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Kebab: a favorite dish for meat lovers, cooked in various styles. Perhaps the simplest type is liver, which requires no special technique to cook. You just need to buy fresh liver, add a little salt and lemon juice, skewer it, and grill it over hot coals. Maybe, like me, you think this aromatic and popular dish is specific to Iran, Turkey, and Middle Eastern countries, but I must say it’s more global than that. I realized this after reading an article that introduced famous kebabs from around the world.
That’s why I decided in this Golha Mage article to introduce you to 17 kebabs. This way, your perspective on this dish will change, and you’ll be able to cook new varieties of it.
A Professional Chef’s Guide to Buying Red Meat and Liver
Here are 17 famous kebabs from around the world:
1. Baliq – Azerbaijan
Baliq – Azerbaijan
This kebab is made with Caspian sturgeon, which is firm and rich in nutrients. To prepare it, pieces of fish are marinated in a mixture of lemon juice, dill, and salt for a few hours, then skewered and grilled over a fire. Sliced onions, tomatoes, and lemon are served alongside Baliq.
2. Boulfaf – Morocco
Boulfaf – Morocco
This traditional Moroccan dish is made with lamb liver seasoned with cumin, paprika, salt, and pepper. This kebab is usually cooked during Eid al-Adha, and the secret to its deliciousness is the blend of spices applied to the liver before cooking.(Kebab & Steak Seasoning)
3. Tava – Azerbaijan
Tava – Azerbaijan
Tava kebab is a famous Azerbaijani meat dish that, in addition to meat, includes local herbs, vegetables, and eggs. Meatballs are made from a mixture of minced lamb or beef with garlic and onions and fried in oil. Then, onions, tomatoes, green peppers, cilantro, and mint are sautéed in a pan, and the meatballs are placed on top. If desired, you can pour beaten eggs over the ingredients and let them cook together. Alternatively, after the meat and vegetables are cooked, you can top it with a fried egg.
4. Halifax Donair – Canada
Halifax Donair – Canada
Originally a Nova Scotian dish, invented in the 1970s by Greek immigrant Peter Gamoulakos. This dish is made by filling a pita bread with roasted beef, onions, tomatoes, and donair sauce. The beef is seasoned with salt, pepper, garlic and onion powder, cayenne pepper, oregano, and paprika before roasting.
5. Patlıcan Kebabı (Eggplant Kebab) – Gaziantep, Turkey
Patlıcan Kebabı – Gaziantep, Turkey
This dish is very popular in the cities of Gaziantep, Şanlıurfa, and Adıyaman. It uses eggplant, tomatoes, garlic, bell peppers, minced meat, onions, breadcrumbs, salt, pepper, cumin, red pepper flakes, baking soda, tomato paste, and olive oil. Meatballs are made from the meat mixture and all other ingredients except the eggplant. These are then skewered with pieces of eggplant and grilled over a fire.
6. Tokat Kebab – Turkey
Tokat Kebab – Turkey
This is a traditional Turkish kebab originating from the city of Tokat, Turkey. This kebab is made with lamb shanks, potatoes, eggplants, tomatoes, green peppers, garlic, and olive oil. Chopped lamb shank meat is placed in a dish with sliced eggplant, potato, and tomato. You can arrange the ingredients in the dish or first skewer them on wooden skewers and then place them in the dish. The dish is placed on a flame, and olive oil is poured over the ingredients to sauté and soften them. Usually, a whole onion is placed on top of the dish so that its juices drip onto the ingredients while cooking.
7. Shami Kebab – India
Shami Kebab – India
The name of this dish is very similar to a northern Iranian dish, but the taste and ingredients are slightly different. This Indian dish is made with minced meat, chickpeas, onions, bell peppers, ginger, garlic, aromatic herbs, and spices like cumin, red pepper, garam masala, and mint leaves. All these ingredients are mixed together to form small patties. The patties are coated in chili powder and beaten eggs and then fried. Besides India, Shami Kebab is also a popular dish in Afghanistan and Pakistan, consumed at all meals or as a snack. Onions and lemon are served alongside this kebab.
