How to marinade/make a shish kebab tips/advice

[Mobsta]

What I would like is a very simple recipe for marinading shish kebab lamb cubes.

I cant figure out what marinade ingredients are most often used as the primary flavour does seem to be the lamb itself, and the salt.

Unlike donner, kofte and chicken... all of which taste like the spices they are marinaded in, the shish just tastes... deliciously lamb-like, never spicy, but always far better and jucier than any dry fat-free lamb cubes prepared/eaten below.

To be clear, this is shish below...


I could taste a fair bit of salt.
Plus the chargrilled flavour of course...
But beyond that, what makes plain old shish from most kebab shops taste so bloomin good?

Marinade tips/advice, please

[Wadeski]

i think they use lemon garlic and onion, but personally you cant go wrong with lots of cumin, lemon, chilli flakes and minced garlic. not the same but delicious.

[Mobile Chicane]

I think marinade as suggested above. There might be a 'secret' ingredient - MSG?

In combination with the fact that a commercial grill can cook much faster than a domestic one.

[Mobsta]

Mobile Chicane said:

I think marinade as suggested above. There might be a 'secret' ingredient - MSG?

In combination with the fact that a commercial grill can cook much faster than a domestic one.

MSG doesnt agree with me

Its the drippings spitting smoke back up at the meat, which gives the indoor chargrilled flavour, isnt it? (I started a which-indoor-grill thread which, like most of the threads I start, I never finished reading)...

I intend to buy an indoor grill, one which gives the kebab shop/bbq flavour (hopefully) more than the foreman which I cant stand.

Must buy more kebabs meanwhile to determine seasoning

[Du1point8]

I always use this recipe and its fantastic:

marinade
1 teaspoon garlic, finely chopped
2 teaspoons fresh ginger, finely chopped
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1/4 cup peanut oil or 1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric
1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/8 teaspoon cayenne
1 tablespoon grated onion

kebabs
2 lbs lean lamb
2 medium onions, cut into chunks
2 green peppers, cut into chunks
2 tomatoes, cut into chunks

Directions:
1 Mix all marinade ingredients in a large bowl. Add lamb cubes and marinate for 1 hour or overnight.
2 Preheat broiler or light the barbecue.
3 Divide the meat and vegetables evenly into 4 parts, and skewer the pieces on 4 skewers.
4 Place 4 to 5 inches from flame. Grill, turning to cook evenly, for approximately 10 minutes.

[Wadeski]

Mobsta said:

SG doesnt agree with me

Its the drippings spitting smoke back up at the meat, which gives the indoor chargrilled flavour, isnt it? (I started a which-indoor-grill thread which, like most of the threads I start, I never finished reading)...

I intend to buy an indoor grill, one which gives the kebab shop/bbq flavour (hopefully) more than the foreman which I cant stand.

Must buy more kebabs meanwhile to determine seasoning

MSG is probably fine for ya...otherwise you would feel sick after eating mushrooms, sundried tomatoes, parmesan cheese etc...

the nasty feeling takeways give you is more likely the sugar, salt, and sheer quantity of food (unless something is truly swimming in MSG)

[Mobsta]

Wadeski said:

Mobsta said:

SG doesnt agree with me

Its the drippings spitting smoke back up at the meat, which gives the indoor chargrilled flavour, isnt it? (I started a which-indoor-grill thread which, like most of the threads I start, I never finished reading)...

I intend to buy an indoor grill, one which gives the kebab shop/bbq flavour (hopefully) more than the foreman which I cant stand.

Must buy more kebabs meanwhile to determine seasoning

MSG is probably fine for ya...otherwise you would feel sick after eating mushrooms, sundried tomatoes, parmesan cheese etc...

the nasty feeling takeways give you is more likely the sugar, salt, and sheer quantity of food (unless something is truly swimming in MSG)

Trust me mate, MSG is demon bile for many and with no physical symptoms whatsoever, I know when Ive eaten it. Bit like acid. Pop the tab, you're in for a ride, whether you like it or not. I wouldn't wish an MSG allergy on my worst enemy

It opens up the tastebuds which is good, tastes salty which is good, but is an additive which strongly disagrees with many people.

[escargot]

Yet it naturally occurs in all sorts of stuff with most people having no ill effects. It's psychosemantic.

[Odie]

Shish is more like

Brown Sugar, mustard, ginger, garlic, vinegar + obviously salt and pepper

with oil marinade for 8+ hours.

You could also add soy sauce or/and Worcester sauce (for the umami type of flavour they give) & lemon (I'd add lemon after cooking)

[wijit]

I only ever use slight seasoning (salt), a tiny bit of pepper and I rub the meat with a garlic clove. Then it's into a griddle pan and cooked well. Not bashing the suggestions above (I'm going to be trying them myself), but Lamb is a meat that doesn't really need much doing to it to be nice.

[CarTimeNow]

i'd recommend getting a copy of the takeaway secret and following the recipe there, everything i've made from the recipes taste fantastic!

[Mobsta]

escargot said:

Yet it naturally occurs in all sorts of stuff with most people having no ill effects. It's psychosemantic.

If most people have no ill effects, why is it psycho semantic for the remaining others - The big name brands have been keen to remove it and equally keen to advertise this fact on the front of product packaging.

CarTimeNow said:

i'd recommend getting a copy of the takeaway secret and following the recipe there, everything i've made from the recipes taste fantastic!

Just ordered it new from amazon for £3.69 with free delivery. Nearly all 5 star reviews, thanks for the recommendation!
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Takeaway-Secret-Cook-Favou...

[CarTimeNow]

Mobsta said:

escargot said:

Yet it naturally occurs in all sorts of stuff with most people having no ill effects. It's psychosemantic.

If most people have no ill effects, why is it psycho semantic for the remaining others - The big name brands have been keen to remove it and equally keen to advertise this fact on the front of product packaging.

CarTimeNow said:

i'd recommend getting a copy of the takeaway secret and following the recipe there, everything i've made from the recipes taste fantastic!

Just ordered it new from amazon for £3.69 with free delivery. Nearly all 5 star reviews, thanks for the recommendation!
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Takeaway-Secret-Cook-Favou...

your welcome try the doner recipe too! OMG its good

[Wadeski]

Mobsta said:

If most people have no ill effects, why is it psycho semantic for the remaining others - The big name brands have been keen to remove it and equally keen to advertise this fact on the front of product packaging.p/0716022354

Becuase marketing is almost defined by creating and exploiting psychosomatic conditions

Edited by Wadeski on Friday 18th November 00:37

[Mobsta]

CarTimeNow said:

your welcome try the doner recipe too! OMG its good

The book arrived and the recipes sound superb.

First recipe book without pics that I havent slated... because it had no pics

Wadeski said:

Mobsta said:

If most people have no ill effects, why is it psycho semantic for the remaining others - The big name brands have been keen to remove it and equally keen to advertise this fact on the front of product packaging.p/0716022354

Becuase marketing is almost defined by creating and exploiting psychosomatic conditions

Give me two pills, one with plain salt in a capsule, one with msg. I'll tell you which was which 30 minutes after taking them, 100% of the time, every time.

Go troll the indian takeaways, theres a good lad

[Oakey]

how does the msg affect people?

I had to stop eating store bought pizzas because within 4 hours of eating them I'd bloat up like a balloon, get stomach pains and st through the eye of a needle.