Shaamis are meat patties that look like donuts. I call them donut burgers. Grandma's kitchen consisted of a small portable gas cook top next to her bed and a small table filled with spices and the entire cooking gadget she needed because of her severe case of rheumatoid arthritis. Amongst all the spices, her jar of turmeric stands out in my mind after all these years. At a very young age I was fascinated by her cooking especially the way she prepared shaami kabab. I don’t remember the exact measurements of the ingredients she'd use but this is my best attempt to make shaami as close in taste to hers as possible.

 

Ingredients:

 

1 pound ground meat (lamb or beef)

1 cup cooked chickpeas or yellow split peas (grind in a food processor) 

1 medium onion (grated)

1 clove of garlic (minced)

1 potato, cooked (grated)

3 large eggs

1 teaspoon turmeric

1/3 of teaspoon dissolved saffron in 2 tablespoon hot water

Dash of cinnamon

Salt and pepper to taste

Oil for frying

 

Method:

 

In a large bowl combine all ingredients and mix thoroughly until well blended. 

Heat oil in a large frying pan on medium heat. 

Take a handful of the meat mixture, shape into a small ball, flatten it as the size of the palm of your hand, make a hole in the middle with your finger. 

Fry the meat patties on both sides until brown. 

Serve with fresh herbs, yogurt, pickles and warm bread.

 

Enjoy!

 

Recipe and photo by: Azita