8. Kağıt Kebabı (Paper Kebab) – Turkey
Kağıt Kebabı – Turkey
This is a traditional kebab from Antakya, Turkey, made with beef or lamb, olive oil, salt, pepper, and vegetables like tomatoes, peas, carrots, bell peppers, potatoes, and shallots. To prepare this dish, all ingredients are chopped and mixed. Then, a dish is lined with parchment paper, and the mixture is poured onto it. This kebab is usually served with rice and salad.
9. Kabab Digi (Pot Kebab) – Iran
Kabab Digi – Iran
Kabab Digi, or pan-fried kebab, a favorite among us Iranians, is also on the list of the world’s most famous kebabs. This delicious kebab is prepared with a mixture of minced meat, turmeric, onions, salt, and pepper. After frying, the kebabs are simmered in a tomato sauce and served with bread or rice. Onion is a suitable condiment for this dish.
How to Make Delicious Pan-Fried Meat Kebab with All the Tips and Tricks
10. Kuzu Şiş (Lamb Skewers) – Turkey
Kuzu Şiş – Turkey
For this kebab, pieces of lamb meat are marinated in a mixture of yogurt, olive oil, garlic, cumin, Turkish pepper paste, and black pepper. Then, the meat is skewered with various vegetables and grilled over a fire.
11. Sosatie – South Africa
Sosatie – South Africa
To prepare this dish, pieces of lamb meat are marinated in a sauce made with onions, garlic, chili peppers, tamarind water, and curry powder. After a few hours, the meat is skewered with peppers, apricots, or mushrooms and then grilled. This dish can also be made with chicken, and both versions are served with rice and salad.
12. İslim Kebabı (Steamed Kebab) – Turkey
İslim Kebabı – Turkey
İslim Kebabı is prepared as meatballs or grilled meat pieces, wrapped in a layer of eggplant, and served with a spicy tomato sauce. It is recommended to consume this dish with rice.
13. Seekh Kebab – Pakistan
Seekh Kebab – Pakistan
A delicious and juicy Pakistani dish made from a mixture of minced meat, onions, garlic, ginger, cilantro, lemon juice, yogurt, and garam masala. Of course, you can change the spices according to your taste. After the ingredients are well mixed, they are formed onto skewers and grilled over hot coals. The smoky flavor of this dish is incredible alongside salad, onions, French fries, mint, and fresh bread.
14. Chenjeh – Iran
Chenjeh – Iran
Another delicious Iranian kebab; pieces of lamb meat marinated with olive oil, salt, pepper, and lemon juice, skewered alone or with cherry tomatoes. This aromatic and flavorful dish is served on its own, with bread, or alongside rice.
15. Lyulya Kebab – Azerbaijan
Lyulya Kebab – Azerbaijan
This dish is popular throughout the Caucasus region and is usually made with minced lamb, onions, salt, and black pepper. However, fish and chicken are also grilled this way in the region. What makes this kebab unique is the long kneading time. Its preparation dates back to the second century, and it was highly praised by Pliny the Elder, the famous Roman historian, as well as Ptolemy, the renowned Roman scholar.
16. Çökertme Kebabı – Turkey
Çökertme Kebabı – Turkey
This traditional Bodrum kebab is made with marinated slices of veal and served with French fries, tomato sauce, and yogurt full of fresh garlic. The meat is marinated in a mixture of milk, olive oil, cumin, salt, and paprika.
17. Chapli Kebab – Pakistan
Chapli Kebab – Pakistan
This spicy kebab is a specialty of Peshawar, Pakistan, made from minced meat mixed with dried coriander, pomegranate seeds, green chilies, and mint. It is served with bread, salad, and yogurt. Today, besides Peshawar, this dish has fans all over Pakistan, Afghanistan, and India.
