What is a Seekh Kebab?

A seekh kebab is an Indian dish, somewhat similar to a shish kebab, which consists of ground meat and spices pressed onto a skewer and cooked. These kebabs are traditionally cooked using a tandoor, which is a type of oven popular throughout India and the Middle East, though other types of ovens or grills can work just as well. While lamb is the traditional meat for this dish, depending on what is prevalent in certain areas, personal preference, and cultural or religious taboos, other meats such as beef can be used. A seekh kebab is traditionally part of Indian cuisine, though many modern chefs in the West have begun preparing varieties of this dish as well.

While the term “kebab” typically conjures up images of individual pieces of meat and vegetables skewered and cooked over an open flame, a seekh kebab is similar but markedly different from shish kebabs in a number of ways. The idea of a kebab as being synonymous with a shish kebab is typically a Western association, and “kebab” merely refers to a piece of meat that is cooked. It seems that the term may have first referred to meat that was fried, but over time the term came to be associated with grilled meat instead.

A seekh kebab typically begins with ground meat of some kind; lamb meat is the most traditional type for this dish though beef is also quite popular. The meat is ground, or minced, and this ground meat is mixed with other spices and seasonings to flavor the meat. Spices used to flavor a seekh kebab typically depend on the recipe or chef, though common ingredients include garlic paste, ginger paste, finely diced onions, ground coriander, cumin, salt, and pepper. These are mixed together with the ground meat until the final product is fully incorporated together, similar to making a meatloaf.

This meat and seasoning mixture is then taken in handfuls and pressed onto a skewer, creating an even layer of the mixture around most of the skewer. The final seekh kebab should look somewhat similar to a corndog that is entirely made from the meat mixture. This skewer is then cooked over open heat such as a grill or even broiled in an oven. Traditionally, a seekh kebab is cooked using a tandoor, though this type of oven is fairly rare outside of Indian or Middle Eastern kitchens. Seekh kebabs are often served with mint sauce, an appropriate chutney, naan bread, or even yogurt.