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    Home » Dietary » Gluten Free

    Adana Kebab Recipe (Restaurant Quality Turkish Kebabs with Ground Lamb) - For People Who Think They Don't Like Lamb

    Published: Sep 19, 2022 · Modified: Jun 20, 2023 by Faith · This post may contain affiliate links · 1 Comment

    Jump to Recipe

    Adana Kebab, a popular Turkish dish, is comprised of seasoned ground lamb that’s skewered and grilled over charcoal. It’s richly spiced, flavorful, juicy, and easier to make at home than you might think!

    close up top view of adana kebab with sumac onion

    Before I lived in the Middle East, my only experience with lamb was at my grandparent’s house on Easter. It always made the whole house smell funny, and it came served with gelatinous dollops of bright green-colored mint jelly. Needless to say, as a kid I wasn’t really a fan.

    As an adult when I had the chance to live in the Middle East I gave lamb another try. I had a completely different experience. The lamb there was fresh, seasoned well, and grilled over charcoal. No funky musty odor; just the smell of grilling meat. It showed me that I really do like lamb!

    If you enjoy grilled meat, you will love Adana Kebab. Just a few seasonings accentuate the flavor of savory, juicy lamb and the meat’s flavor really shines through.

    I like to serve it with Sumac Onions because their tanginess cuts through the lamb’s richness, but this is optional. You can serve these grilled lamb kebabs on flatbread, or with rice and a variety of salads.

    This is a healthy, easy, and delicious dish that you can also make in your oven instead of on the grill!

    spread of turkish lamb kebabs with flatbread and vegetables

    In This Article

    • Why You’ll Love This Recipe
    • The Best Homemade Adana Kebab Recipe
    • Adana Kebab FAQs
    • What Do You Serve with Ground Lamb Adana Kebabs?
    • Adana Kebab Recipe (Turkish Ground Lamb Kebabs)

    Why You’ll Love This Recipe

    • Restaurant-quality. If you’ve ever been to a Turkish or Middle Eastern restaurant and ordered kebabs, you’re about to realize just how easy it is to make at home!
    • This recipe converts people who think they don’t like lamb. I’ve had a few people who told me they don’t like lamb try this and tell me they love it! With lamb, it’s really all about how you prepare it and this method is a sure winner.
    • Leftovers are delicious! I have an easy method for reheating leftovers in the oven or air fryer that ensures the meat stays tender and juicy.

    The Best Homemade Adana Kebab Recipe

    In Turkey where this dish is from, the Designation of Origin is very specific on how it should be prepared. It must be made from the meat of a male lamb less than 1 year old who was raised in his natural environment and ate the natural flora.

    The silverskin, nerves, and internal fat is removed from the meat, and the meat rests for a while. After that, meat and tail fat (at a ratio of 5:1) are hand-minced using a crescent-shaped cleaver.

    Once the meat is minced, it’s seasoned, skewered, and grilled over charcoal.

    (You can read more about Adana Kebab on Wikipedia.)

    Of course it would be very difficult for people outside of Turkey to follow these steps! At home, ground lamb works very well, and the blend of seasonings complements the juicy meat perfectly.

    Ingredients

    ingredients for adana kebab
    • Ground lamb
    • Onion
    • Garlic
    • Salt
    • Sumac
    • Cumin
    • Crushed red pepper flakes
    • Paprika
    • Olive oil

    Step-by-Step Instructions

    how to make and skewer kebabs
    1. Peel and grate an onion.
    2. Add all ingredients for the kebabs to a large bowl.
    3. Use your hands to combine everything, being careful not to over-mix.
    4. Slightly wet your hands, and shape the meat onto skewers. Brush both sides of each skewer with olive oil.
    lamb kebabs on grill

    Grill the kebabs over medium-high heat until they’re charred on the outside and cooked to your desired level of doneness inside, rotating the skewers as necessary.

