Shish barak or dumplings in yoghurt gravy
Traditional Lebanese plump meat dumplings braised in a creamy yoghurt sauce
| PREP TIME | 45 m |
|---|---|
| COOK TIME | 35m |
| SERVES | 10 |
For the dumpling dough
500gm flour, plus extra for dusting
4 tsp salt
350ml water
4 tsp sugar
For the filling
2 tbsp vegetable oil
3 large red onions, finely chopped
500gm ground lamb
2 tsp ground allspice
1 tsp ground cinnamon
4 tsp salt
2 tsp black pepper
For the sauce
1kg plain yogurt
1 egg white
75gm cornstarch, dissolved in ½ cup of water
40ml vegetable oil
15-18 garlic cloves, finely chopped
Micro herbs, to garnish
Toasted pine nuts, to garnish
1. To make the dumplings, put the flour, salt, water and sugar in a bowl and knead to form a soft dough. Cover with a muslin cloth or cling film and set aside to rest for 30 minutes.
2. To make the filling, heat the oil in a frying pan and sauté the onions until translucent. Add the lamb and the allspice, cinnamon, salt and pepper and stir until the lamb is cooked. Transfer the mixture into a bowl and set aside to cool.
3. Divide the dough into lime-sized balls. Dust a work surface with flour and roll out the balls into discs.
4. Place a teaspoon of the filling at the centre of each disc, moisten the edges with water and fold in half to seal.
5. To make the sauce, in a pan over a medium heat whisk together the yoghurt, egg white and dissolved cornstarch. Whisk continuously to prevent the mixture from curdling.
6. Once the sauce begins to simmer, drop in the dumplings and cook for 10-15 minutes until done.
7. While the yoghurt is cooking, heat the oil in a pan and fry the garlic until golden brown.
8. Add the fried garlic and its oil to the yoghurt and dumplings. Mix well and serve garnished with herbs and pine nuts.
Tip: Cook shish barak with labneh instead of plain yoghurt for a more intense flavour. Mix 500g of labneh with 500ml of water and proceed as directed.
Recipe courtesy: Chef Rober Salloum, Fairmont The Palm
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