Click for 6 additional photos of Lamb Kabob with Spicy Mango Chutney and Whipped Feta
It’s not easy trying to come up with great recipes I think you all will enjoy. Some weeks, I just want to cuddle up on the couch and French kiss a bag of Styrofoam cheese puffs. But I doubt that you, my loyal readers, would appreciate hearing about my steamy love affair with Ben and Jerry, or my secret stash of Snickers bars in the freezer.
I used to get my food inspiration by spending time at the supermarket, slowly and deliberately perusing the aisles. I’d usually start in the produce section, looking to see what’s fresh and glorious. I’d create recipes on the fly and fill my cart with ingredients from the imaginary dish that perched vividly in the thought bubble above my left eyebrow.
And then when I reached the seafood section, the glistening halibut would call for me, and blip! Sweet, buttery halibut with roasted tomatoes would quickly zap any trace of the previous dish in my head.
I’d have to run back through the aisles, returning ingredients and swapping out produce and plucking out new herbs. And then I’d get to the meat section and, oh, wow! Lamb is on sale! I can make Lamb Kabobs! I’d go through the exercise again.
I do consider this game great fun, though highly inefficient and awfully suspicious, especially to the loss-prevention team that eyeballs me every time I pass through.
If you’re looking for food inspiration for your own meals at home, I suggest a more elegant method. Here are some of my favorite Web sites for recipes and meal ideas:
Tastespotting ( www.tastespotting.com) and Food Gawker ( www.foodgawker.com) – People from all over the world upload photos and links to their creations, and only the drool-worthy photos get picked to be featured on this site. It’s like the intersection of food and pornography. If you’re a visual person, these two sites are for you.
Foodbuzz ( www.foodbuzz.com) – One of the best food communities online. You can search for members just in the your area and add them as friends. Want to see the most popular recipes by food bloggers this week? Or maybe find recipes by food bloggers in Argentina? Look here.
Stumble Upon ( www.stumbleupon.com) – If you have a highly addictive personality, do not, I repeat, do not use this browser add-on tool. StumbleUpon is like channel surfing the Internet; each click of the button brings up a different Web page based on your interests and based on viewer feedback. You can rate thumbs up or thumbs down on each page, and the engine will fine-tune the results it sends back to you. There are millions of Web pages out there that are food-related; StumbleUpon helps you discover and rate them. I’ve spent hours clicking through new sites – it’s easy to get lost in all the wonderful food content out there in the World Wide Web.
Some New Finds
I also want to share some new finds on the web – have fun exploring these blogs!
Under The Tuscan Gun: Debi (do you recognize her famous face?) and yumyum huzb Gabriele cook up some sexy Italian.
Use Real Butter You’ve got to make this insanely simple grilled asparagus wrapped in prosciutto from Jen! Technically Jen’s blog isn’t a new find, as I’ve known her since I’ve started blogging, but wanted to give her a shoutout in case you guys haven’t been over to her blog.
Sweet Paul I am so in love with Sweet Paul – I just discovered him via a Marx Foods contest. Not only is he the ONLY person in the world who can make prunes look drop dead gorgeous, but Sweet Paul also has easy decorating ideas for the home.
Vegan Visitor: I’m almost embarrassed that I won the Marx Foods contest because both Sweet Paul and Vegan Visitor totally rock! My fav pic of cauliflower ever in the whole wide world.
Wright Foods: I only have one thing to say. Any man with a temporary tattoo of a pig on his arm is cool with me. Okay, okay, so Matt’s not really a new find either, but just go visit him, will ya? He’s a good friend and has drop dead gorgeous food photography.
Bitchin Kitchen: If Nadia only knew how many times I’ve watched her video podcasts in the past 8 hours, she would think I’m a stalker.
Lamb Kabob with Spicy Mango Chutney and Whipped Feta Recipe
So my inspiration for this recipe came from perusing some luscious photos from Tastespotting.com. One of the pics that caught my eye was of Greek spiced lamb kabobs, and off to the market I went. Fresh Market had a perfectly ripe mango, and I decided to make a salsa or chutney out of it. The week before, Michelle of the Culinary Sherpas brought me to Acropolis Greek Tavern in Ybor City in Tampa, where we both slathered whipped feta spread onto pita bread. And that’s how this meal was born.
International inspiration!
Makes 4 servings.
For the mango chutney:
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/4 red onion, diced
1/2 jalapeno, seeds discarded and finely diced
1 large mango, diced
1/4 cup sugar
4 tablespoons cider vinegar
1/2 teaspoon salt
Heat a small pot over medium-high heat. Add the olive oil and swirl to coat. Add the red onions and saute until softened, about 3 minutes. Add the remaining ingredients and simmer for 15 minutes.
For the whipped feta and pita
6 ounces feta crumbles
1/4 cup plain yogurt
1/4 cup olive oil
Juice of 1/2 lemon
Salt and pepper, to taste
Pita bread
Combine all ingredients except for the pita bread in a blender or food processor and pulse for 15 seconds, until smooth and creamy. Serve with pita bread.
For the lamb kabobs
1 pound ground lamb
1 clove garlic, finely minced
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon fresh lemon zest
1/2 teaspoon salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 tablespoon olive oil, plus extra for brushing on grill
24 bamboo skewers, soaked in water for 20 minutes
Combine all ingredients in a bowl and mix well. Form long “patties” around doubled skewers. You can grill the kabobs on your outdoor grill or in your broiler, 3-4 minutes each side. Make sure you brush the grates with a bit of olive oil so the kabobs do not stick to the grates.
