Indian cooking
Indian cooking / Dishes / Kashmiri Seekh Kebab
Kashmiri Seekh Kebab (Minced (Ground) Lamb Kebabs on Skewers)

Kashmiri Seekh Kebab

Minced (Ground) Lamb Kebabs on Skewers
Non-vegetarian●●●Origin Jammu and KashmirPrep 30 minutes, plus marinating timeCook 7–9 minutes

Fragrant, spiced minced lamb kebabs moulded onto skewers and grilled until charred and juicy. Rich in aromatic herbs, ginger, garlic, and warm spices, finished with melted butter.

Kebab masala

18 gMixed into the lamb mince (step 1)
Stir together into an even seasoning mix.

Everything else

02
Ginger · Adrakpeeled and chopped
12 g1 piece
aromatic
03
50 g
vegetable
04
8 g3½ tablespoons
herb
05
~1 g1 sprig
herb
06
14 g1 tablespoon
oil/fat
07
Butter · Makhanmelted, for basting
to taste
dairy
08
to taste
salt

Method

  1. In a large mixing bowl, combine 750 g None, 12 g ginger, 50 g onion, 3.5 tablespoon None, 1 g coriander, 2 tablespoon None, 1 teaspoon None, 13.5 g vegetable oil, salt to taste, and the kebab masala. Work the mixture thoroughly with your hands until well blended, then cover and chill in the fridge for 30 minutes.
  2. Prepare a charcoal grill or tandoor to a moderate heat, or preheat your kitchen oven grill (broiler) to medium.
  3. Divide the chilled meat mixture into 16 equal portions and shape each into a ball. Using wet hands, press and mould the meat along metal skewers into elongated sausage shapes about 10 cm (4 inches) in length, leaving a 5 cm (2 inch) space between each kebab (placing roughly 2 per skewer).
  4. Cook the kebabs over the coals or under the grill for 5 to 6 minutes. Take them off the heat, brush generously with melted butter to taste, and return to cook for an additional 2 to 3 minutes until fully cooked through and slightly charred.

Don't have something?

Minced lamb
  • Ground lamb

    Use the same weight; it is the same thing under another name and cooks identically.

  • Minced chicken

    Use the same weight; it is leaner, so add 1 tbsp oil and cook 3–4 minutes less.

  • Boneless lamb

    Mince at home; use the same weight. Keep some fat for juiciness and cook until browned.

Ginger
  • Fresh ginger

    Use equal weight; scrape off the skin and grate or finely julienne according to the recipe.

  • Ginger paste

    Use equal weight; stir straight into the sizzling aromatics, taking care as the extra moisture may spit.

  • Ground ginger

    Use 15 to 20% of the weight; add alongside ground spices, noting it imparts warm, dry heat rather than zesty freshness.

Onion
  • Shallot

    Use equal weight, finely sliced. Shallots soften and brown faster, giving a slightly sweeter and more delicate base to curries.

  • Cabbage

    Use 80% of the weight, finely shredded and browned slowly with a pinch of asafoetida. Replicates the bulk and natural sweetness in gravies without allium.

Mint leaf
  • Mint leaves

    Use the same weight; identical herb, just the plural listing.

  • Dried mint

    Use 25% of the fresh weight, about 1 g dried for 4 g fresh; crush between fingers. Flavour is stronger and slightly hay-like.

  • Coriander leaf

    Use the same weight; it gives a fresh green note but not true mint flavour.

Coriander
  • Coriander leaf

    Use equal weight, chopped fresh and stirred in off the heat or used as garnish. Matches the citrus-herbal profile identically.

  • Mint

    Use 40% to 50% of the weight; chop finely and add at the very end. Adds fresh herbal brightness, but shifts the aroma toward cool menthol.

Ginger paste
  • Fresh ginger

    Use equal weight; peel and grate very finely on a microplane or pound to a fine paste in a mortar.

  • Ginger

    Use equal weight; mince finely and crush with the flat of a knife before frying.

  • Ground ginger

    Use 20% of the weight; add directly with the dry spice powders, though it yields an earthier, less pungent profile.

Garlic paste
  • Garlic

    Use equal weight; crush or finely grate to a smooth pulp to replicate the same fresh, pungent moisture in your base gravy.

