Recipe

Lamb Kebabs

If you want to grill something delicious outdoors for dinner, here is a recipe for my favorite kebabs:

Serves 4 to 6

2 pounds top round lamb
1 tablespoon minced garlic (2 to 3 cloves)
1 tablespoon minced fresh rosemary leaves
2 teaspoons minced fresh thyme leaves
¼ cup mild olive oil
¼ cup dry red wine
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
2 small red onions
2 pints cherry tomatoes

For the sauce:
½ cup good chicken stock, preferably homemade
¼ cup good olive oil
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
Pinch of minced fresh rosemary leaves
¼ teaspoon kosher salt
¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Couscous with Pine Nuts, for serving

Cut the lamb in 1½-inch cubes. You should have about 20 cubes. Combine the garlic, rosemary, thyme, olive oil, red wine, vinegar, and 1 teaspoon of salt in a medium bowl. Add the lamb cubes, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate overnight or for up to 2 days. Toss occasionally.

Prepare a charcoal fire for your grill. When the coals are evenly covered in gray ash, spread them out in one dense layer. Brush with oil.

Cut the red onions in quarters and separate each quarter into 3 or 4 sections. Loosely thread 4 pieces of lamb onto skewers alternately with sections of onion. Sprinkle both sides of the lamb with salt and pepper. Next place 4 or 5 cherry tomatoes on each of 5 skewers, threading them through the stems of the tomatoes. Rub the tomatoes with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place the lamb skewers on the hot grill and cook for 10 to 15 minutes, turning 2 or 3 times, until the lamb is medium rare. Approximately 5 minutes before the lamb is done, next place the tomato skewers on the grill, turning once, until seared on the outside but still firm inside.

For the sauce, bring the chicken stock, olive oil, and lemon juice to a boil in a small pot. Lower the heat and simmer for 5 minutes, until reduced by half. Add the rosemary, salt, and pepper. Serve the skewers on a mound of couscous with the sauce on the side.