These American lamb skewers are marinated in a zesty blend of lime juice, spices and aromatics. Quickly grilled and served with a creamy and spicy chipotle dipping sauce. Yes, these are crazy delicious and you won't be able to stop eating them.
Get the recipe below. And than you to the American Lamb Board for sponsoring this post.
Ingredients
1 1/2 lbs boneless American lamb shoulder (cut into 1-inch cubes)
Marinade
2 tsp Diamond kosher salt
1 tsp black pepper
1 tsp smoked paprika
1 tsp fresh thyme (chopped)
1 tsp dried oregano (or fresh)
red pepper flakes (optional, to taste)
2 garlic cloves (chopped)
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
2 limes, zested and juiced
1 tsp honey
Creamy Chipotle Sauce
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup sour cream or crema
2 chipotle peppers from can *See ingredient note.
1 tbsp adobo sauce from the chipotle peppers
1 lime, juiced
1/4 tsp smoked paprika
1/4 tsp kosher salt
Instructions
1. Make the Marinade: In a medium bowl, whisk together all the marinade ingredients.
2. Marinate the Lamb: Add the cubed lamb to the marinade and stir to coat evenly. Cover and refrigerate, preferably overnight or for 8 hours *see note. Stir occasionally to redistribute the marinade. Alternatively, place the lamb and marinade in a resealable plastic bag, remove excess air, and refrigerate.
3. Prepare the Chipotle Sauce: In a blender or food processor, combine all the chipotle sauce ingredients and blend until smooth. Taste and adjust seasoning with additional chipotle peppers or lime juice, if desired.
4. Preheat the Grill: Prepare your grill for medium-high heat cooking. Alternatively, you can cook the skewers in a very hot skillet or under the broiler in your oven.
5. Assemble the Skewers: Thread the marinated lamb cubes onto skewers, allowing excess marinade to drip off. (If using wooden skewers, soak them in water for 30 minutes before using to prevent burning.)
6. Grill the Skewers: Sear the skewers for 3-5 minutes per side, rotating them occasionally, until the lamb cubes are cooked through (130°F for medium-rare, 140°F for medium), about 10 to 15 minutes total, depending on the heat of your grill. Use an instant-read meat thermometer to verify doneness.
7. Serve: Remove the skewers from the grill. You can either leave the lamb cubes on the skewers or remove them and serve on toothpicks as an appetizer, or just serve the cubes. Serve with the creamy chipotle dipping sauce on the side.
Notes
*USDA recommends the following time and temperature parameters Internal temperature of 145°F, with a 3 minute rest.
- A Note on Marinating Time: Marinating the lamb for an extended period, preferably overnight, helps tenderize the meat and allows the flavors to penetrate. However, if you’re short on time, letting the skewers sit with the marinade for at least 1-hour will still infuse flavor and start to tenderize.
- If using wooden skewers, be sure to soak them in water for 30 minutes before using to prevent burning.
- Chipotle peppers in adobo sauce are available in small cans in the ethnic aisle of most grocery stores.
- Adjust the amount of chipotle peppers and lime juice in the sauce according to your desired level of heat and tang.