  • Garlic powder

    Use 20 to 25% of the weight; mix with a teaspoon of water before adding to oil so it does not burn, noting it lacks the fresh bite.

Red chilli paste
  • Red chilli powder

    Use about 30–40% of the paste weight, mix with water to a paste and add gradually; it is drier and hotter.

  • Fresh red chilli

    Blend deseeded fresh red chillies to the same weight as the paste; fresher, sharper heat and more moisture.

  • Kashmiri red chilli powder

    Use the same weight mixed with water; gives good red colour but much less heat, so add cayenne if needed.

Garam masala
  • Ground cumin

    Use 50% of the weight mixed with equal parts ground coriander and a pinch of ground cinnamon, ground cloves, and ground green cardamom. Sprinkle near the end for a warming finish.

  • Lentil stew spice mix

    Use 75% of the weight. Simmer briefly in the gravy; imparts roasted warmth and complexity, though it adds a slight tang and earthy lentil undertone.

Dried fenugreek leaf
  • Dried fenugreek leaves

    Use the same weight, crush between your palms before adding. This is effectively the same ingredient.

  • Fresh fenugreek leaves

    Use about 4 times the weight, add later in cooking. Milder and leafier; less of the dried maple-hay aroma.

  • Ground dried fenugreek leaf

    Use the same weight and stir in early. Same flavour but no visible leaf specks.

Vegetable oil
  • Peanut oil

    Use 1:1 by weight. Handles high-heat frying identically and introduces a very subtle, pleasant nuttiness.

  • Ghee

    Use 1:1 by weight. Yields a much richer, authentic aroma and a glossy, heavier mouthfeel.

  • Mustard oil

    Use 1:1 by weight. Heat until smoking, then cool slightly before cooking to temper its intensely pungent, sharp mustard kick.

Butter
  • Unsalted butter

    Use 100% of the weight. If the original recipe relies on salted table butter, add a pinch of salt to balance.

  • Ghee

    Use 80% to 85% of the weight. Ghee is pure butterfat with moisture removed; it yields a deeper, nuttier flavour and handles high heat better.

  • Vegetable oil

    Use 80% of the weight for frying or tempering. The dish loses sweet dairy richness but remains glossy and light.

Similar dishes

Moti Kebab
Succulent Spicy Lamb
Moti Kebab tastes more tangy and rich from the malt vinegar and spiced yogurt than this herb-accented, charred kebab.
  • Same: Moti Kebab also uses lamb seasoned with ginger, garlic paste, and garam masala, cooked with butter and oil.
  • Different: Instead of minced meat skewered and grilled with onion and coriander, Moti Kebab pan-fries whole lamb cubes marinated in malt vinegar, raw papaya, and yogurt.
Rajasthani Boti Kebab
Spicy Lamb Tikka on Skewers
It tastes sharper, tangier, and more pungent than this dish due to the addition of mustard oil, vinegar, and lemon juice.
  • Same: Both skewered lamb dishes are seasoned with ginger-garlic paste and garam masala and cooked using vegetable oil and butter.
  • Different: Rajasthani Boti Kebab uses whole chunks of meat marinated with mustard oil, kasuri methi, vinegar, and lemon juice instead of minced lamb mixed with fresh onion and coriander.
Maans ke Soole
Skewered Spicy Lamb Fillet
Maans ke Soole has a much tangier profile from the citrus and vinegar, accented by deep clove smoke.
  • Same: Both dishes feature skewered lamb grilled with ginger paste, garlic paste, garam masala, and a melted butter baste.
  • Different: Instead of minced lamb, Maans ke Soole uses thinly beaten lamb fillets marinated in lemon juice, white malt vinegar, boiled onion paste, and clove smoke.
Gosht ki Khurchan
Mashed Pasanda
It tastes like a robust, savoury dry curry with yogurt tang, cumin and chilli heat, whereas this dish is fragrant, juicy and charred with mint, fenugreek and butter.
  • Same: Gosht ki Khurchan shares meat, onion, ginger and garlic pastes, garam masala, vegetable oil and salt with this dish.
  • Different: It uses pasanda strips, plain yogurt, ground cumin, Kashmiri chilli powder, green chilli and dried red chilli and is stir-fried and mashed dry, while this dish uses minced lamb, mint, dried fenugreek leaf, red chilli paste and a butter finish and is grilled on skewers.