    Storage and Reheating

    Store leftovers covered in the fridge for up to 4 days.

    You can reheat kebabs in the oven or air fryer.

    To reheat kebabs in an oven, remove the kebab meat from the skewer. Wrap the meat in foil, and add a splash of water. Heat in a 400F oven until warm, about 8 to 10 minutes.

    To reheat kebabs in an air fryer, remove the kebab meat from the skewer. Wrap the meat in foil, and add a splash of water. Heat in a 375F air fryer until warm, about 8 to 10 minutes.

    turkish grilled lamb kebabs graphic

    Adana Kebab FAQs

    What Are Adana Kebabs?

    Hailing from Turkey, Adana kebabı consists of lamb that’s finely minced by hand. It’s seasoned with salt, paprika, and crushed red pepper flakes or urfa pepper. Many recipes also add sumac and cumin. The meat is then skewered onto wide metal skewers and grilled. (You can read more about Adana Kebab on Wikipedia.)

    Can I Make Ground Lamb Kebabs in the Oven?

    Yes! If you don’t have a grill, you can cook these in the oven instead. Here’s how to do it:

    1. Skewer the meat as directed in the recipe.
    2. Place a baking rack on top of a large baking tray. Brush the skewered meat with olive oil, and arrange the kebabs on the baking rack so they don’t touch.
    3. Bake at 425F until they’re cooked to your liking, about 7 to 10 minutes per side, flipping once halfway through.
    platter of ground lamb kebabs on flatbread with vegetables

    Can I Use Beef Instead of Lamb?

    Traditionally, lamb is used to make this recipe. But of course you can use what you like! If you prefer beef instead of lamb, use 80/20 ground beef, which is 80% lean with 20% fat (look for ground chuck).

    Do I Need to Make the Sumac Onions?

    No, the Sumac Onions are optional with this dish. However, they are easy to make, and a delicious pairing with grilled lamb!

    Sumac, which is made from dried and ground berries, is a brick-colored spice used in Middle Eastern cooking. It lends a gorgeous color, and also a tangy tart flavor similar to lemon.

    Sumac Onions are slightly softened and less piquant than raw onion, thanks to the addition of sumac and lemon juice. (They’re somewhat similar to pickled red onion!) They add a tangy bite which balances the richness of grilled meat really well.

    sumac onions

    What Do You Serve with Ground Lamb Adana Kebabs?

    Just about any type of rice or salad pairs well with this dish. Here are a few ideas:

    • Homemade Rice a Roni
    • Baked Eggplant with Tomato
    • Baba Ganoush
    • Roasted Red Pepper Hummus
    • Grilled Peppers
    • Za’atar and Mint Butter Bean Salad
    grilled lamb kebab recipe

    Let's Connect

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    Did you make this recipe? Please rate it and leave a comment below. You can also tag @anediblemosaic on social media.

    To stay up-to-date, follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter!

    ground lamb kebabs featured image

    Adana Kebab Recipe (Turkish Ground Lamb Kebabs)

    By: Faith Gorsky
    Adana Kebab, a popular Turkish dish, is comprised of seasoned ground lamb that’s skewered and grilled over charcoal. It’s richly spiced, flavorful, juicy, and easier to make at home than you might think!
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 15 minutes mins
    Cook Time 15 minutes mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine Turkish
    Servings 8 servings
    Calories 354 kcal

    Ingredients
     
     

    Sumac Onions:

    • 1 large red onion peeled and thinly sliced
    • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
    • 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
    • ½ teaspoon sumac
    • ¼ teaspoon salt

    Lamb Kebab:

    • 2 pounds ground lamb
    • 1 small-medium onion peeled and grated
    • 3 cloves garlic crushed
    • 2 teaspoons salt
    • 2 teaspoons sumac
    • 2 teaspoons cumin
    • 2 teaspoons crushed red pepper flakes more or less to taste
    • 1 teaspoon paprika I use sweet, but you can use hot if you want to add more heat
    • 1 ½ tablespoons olive oil to brush on the meat before grilling

    Serving Suggestions:

    • Cherry tomatoes
    • Parsley
    • Flatbread
    • Grilled peppers I used yellow wax pepper

    Instructions
     

    For the Sumac Onions:

    • Add all ingredients to a bowl and stir well. Cover and refrigerate until using (at least 30 minutes or up to 3 days).

