Shami Kebabs

Name: Shami Kebabs
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 12 min
Total time: 32 min
Cuisine: Indian
Ingredients: 500 g lamb, beef or chicken mince; 500 g lamb, beef or chicken mince; 500 g lamb, beef or chicken mince; 3 tsp coriander seeds, roughly crushed; 2 tsp fennel seeds, roughly crushed; 1 onion, finely chopped; 1-inch piece (15 g) of ginger, finely grated; 3 tbsp chickpea/gram flour; 3 tbsp chickpea/gram flour; 1 egg; 1 tbsp full-fat yoghurt, strained; 2-inch piece of cinnamon or cassia bark; 4 green cardamom pods, kept whole; 1 tsp fine salt; 2-inch piece of cinnamon or cassia bark; 5 cloves; 2–3 tbsp olive oil; 1 black cardamom pod, kept whole; 1 tsp black peppercorns

Preparation info

Makes
16

Difficulty
Easy
Ready in
35 min

Appears in

Seven Kitchens

By Torie True

Published 2025

About

These smooth round patties, made with beef, lamb or chicken mince, were a favourite in the royal Mughal courts. Legend has it they were created for a toothless Nawab (nobleman) in Lucknow, as the patties are so soft that he was able to eat them.

Ingredients

500 g lamb, beef or chicken mince
1 onion, finely chopped

Asia
India
Lucknow
Snack
Gluten-free

Method

Begin by placing your mince into a blender along with the onion, ginger, crushed coriander and fennel seeds, egg, strained yoghurt, flour and salt. Pulse briefly to combine all the ingredients.
Finely grind the cinnamon or cassia bark, cardamom pods, black peppercorns and cloves in a spice grinder or pestle and mortar to form a smooth powder.
Add the