Islim Kebabs From Jordan

Name: Islim Kebabs From Jordan
Prep time: 1 h 20 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 1 h 50 min
Yield: 12 meatballs or 6 servings
Cuisine: middle eastern
Ingredients: 10 long zucchini; 2 tablespoons salt, plus to taste; 1 pound 2 ounces ground beef; 4 ounces ground lamb (fatty); 1 medium-size onion, grated; 2 slices white bread soakadein; water and squeezed dry; 1 egg yolk; 2 tablespoons parsley, chopped; 1/2 teaspoon paprika; 1 teaspoon cumin; Freshly ground pepper to taste; 2 tablespoons butter; Vegetable oil for frying; 2 medium-size tomatoes, each seeded and cut into 6 pieces; 2 green peppers, each seeded and cut into 6 pieces; 1 pint tomato demiglace (available in specialty food stores)

Recipe from Ismat Tavson

Adapted by Marian Burros

Updated Oct. 11, 2023

Total Time: 1 hour 50 minutes
Prep Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Rating: 4(12)
Comments: Read comments

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Ingredients

Yield:12 meatballs or 6 servings

10long zucchini
2tablespoons salt, plus to taste
1pound 2 ounces ground beef
4ounces ground lamb (fatty)
1medium-size onion, grated
2slices white bread soakadein
water and squeezed dry
1egg yolk
2tablespoons parsley, chopped
½teaspoon paprika
1teaspoon cumin
Freshly ground pepper to taste
2tablespoons butter
Vegetable oil for frying
2medium-size tomatoes, each seeded and cut into 6 pieces
2green peppers, each seeded and cut into 6 pieces
1pint tomato demiglace (available in specialty food stores)

Ingredient Substitution Guide

Preparation

Step 1
With a vegetable peeler or cheese slicer, slice the zucchini lengthwise in thin strips, place in a bowl and sprinkle with salt. Let stand for 1 hour.
Step 2
Mix together the beef, lamb, onion, bread, egg yolk, parsley, paprika, cumin, pepper and salt to taste until well combined. Divide the mixture into 12 equal-sized mounds. Roll each into large balls and flatten slightly.
Step 3
Saute the kebabs in the butter until just sealed. Set aside.
Step 4
Rinse the zucchini well and dry, using toweling. In a skillet, deep fry batches of zucchini strips in vegetable oil until golden brown. Drain well. Pat dry.
Step 5
Wrap slices of zucchini around the meatballs, covering completely. To do this, lay down a strip of zucchini; place another strip across it at a 90-degree angle. Continue laying down strips until they form the spokes of a wheel, with no gaps in between. Place a meatball in the center of the wheel. Fold up the strips so that they all meet. Secure the strips with toothpicks. Top the toothpicks with a piece of tomato and a piece of green pepper.
Step 6
Place the meatballs close together in a baking dish and add the demiglace. Bake for 20 minutes at 350 degrees. To serve, carefully remove the toothpicks, leaving the tomatoes and peppers on the meatballs.