Grilled Herb-Crusted Lamb Kebabs

Name: Grilled Herb Crusted Lamb Kebabs
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 145 min
Ingredients: 1 1/2 tablespoons rosemary (chopped fresh); 1 1/2 tablespoons mint (chopped fresh); 1 1/2 tablespoons parsley (chopped fresh); 2 teaspoons oregano (chopped fresh); 5 large cloves garlic (minced); 1 teaspoon kosher salt; 1/2 teaspoon cracked black pepper; 1 lemon (zested); 1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes; 1/4 cup + 1 tablespoon olive oil; 1 1/2 pounds lamb (my butcher cut it for me from a leg of lamb., cut into 2" pieces)

An easy garlic herb marinade makes these Grilled Herb Crusted Lamb Kebabs special. Marinate overnight to infuse the lamb with garlic and herbs. Perfect for summer grilling, herb crusted lamb shish kebabs go great with whole grain salads and vegetables for a healthy grilled dinner.

Do you remember My Big Fat Greek Wedding and the scene where Tula’s family is roasting a lamb on a spit in their front yard? Well, that’s not too far off from my family. Ok, we’re not Greek and we don’t cook dinner on the lawn, but growing up, lamb was a constant at our family meals and celebrations. Which is why these Grilled Herb-Crusted Lamb Kebabs are like second nature to me.

As a child, I remember my paternal grandmother, Myne, fixing leg of lamb for Easter or braising lamb shanks with wine until very tender.

My maternal grandmother, Madou, made white bean stuffed leg of lamb for Christmas. It was loaded with garlic and roasted to a burnished finish outside, while sporting a pink interior and creamy white bean and swiss chard filling.

Uncle Frank cooks his lamb over an open flame. Mom has been known to butterfly and stuff her lamb. For me, I love a good Irish lamb stew and lamb chops and rack of lamb are the default menu item when I don’t know what to fix for company.

fresh herbs, lemon and garlic for the lamb marinade.

This marinated grilled lamb kebab recipe is very simple to make. The flavors are fresh and lively and rather than competing with the flavor of the meat, the garlic and herb lamb marinade enhances every bite.

What you’ll need for lamb marinade

Fresh Rosemary
Fresh Mint
Italian Parsley
Fresh Oregano
Garlic

Kosher Salt
Black Pepper
Lemon Zest
Crushed Red Pepper Flakes
Olive Oil

Grilling lamb is one of my favorite ways to enjoy this tender, juicy cut of meat and the longer it rests in the garlic, herb and lemon marinade, the more the flavors will permeate the flesh and denude the gaminess of the lamb.

How to make garlic and herb marinade for grilled lamb

Finely chop the rosemary, mint, parsley and oregano and add the herbs to a bowl.
Add chopped garlic and the lemon zest (use a microplane grater for extra fine, feather light wisps of zest) along with crushed red pepper flakes, kosher salt and black pepper.
Stir in the olive oil until the lamb marinade is the consistency of a thick paste.

Best cut of lamb for shish kebabs

I prefer to use a boneless leg of lamb to make shish kebabs because this cut is very tender and juicy and it soaks up the flavors of the marinade well.

You can sometimes find lamb chunks already prepared for kebabs in the meat case, but if not, just ask your butcher to cut some for you. You want large even chunks about 2″ wide and thick.

How to prepare leg of lamb for kebabs:

If you’re cutting the meat yourself you’ll notice that boneless legs are generally folded over into a neat roast and sometimes tied.

To cut the lamb into pieces for shish kebabs, untie the roast and open it up to lay flat.
Slice the lamb into 2″ cubes, trimming away any excess fat or sinew (a little fat is ok, but you don’t want too much).
Transfer the chunks of meat to a bowl and pour the marinade over the lamb.
Marinate several hours or overnight. (You can make the marinade in the morning and let the lamb soak all day and it will give the meat a really good flavor)

After the meat has marinated, heat the grill to a medium high heat (about 450° to 500° F). Use metal or wooden skewers to thread chunks of marinated lamb onto.

Note: if you’re using wooden skewers, make sure you soak them for an hour in water before making the kebabs — otherwise, the wood will catch on fire and burn.

Grilling tips for lamb shish kebabs

Cooking the lamb over a medium hot grill (about 450° – 500° F) will sear the exterior of the shish kebabs and cook the meat to a perfect medium rare in about 8-10 minutes.
For more well done preparations cook the kebabs for 12-15 minutes until they’re to your liking.
Don’t fiddle with the meat too much — let the grill do the work. Don’t flip the kebabs until they’ve been on the grill for about 4-5 minutes, to allow the meat to get a good sear.
Have a spray bottle of water ready and watch for flare ups.
Let the shish kebabs rest for a few minutes on a cutting board so the juices can settle in the meat. (This will make it more juicy and tender).

Variations and Swaps:

The simple garlic herb marinade is delicious on lots of other types of meat as well. Use it on chicken pieces, beef sirloin, flank, rib-eye etc. pork chops or even shellfish like shrimp or scallops.
Use other fresh herbs like thyme, dill, marjoram or tarragon.
If you don’t like spice, you can skip the red pepper flakes.

FAQ’s

At what temperature are lamb shish kebabs done?

Technically, the food safe temperature for lamb is 145°F. I generally like mine a little more pink inside, but everyone is different. Here are the different doneness temperatures. I recommend using a good instant read thermometer like the Thermapen One to be sure.
Rare: 115 to 120°F
Medium-rare: 120 to 125°F
Medium: 130 to 135°F
Medium-well: 140 to 145°F
Well-done: 150 to 155°F

Can I make the lamb marinade ahead of time?

No. It’s best to make the marinade just before you put it over the chunks of meat, otherwise the herbs can oxidize and lose some of their potency.

How many cubes of lamb per skewer?

I assemble the shish kebab skewers so that each one is a serving, which is about 1/4 pound per person. For this batch, it was about 3-4 cubes of meat. If you’re planning on removing the lamb from the skewers and serving on a platter, it won’t matter how many pieces of meat you thread onto the skewers.

Can I use dried herbs?

I’m not going to say you can’t — it’s your kitchen, after all. However, for the best flavor, I recommend fresh herbs and fresh chopped garlic.

Can I use lemon juice in the marinade?

Yes. I’ve had several readers who have added the juice of the lemon to the marinade and enjoyed the flavors immensely. If you want a little more acidity, go for it — but note that adding lemon juice will “cook” the outside of the kebabs (kind of like citric acid cooks the fish in a ceviche). Obviously the meat isn’t cooked, but the acid does react with the flesh and turns it an opaque color.

What to serve with grilled lamb shish kebabs:

The beauty about this easy meal is that lamb kebabs go with just about any side dish.

Since shish kebabs are a traditional Turkish dish, going with a Mediterranean-style side dish makes sense. Try this fattoush, khorasan wheat or millet salad.
For a Greek vibe, serve with warm pita bread with sides of hummus or tzatziki and a cracked wheat salad or these grilled veggies with feta and farro.
For a fresh Italian flair, pair grilled lamb kebabs with this Italian wild rice salad, this Italian bean, farro & mozzarella salad or this Italian inspired pilaf
French inspired sides that go well with shish kebabs are tomatoes provençal, fresh asparagus with creamy dijon dressing, and French flageolets (legumes).
And these all American side dishes pair really well with the simple marinated grilled lamb: Kale Barley Mushroom Gratin, Roasted Garlic Mashed Cauliflower, roasted duck fat potatoes or this healthy brussel fennel & apple slaw.

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