of accomplishment and pride.

So here is I created my own version of grilled lamb skewers with couscous tabbouleh.

Ingredients:

1. 1 1/2 pounds of the leg of lamb, (1 1/2 inch chunks)
2. 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon of cumin
3. 2 minced garlic cloves
4. 2 lemons (juice)
5. 2 seeded and diced tomatoes
6. 1/2 halved, seeded, and diced English cucumber
7. 1/2 finely chopped small red onion
8. 1/4 cup parsley, 1/4 cup mint, finely chopped
9. Lemon wedges
10. 1 10-ounce box of couscous
11. 3 tablespoons of extra-virgin olive oil
12. 1 1/2 cups of low-fat yogurt (plain )
13. salt (I use Kosher)
14. Freshly ground black pepper

How to create the grilled lamb skewers with couscous tabbouleh?

1. Begin by cooking the couscous according to the directions on the package, then lightly fork and fluff it so that it’s ready for use. In a large bowl, combine the yogurt with cumin, garlic, and half of the lemon juice. Season this mixture with salt and pepper before adding in the lamb and stirring to mix evenly. Finally, adjust flavors by adding more salt or pepper if desired or squeezing in extra lemon juice.
2. Mix together in a large bowl the tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, parsley, mint, and couscous. Pour over the remaining lemon juice and olive oil and stir to combine. Season with salt for added flavor.
3. On a large plate, thread the lamb onto 6-inch skewers. Each skewer should contain four pieces of meat, resulting in approximately eight skewers in total. Skewers should be seasoned with salt and pepper, then any leftover marinade should be discarded.
4. Begin heating a lightly oiled grill or grill pan over high heat until it is smoking hot. Once heated, add the skewers to the grill and cook turning them every few minutes for about eight minutes for medium to medium-rare doneness.
5. Finally, serve the lamb skewers over the couscous tabbouleh with a side of lemon.

Looking to take your lamb skewers with couscous tabbouleh to the next level? Instead of using leg of lamb, try using ground lamb and forming it into meatballs to skewer. To give the meatballs a burst of flavor, mix in some finely chopped apricots and pistachios into the ground lamb mixture.

For the tabbouleh, replace the couscous with quinoa for a healthier and gluten-free option. To add some sweetness, toss in some pomegranate seeds and chopped dates into the tabbouleh mixture.

Before grilling the meatballs, brush them with a mixture of honey and harissa paste to create a sweet and spicy glaze. Once they’re cooked, serve them over the quinoa tabbouleh and top them with a dollop of tzatziki sauce.

I highly recommend trying the recipe I shared for grilled lamb skewers with couscous tabbouleh. This mouthwatering and satisfying dish is perfect for sharing with family and friends. Even if you don’t have all the exact ingredients, don’t hesitate to get creative and make it your own!