Turkish Kebab with Tahini
A remarkably savory and comforting Turkish specialty featuring spiced ground meat patties baked over a bed of sliced potatoes and onions, all smothered in a rich, garlicky tahini sauce.
Ingredients
- •1 lb ground beef or lamb (450g)
- •1 medium onion, finely grated or minced
- •2 cloves garlic, minced
- •1/4 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped
- •1 tsp ground cumin
- •1 tsp ground paprika
- •1/2 tsp salt
- •1/4 tsp black pepper
- •2 medium potatoes, peeled and sliced into 1/4-inch rounds
- •1 medium onion, sliced into thin rings
- •1/2 cup tahini paste
- •1/3 cup warm water
- •3 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- •2 cloves garlic, crushed
- •1/4 tsp salt
- •2 tbsp olive oil
- •1 tbsp pine nuts (optional, for garnish)
- •1 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- 1
Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
- 2
In a large bowl, combine the ground meat, grated onion, minced garlic, chopped parsley, cumin, paprika, salt, and black pepper, mixing gently with your hands until just incorporated.
- 3
Divide the meat mixture and shape it into small, flat oval patties or meatballs.
- 4
Lightly oil a 9x13-inch baking dish and arrange the potato slices and onion rings evenly across the bottom.
- 5
Place the shaped meat patties over the layer of potatoes and onions.
- 6
Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes to allow the meat and vegetables to start cooking and releasing their juices.
- 7
While the kebab bakes, prepare the tahini sauce by whisking together the tahini, warm water, lemon juice, crushed garlic, and salt in a bowl until smooth and pourable.
- 8
Remove the baking dish from the oven and pour the tahini sauce evenly over the meat and vegetables.
- 9
Return the dish to the oven and bake for another 12 to 15 minutes, or until the tahini sauce is lightly golden and bubbly, and the potatoes are fork-tender.
- 10
Garnish with toasted pine nuts and chopped parsley before serving hot.
💡 Chef tips
- You can assemble the dish a few hours in advance, cover it tightly, and keep it in the refrigerator until ready to bake.
- Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and gently reheated in the oven or microwave.
- If you prefer a tangier sauce, feel free to add an extra tablespoon of lemon juice to the tahini mixture.
✅ How it should turn out
The finished dish features tender, spiced meat nestled over soft potatoes, all coated in a creamy, nutty, and garlicky tahini sauce that has turned lightly golden at the edges.