Hard-boiled eggs are halved, filled with a spiced minced lamb and yolk mixture, skewered back together, and fried in a crisp, seasoned batter. The result is a savoury, textured snack with a rich centre and a gently spiced, golden crust.
Batter spice
2.7 gWhisked with the flour and water to make the batter (step 3)
Lower 6 eggs into a pan of boiling water and cook for 8–10 minutes until hard-boiled. Drain, chill in cold water, and peel. Blend 6 g green chilli to a fine paste.
Slice the eggs in half and scoop the yolks into a mixing bowl. Add 3 tablespoon cooked minced lamb, 1 tablespoon chickpea flour, 0.5 teaspoon ground pomegranate seeds, 4 g coriander leaf, and the chilli paste. Mash and mix thoroughly, then split into 12 equal portions. Pack the filling into the egg white cavities, pair two halves together to reform whole eggs, and pin each shut with a wooden skewer.
Sift 100 g plain flour and the batter spice into a bowl. Season with salt, then whisk in roughly 150 ml water in a steady stream to form a smooth batter of medium thickness.
Heat vegetable oil for deep-frying in a deep, heavy pan over medium heat to roughly 180°C (350°F), or until a cube of bread dropped in turns brown in 30 seconds. Pat the skewered eggs dry, coat them in the batter, and fry for 3–4 minutes until crisp and golden brown. Drain on kitchen paper and season lightly with salt.
For binding, use about 10 g chickpea flour mixed with 20 ml water per egg and rest for 10 minutes. Denser and nuttier; not suitable for baking or coating in the same way.
For crisping batters or binding cutlets: use 50% to 60% of the weight. Produces a very crisp shell but lacks the earthy, roasted nutty flavour of besan.