A new staple in your summer grilling rotation! The zing of freshly squeezed lemon pairs deliciously with the rich melody of spices in Za’atar, a Middle Eastern spice blend.
Are you looking for something to shake up your next meal on the grill? Then my Lemon Za’atar Beef Skewers are the perfect summer meal. A simple marinade works it’s magic to tenderize the beef and impart the savory flavors of onion and garlic. Once the skewers are threaded with vegetables and are brushed with a coating of Za’tar oil, these skewers are ready for business! No outdoor grill - no problem! These are apartment friendly and can be made in a broiler.
To make this recipe, there are 3 stages: marinate, prepare, and grill. In the first step: fresh lemon juice, plain Greek yogurt, garlic, yellow onion, Za’atar, salt and pepper come together to flavor the meat. If you do not have beef, this recipe would work equally well with lamb, chicken, or pork. The key to getting great flavor is letting the marinade do all the hard work...which means time! The best results will come when the marinade has time to rest for a maximum of overnight in the refrigerator. I’ve found that even in a time crunch, a minimum of 4 hours works well given a short amount of time.
The second stage is preparing the vegetables for the skewers, making the Za'atar oil, and fixing the lemon yogurt dressing to garnish the grilled skewers. Vegetables that would pair with the Za’atar marinated meat are endless! I would recommend chopped red or white onion, yellow or green zucchini, cherry tomatoes, bell peppers, and even lemons. Not only do grilled lemons look beautiful with grill marks, they release so much sweetness when exposed to high heat! A simple squeeze of grilled lemon juice, and even a bite is a must try.
Before hitting the grill, the prepared skewers are brushed with a Za’atar olive oil for extra flavor and a bit of crunch. These skewers can be grilled outdoors or in the broiler of an oven. If using a broiler, I’ve gotten the best results when the skewers do NOT have direct contact with the bottom of the pan. Place the skewers on top of a baking tray so that they hang over the edges of the pan. This allows for the hot air to circulate better and develop some char on the meat, in comparison to placing the skewers directly on the bottom of the pan which has caused the meat to steam and not develop as much color.
To finish the skewers, a dollop of the lemon yogurt dressing adds some freshness. The creamy tang of Greek Yogurt, freshly squeezed lemon juice, fresh parsley, minced garlic, and salt and pepper make a delicious side that you’ll want more of! There are many ways to serve these to your family and friends. Fresh off the grill and tucked in a warm pita with a side of fresh tabbouleh, a salad or even with a helping of Za’tar roasted potatoes (see recipe at the bottom).
Lemon Za’atar Beef Skewers
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Marination Time: 4 hours - overnight
Cook Time: [Grill: 8-10 minutes] Broiler: 20- 25 minutes
For the Meat Marinade
Juice of 1/2 large lemon or 1 small lemon
1 cup plain Greek yogurt
2 tablespoons zatar spice
4 cloves garlic, grated
1 small or 1⁄2 large yellow onion, grated
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste
1.5 pounds stew beef or top sirloin, cut into 1-2 inch chunks
For the Lemon Yogurt Dressing
1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
Salt and pepper to taste
Juice of 1/2 lemon
For the Za'atar Oil
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon Za'atar spice
Directions
MARINATE
1. In a large bowl, use a grater with medium-large holes to grate in the onion and garlic. Add the oil, Za’atar, salt and pepper, lemon juice, and Greek yogurt, mixing to combine. Then add in the beef, mixing to evenly distribute the marinade. Cover and let marinate in the fridge for 4 hours or overnight for best flavor.
PREPARE
1. After letting the meat marinate, remove from the refrigerator and allow to come to room
temperature.
2. In a shallow baking dish, prepare the wooden skewers, if using. Soak the wooden skewers in water for 30 minutes while preparing the vegetables.
3. While meat is out of the refrigerator prepare the lemon yogurt dressing. To a small bowl, add all of the ingredients and mix to combine. Cover and chill in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
4. Chop the desired vegetables you want to use for the skewers. Make sure to cut large enough pieces (at least 1 inch in diameter) so that the vegetables can fit onto a kebab stick.
5. Prepare the Za'atar oil. In a small bowl, combine olive oil and Za'atar spice. Set aside.
GRILL
1. Place the meat and chopped vegetables of choice onto the skewers.
2. Brush the tops of the skewers with the Za'atar oil.
3. If using a preheated broiler: Place the skewers horizontally on top of a 9×13 baking dish or similar baking tray. The kebabs should rest over the tops of the baking tray and should not touch the bottom of the tray. Roast in the broiler for in 5 minute intervals, rotating the skewers to ensure even browning. Remove from the oven when the meat is at your desired done-ness and the meat has deepened in color (approximately 20-25 minutes).
If using a grill: Grill on direct heat for 8-10 minutes, turning occasionally. When the meat has reached your desired done-ness, and developed some beautiful grill marks, remove from the heat!
Optional: Za'atar Roasted Potatoes
Preparation time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 20-25 minutes
Ingredients
5 large potatoes, cut into wedges
2 tablespoons Za’atar
¼ cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Salt and Pepper
Juice of 1 lemon
¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped
Directions
1. Preheat the oven to 425℉ (218℃).
2. Thoroughly wash and pat dry the potatoes. Chop into wedges and place onto a large
baking tray. Add the Za’atar, oil, and salt and pepper to taste. Mix the spices and
potatoes to combine.
3. Roast for 20-25 minutes, flipping halfway through cooking to ensure even browning.
When the potatoes are golden and crispy on the outside, remove from the oven. To
serve, add a squeeze of lemon juice and top with chopped parsley.
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