Shashlik or Shashlyk (pronounced as it is written or sometimes even ‘shashleek’) is made in fair few countries including Iran, India, Turkey, Russia, Mongolia, Pakistan, Morocco and a lot more others! It is fairly easy to prepare and it tastes delectable! 

Preparation will take about 15 minutes and cooking around 10! Here is how I make it:

Ingredients: (serves two)

• Two large chicken breasts cubed into square inch pieces
• Two onions – one diced into inch square pieces and the other grated
• Green, yellow and red pepper cut into inch square pieces
• Tomato halved for each side
• Four cloves of garlic
• Two cloves
• ¼ teaspoonful cumin seeds
• Pinch of saffron
• Juice and zest of a lemon
• Tablespoon of olive oil
• Few sprigs of green coriander (Cilantro for the ones living across the pond!)
• ¼ teaspoon salt and a few twirls of pepper mill

Procedure

• In a blender, whiz all the ingredients (except of course all the inch square pieces and the tomatoes) into a smooth paste!
• Marinade the chicken cubes in this paste and leave overnight in fridge, in a bowl covered with a cling film. 24 hours will make it even nicer!
• Thread on skewers, alternating with peppers, onion and chicken with half the tomato on each side.
• Grill under a preheated grill for 4-5 minutes on each side, brushing with butter or olive oil in between, until corners of chicken and veg looks a little charred.
• leave to rest for a couple of minutes.

Serve atop rice, with nan or roti.

Nosh-e-Jan!