South African grilled sosaties
In South Africa every braaimaster has their own favorite recipe for sosaties
Every country has its own bbq recipe on a stick. Peru has their Anticuchos, the middle east has kebabs, and Asia loves their satay. In South Africa every braaimaster has their own favorite recipe for sosaties, delicious grilled lamb (not always!) and apricots on a stick. Both the large and the small karoo are known for their lambs and apricots, which makes this version a local favorite.
Make sure to cut the lamb into slightly bigger pieces than the chicken and you’ll have solved the challenge of cooking both evenly.
The ingredients:
(serves 4)
Sosatie spices
- 1 tsp fenugreek seeds
- 1 tsp cumin seeds
- 1 tsp mustard seeds
- 1 tsp cilantro seeds
- ½ tsp allspice grains
- 1 tsp ginger powder
- ½ tsp dried red pepper
- ½ tsp turmeric
- 1 tsp salt
Sosaties
- 9 oz (250g) leg of lamb, cut into 1 inch cubes
- 9 oz (250g) chicken thighs, cut into half inch cubes
- 2 yellow bell peppers, cut into ⅔ inch cubes
- 1 large onion, cut into half inch cubes
- 2 tbsp sunflower oil
- 7 oz (200g) dried apricots
Gear:
- wooden skewers
- frying pan or skillet
- mortar and pestle or food processor
- BBQ for direct grilling
How to make:
Prep: 1½ hours
Cooking: about 10 minutes
Soak the skewers in water for a few hours to prevent them burning.
For the Sosatie spices, roast the fenugreek seeds, cumin seeds , mustard seeds, cilantro seeds, and allspice grains in a frying pan or skillet on low heat until fragrant, about 5 minutes. Leave the roasted spiece to cool and mix with the rest of the spices. Finely grind using a mortar and pestle or food processor.
Place the lamb, chicken, bell peppers, and onions in a large mixing bowl. Add the ground Sosatie spices and sunflower oil and mix well. Leave to marinate for at least 1 hour.
Prepare a BBQ for direct grilling and heat until 200 °C (392 °F).
Meanwhile, prepare the sosaties by skewering a dried apricot, and a piece each of onion, chicken, bell pepper, and lamb. Repeat until you’ve used all pieces.
Grill the sosaties for about 10 minutes, until the chicken is cooked through and the lamb is still pink. Enjoy.