    For the Lamb Kebab:

    • Add all ingredients to a large bowl. Use your hands to combine, being careful not to over-mix.
    • Slightly wet your hands, and shape the meat onto skewers. Brush both sides of each skewer with olive oil.
    • Preheat a grill to medium-high. Once hot, add the kebabs and grill until they’re charred on the outside and cooked to your desired level of doneness inside, rotating the skewers as necessary. (The exact cooking time will vary based on your skewer size. I used 3 large skewers and it took about 15 to 18 minutes total.)
    • Serve hot along with Sumac Onion and anything else you like.

    Faith's Tips

    • Nutritional Information: The nutrition information for this recipe was calculated without the Sumac Onions or serving suggestions.
    • Skewers: You can use metal skewers or wooden skewers, but large metal skewers are more traditional. If you use wooden skewers, soak them in water for 20 minutes first. This will help prevent them from catching on fire on the grill. My skewers were large so I only needed 3 for all this meat; however, the amount of skewers you use doesn’t matter. Just note that if you use smaller skewers, the meat will cook faster.
    • Sumac Onion: Store this in a covered glass jar in the fridge for up to 3 days. Note that over time the onions will soften more.
    • Storage: Store leftover kebabs covered in the fridge for up to 4 days. You can reheat kebabs in the oven or air fryer.
    • Reheating: To reheat kebabs in an oven, remove the kebab meat from the skewer. Wrap the meat in foil, and add a splash of water. Heat in a 400F oven until warm, about 8 to 10 minutes. To reheat kebabs in an air fryer, remove the kebab meat from the skewer. Wrap the meat in foil, and add a splash of water. Heat in a 375F air fryer until warm, about 8 to 10 minutes.
    • Beef Instead of Lamb: If you prefer beef instead of lamb, use 80/20 ground beef, which is 80% lean with 20% fat (look for ground chuck).

    How to Make These in the Oven:

    1. Skewer the meat as directed in the recipe.
    2. Place a baking rack on top of a large baking tray. Brush the skewered meat with olive oil, and arrange the kebabs on the baking rack so they don’t touch.
    3. Bake at 425F until they’re cooked to your liking, about 7 to 10 minutes per side, flipping once halfway through.

    Nutrition

    Nutrition Facts
    Adana Kebab Recipe (Turkish Ground Lamb Kebabs)
    Amount Per Serving
    Calories 354 Calories from Fat 261
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 29g45%
    Saturated Fat 12g75%
    Polyunsaturated Fat 2g
    Monounsaturated Fat 13g
    Cholesterol 83mg28%
    Sodium 658mg29%
    Potassium 301mg9%
    Carbohydrates 2g1%
    Fiber 1g4%
    Sugar 1g1%
    Protein 19g38%
    Vitamin A 278IU6%
    Vitamin C 1mg1%
    Calcium 31mg3%
    Iron 2mg11%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
    Keyword Adana Kebab, Adana Kebab Recipe, Ground Lamb Kebabs, Lamb Kebabs, Turkish Kebabs, Turkish Lamb Kebabs
    Tried this recipe?Let me know how it was!
    adana kebab pin

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Geraldo Cubito says

      November 29, 2023 at 1:50 am

      Amazing read! Your post instantly reminded me of a friend who shares similar thoughts. I'm sending this to him - he'll love it as much as I did. Thanks for reigniting those insightful conversations with your clear and engaging writing. Keep sharing!

      Reply

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    Hi, I'm Faith!

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