Chocolate & Chillies: Hyderabadi Dum Kay Kabob {CorningWare Giveaway}

Whenever I make my mom's recipes, the aroma takes me back to my childhood. The recipe I'm sharing with you today is a dish my mom would make every Eid when we would all get together for lunch. It's a dish originating from Hyderabad, India. Growing up, I also remember this dish being served at many family gatherings and weddings. It's definite comfort food for me. My mom would typically serve it garnished with sliced onions, coriander and lime wedges. This dish is traditionally eaten with roti. Our typical side dish is Maash Ki Daal, pictured in the top right. I'm still working on getting the proportions right. Hope to get it perfected soon so I can share the recipe with you!

When we use the term "dum" in Indian cooking we generally mean slow cooking with steam. I asked my mom why this dish was called "dum". When she was growing up they didn't have electric ovens like we do have today. So they would make a layer of coal and put the tray of meat on top and cover. Then more coal was put on top and they cooked it like this. To replicate this, my mom bakes the Kabob in the oven. Sometimes people give the aroma of charcoal by heating a piece of charcoal until it is red. Then place it on a piece of foil that is on top of the Kabob, pouring a bit of oil on top and then quickly covering. I have a ceramic cooktop so I have never done this step.

To make this Kabob I used the 3 Quart Baker dish from CW by CorningWare. CorningWare has always been a staple in our home. My mom even had pots and pans made by CorningWare! CW by CorningWare has the same quality that I've always loved but with a splash of colour.

I loved working with these dishes. They are not heavy at all. You can win a 2.5 Quart Vermillion Baker from CW by CorningWare by using the Rafflecopter below to enter. This contest is open to Canadian residents only.

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Hyderabadi Dum Kay Kabob

Note: Lately I've been finding frying the onions and roasting and grinding the almonds etc. to be too time consuming. Instead I've been using 6 tbsp fried onions, omit the almonds, poppy seeds and coconut and add 1 tbsp kasori methi.

2 lbs lean ground beef or veal, washed and drained well*
2 onions, chopped
1/4 cup canola oil
20 almonds, dry roasted and ground
2 tbsp light poppy seeds (kash kash), dry roasted and ground
1/2 tsp kabob chini (cubeb), dry roasted and ground
2 tbsp unsweetened coconut, ground
4 green cardamom, pods removed and seeds ground
1/2 cup yogurt
1 1/2 tsp red chilli powder, or to taste
1/2 tsp turmeric
1/2 tsp garam masala
2 tsp lemon juice
2 tsp Shaan Masala Seekh Kabob (optional)**
1 1/2 tsp salt, or to taste
3 tbsp ginger garlic paste
3 green chillis, chopped, or to taste
1 cup chopped coriander
15 dried mint leaves, crumbled
8-12 stands saffron
2 slices of bread

* I usually have my butcher wash the meat before grinding so that I don't need to wash the meat.
** This is optional but adds a lot of flavour. I generally use whatever open Shaan Masala packet I have. I have used Tikka Boti in the past with good results.

In a pot, heat oil over medium high heat. Add onion and fry until golden brown.

While frying the onions, I usually prepare the almonds, poppy seeds, kabob chini, coconut and cardamom.

In a large bowl, combine all the ingredients (including the fried onions) except the bread. Wet a slice a bread and then squeeze out all the water. Add to the bowl. Repeat with the remaining slice of bread. Mix the bread into the meat mixture.

Marinate for a couple of hours, overnight preferably.

Preheat oven to 400°F. Spray a 3 quart baking dish with cooking oil. Spread the meat mixture in the dish. Bake 30-40 minutes, or until meat is cooked. Break up the meat with a spatula. Garnish with sliced onions, chopped coriander and lime wedges. Serve hot with roti or naan.