Did you try this recipe? Please leave a star rating in the recipe card below and leave a review in the comment section! I always appreciate your feedback and I know other readers do, too!
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Hi, the whole thing is going nicely here and ofcourse every one is sharing facts,
that’s really good, keep up writing.
I’ve made this recipe three times now – and each time it’s come out fabulous and I’ve gotten such rave reviews on it and I’m finally passing them back to you. This is a super easy, super delicious recipe. Thank you so much for sharing it with us!
Graet website, but i think it is only fair that you COMPLETELY desist from writing on “Indian Food” There is NOTHING called “Indian Food” we have at least 30 different types of cuisine in our country, some common ingredients maybe ( Like Olives are common in Mediterranean region cooking) but otherwise very different in approach, technique and output. May be a good idea to have your recipe section titled as India Inspired – Olive Oil, Feta Cheese, Pita Bread, Oregano… please dont insult a 5000 year old culinary tradition by referring to it as Indian.. India Inspired, your own creativity is fine, calling it Indian is not fine.
You being a total ass on my blog is not fine. The recipe isn’t Indian – it’s Greek. Didn’t you read the post?~jaden
Looking for lamb inspiration with a ton of mangoes sitting on my counter. I’m drooling!
Great looking lamb kebabs. Wonderful clean, well composed food photography too! Lamb is a fav. of mine, and these are something I would make in a heartbeat.
Thanks for the link-love too! you are awesome 😀
Just love thos beautiful lamb kebabs!
Enjoy the Holidays. Merry Chrismas!
Jaden, the kebabs look divine ! Wish you n your family a Merry Christmas and very Happy Holidays !
Merry Xmas dear Jaden, and happy new year, xoxo
i love this recipe… send some over to malaysia will ya? 🙂
merry christmas!
You wanna get inspired by Greek food, go see Peter M’s blog Kalofagas
http://kalofagas.blogspot.com/
Merry Christmas to all!
This lamb kabob looks beautiful. Happy Holidays!
As always, very impressive! This certainly goes against the grain of traditional (Western) Christmas food but that makes it no less welcome; surely a treat for those too full of Turkey!
Jaden, again you inspire me with a lovely post. The picture of the lamb is to die for! Thank you for the links as well, they are freshly added to my reader for future consideration.
I want to take a moment for you and wish you a happy holiday season, and all the best to you and your family. May there be many, many more posts to come. I cannot wait.
Jason Sandeman AKA WellDone!Chef!
yeah! Just like how your blog is also an inspiration to me as well.
Merry Christmas Jaden!! =)
This recipe looks amazing. I am getting a grill for my father for Christmas, I a might include this as the first meal.
beautiful ~ that chutney looks fabulous! I was introduced to mango chutney while in college and have been hooked ever since.
Ms Jaden & family ,
Have a joyly Christmas and a wonderful New Year!!!
……. Love, Sunny & Sidney xxx
On a foggy night in San Francisco, lamb can warm up the appetite.
Your recipe marries sweet notes with a rich protein.
keep writing!
Do you think that using beef would be as good as lamb? I love lamb, but I don’t think the other eater in my house does.
Hi Jaden!
Excellent finding and food inspirations..the recipe is awesome lamb and yogurt yummmm 🙂
If the lamb kabob is addictive the social site stumbleupon is too..in an overall way!
Gera .:. sweetsfoods
Woman, if I am looking for inspiration, I go to Steamy Kitchen!
LOOK delicious! Hey you can go Turkish with that dish as well!
Mmmm, feta. My husband said that my cooking catch phrase should be “Feta makes in better” because I like to put it in practically everything.
WHAT? There are Snickers hidden in the freezer? Oh, I’m so going to invade the freezer and search till I find them. All’s fair in love and the Pursuit of Frozen Snacks!
It is a perfect combo for me! Tks for sharing your new finds!
Your whipped feta reminds me of a spread we make in Bulgaria called Katuk. Blend feta, yogurt, and fresh garlic. More feta=saltier, more yogurt=creamier, more garlic=spicier. Just make sure you’re not kissing anyone afterwards! It’s addictive!
Thanks for all the foodie inspiration!
Awww girlfriend, thanks for the shoutout. You always make the most amazing foods – it’s *dangerous* for me to look at the recipes too closely or else I might not squeeze into my ski pants. Hope you and the boys have an awesome holiday. I look forward to 2009 when you make me snort my juice out my nose from all of the laughing in the mornings. xxoo
Hello, site’s working now! I am so making this for dinner. Michelle took me to Acropolis, too, the whipped Feta is devine. Took a doggie bag on the plane, had to have been torture for anyone that was hungry. Bet they sold out of those little snack boxes right quick 😉
What a great change of pace from the 5 batches of cookies I’ve made in the last 5 days!
What a combination you have here!
I love lamb, feta, mango, and yogurt. Great!!
I have totally been in the mood for Mediterranean food for the last week. I considered doing chicken kabobs, but this looks really good! I even have a chunk of feta in the fridge that needs to get used up. You’re a mind reader. 🙂
Amidst all the holiday flavors, which I am so bored with already, this is a welcomed recipe! It reminds me of the lamb Spiedies we made while I was growing up in New York- yum!
Love the idea of the whipped feta. Yum yum yum! 😀
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