Meatball Kebab with Yogurt and Flatbread is a kebab you can prepare at home. It is an alternative to the famous Iskender doner kebab and even in restaurants many prefer to order this kebab. This dish is also from the city of Bursa where the Iskender Kebab has been invented. Thanks to the pita bread it provides a full, filling meal for all.
The ground meat for the meatballs should be of medium fat around 12%. You can get even better results when the ground meat is half lamb and half beef. Make sure to knead the meat until all the spices and the other ingredients are well combined, for at least 10 minutes.
I do have a flatbread / pide recipe if you want to make your own.
The garnish of each plate is totally up to you. I suggest grilling a few tomatoes cut into four and a few whole long green peppers and add one of each on every dish to make your plates have a even more restaurant look.
I hope you will try and enjoy.
Meatball Kebab with Yogurt and Flatbread
Ingredients
Meat Balls
- 500 grams minced meat beef and lamb mixed
- 1 small onion grated
- 30 grams bread crumbs
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- ½ teaspoon thyme
- ½ teaspoon hot red pepper flakes optional
- 1 teaspoon salt
Tomato Sauce
- 2 tablespoons red tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 50 millilitres water
- 1 pinch salt
- 1 pinch black pepper
- 1 pinch sugar
- ½ teaspoon vinegar
Pita Bread
- 2-3 pita bread left over from the day before
Other
- 250 grams plain yogurt
Instructions
- For the meatballs: Mix all the meatball ingredients well. Knead for about 5-10 minutes. Set aside in the fridge for half an hour if you have time. Knead 1-2 minutes again when you take out. Shape them thick as a thumb and and long as your index finger.
- For the sauce: In a saucepan add the olive oil and the butter. Heat up on the stove over medium heat; after butter is melted add the tomato paste, stir for a minute. Add the remaining sauce ingredients. Let simmer for 5 minutes and remove from heat.
- Meanwhile grill the meat balls either on the stove or oven. If in the oven at 200° Celsius until brownish on all sides. If on the stove with olive oil and until again brownish on all sides. The meat balls should not be dry, make sure not to over cook.
- For the pita bread: Cut the pita bread to small squares as in the picture. Use bread that is stale. Heat them up slightly on the stove in a skillet or in the oven.
- Spread enough pita bread on each plate. The bread should be flat.
- Pour the yogurt on the bread. If you like you can serve with just adding a few spoons on the side of the plate or completely leave out the yogurt.
- Then place meatballs on bread for each plate. Pour the sauce on top and serve.