Saj Kabab - Azeri Skillet Kabab
Saj Kebab, also known as Saj Qorma (Saj Ghorma), is a traditional dish originating from East Azerbaijan, West Azerbaijan, and the Ardabil Provinces in Iran. It is celebrated not only locally but also throughout the country.
The saj, an ancient and traditional cooking pan characterised by its round bottom and depth, serves as a versatile tool for preparing various foods and bread, much like a wok. It effectively transfers heat and can be used over coal or gas flames without damage. Saj pans are typically crafted from stainless steel, cast iron, or carbon steel, and are available in different sizes.
While traditionally made with lamb, which requires initial cooking for 45 minutes followed by sautéing with vegetables, I've adapted the recipe using ribeye beef steak for a quicker preparation time.
Cook the most popular Persian dishes at home with the help of my e-book.
Time
Prep: 10 min Cook: 25 min Total: 35 min
Ingredients (serving 2)
500g ribeye or sirloin steak, cubed or striped
200g thick greek style yoghurt
2 onions, finely sliced
2 cloves garlic, finely grated and combined with yoghurt
100g sweet baby peppers (preferably 3 different colours), de-seeded and sliced
1 chilli (optional), finely sliced
1 dried bread, you can use tortilla bread, dried in the oven or toaster and broken into pieces
2 tbsp ghee
2 tsp paprika
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/2 tsp sumac
Salt to taste
1 spring onion, sliced to garnish
Your favourite bread for making a sandwich
Mixed salad for serving (optional)
Method
Heat 2 tbsp of ghee in a frying pan and gently fry the onions for about 10 minutes over low to medium heat until golden. Remove them from the pan and set them aside.
Stir fry the stripy steak for a few minutes to golden.
Add the dried bread pieces, fried onions, sliced peppers, sliced chilli, paprika, sumac, black pepper and salt to taste. Combine everything well and fry for 10 minutes. Stir regularly.
Garnish your Saj Kabab with sliced spring onion and serve it with garlic yoghurt, your favourite sandwich bread and mixed salad.
I’d love to see your Saj Kabab! Feel free to tag me with @igotitfrommymaman on Facebook or Insta so I can take a look and give you a thumbs up!
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