Bored with hamburgers and hot dog cook-outs or the same old dinner recipes? Simple changes will provide will make the entire family perk up, including the chef!
The mince kebab recipe that follows is a great outdoor recipe to serve on a hot, sunny day and makes a change from the usual barbecue offerings. Serve the meal with a mixed bean salad, fresh bread and milk tart for dessert.
Mince Kebabs
Ingredients:
- 750g minced beef
- 8 bacon rashers, rind-less
- 2 chopped onions
- 2 cooking apples, grated
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 pinch freshly-ground black pepper
- 2 tablespoons chopped parsley
- 1 generous pinch dried mixed herbs
- 2 teaspoons apricot jam
Method:
- Mix all ingredients except bacon, shape into small balls.
- Wrap each ball in bacon and secure with a tooth pick.
- Thread a few onto a wooden skewer and grill over hot coals.
- Turn skewers regularly until meat is cooked.
- Serve immediately with spicy sauce.
Spicy Sauce
Ingredients:
- 250 ml meat stock (1 cup)
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 3 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 tsp strong dry mustard powder
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp ground cloves
- 2 tablespoons melted butter
- 2 tablespoons cake flour
Method:
- Mix all ingredients except butter and cake flour in a saucepan and simmer for 20 minutes.
- Mix melted butter and flour to a paste.
- Add little at a time to sauce and stir until the sauce becomes thick.
- Serve warm.
Mince-Filled Pancakes
Pancake Batter:
Ingredients:
- 250 grams cake flour (1 cup)
- 1 generous pinch salt
- 2 eggs
- 250 ml milk (1 cup – more may be added if the batter is too thick)
- 2 tablespoons melted butter
Method:
- Sift cake flour and salt together for the batter.
- Make a hollow in the flour and mix the eggs and a little of the milk.
- Using a wooden spoon, mix in the eggs and milk and gradually work in the flour from the sides, mixing all the while.
- Add the remaining milk and the butter.
- Allow the batter to stand for a half an hour before using.
Mince filling for Pancakes:
Ingredients:
- 750 grams minced beef
- 2 tablespoons cooking oil
- 2 chopped onions
- 100 grams mushrooms, sliced
- 1 teaspoon salt
- pinch of freshly-ground black pepper
- 1 pinch cayenne pepper
- 1 pinch dried caraway seed
- 2 tsp chopped fresh parsley or dried parsley
- 1 x 420 g can beans in tomato sauce
- 100 ml thick fresh cream
Method;
- Fry the beef in heated cooking oil until it changes color.
- Add onion and mushrooms and sauté.
- Add salt, pepper, cayenne pepper, caraway seed and parsley. Cover with lid and simmer on a medium heat for 20 minutes or until meat is tender.
- Add beans and simmer for another 5 – 10 minutes. Add cream and mix thoroughly.
- Fry the pancakes until golden brown.
- Spoon some filling into the center of pancakes and fold ends over.
- Keep warm in the oven until all the pancakes and mince is used up, bake for a further 15 minutes at a heat of around 180º C.
Serving suggestion: Serve with a crisp green salad with peach ice-cream to finish.
Copyright Fleur Hupston. Contact the author to obtain permission for republication.
Fleur Hupston - Fleur Hupston is a professional freelance writer based in Botswana, Southern Africa. From this unique perspective, she writes travel ...
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