Shami Kebab

 

Part of the Pakistani cuisine, shami kebabis made with minced meat (beef, chicken or mutton/lamb) and split yellow peas(channa dal in Urdu) with an array of grond and whole spices, garlic and ginger paste, salt and choppedonions.  Everything is put in a cooking pot with enough water to cover all ingredients and boiled until water is dry and meat and yellow split peas aretender.  Then the meat mixture is made into a paste on a roller board orsometimes that isn't necessary if you're using meat pieces instead of mincedmeat.  A beaten egg or two and some yogurt are added to the meat paste, itis shaped into rounds and deep fried. 

Briefly, the history of shami kebab is truly interesting.

'Shami' means Syrian and therefore by definition "Shami kebab" means Syrian kebab.  It originates from northern Middle East viz Syria. 

Many Syrians, Lebanese and Palestinians who were connoisseurs of delectable food and had been in the food business as a family profession, migrated to the land of the Mughal Empire in South Asia during the Middle Ages.  During the Mughal era South Asia was a very wealthy region.  The rich led a very high standard of life and paid attractive wages to their employees.  Shami kebab did not originate in South Asia, it was introduced there by the early Arab immigrants.

Shami kebab is a variation of the Middle-Eastern falafel which is made of ground chickpeas, fava beans, herbs, spices and onions. Shami kebab too requires all of these except fava beans which is substituted with minced meat .. and of course herbs and spices may vary to please differing taste buds.   But both are prepared in exactly the same way, finally deep fried, and they are look alikes too. 

Shami kebab (Syrian kebab) is one of Pakistan's many delectable recipies, the land of amazing cuisine and spices.  It was introduced in northern south Asian subcontinent by Syrian cooks during the Muslim Mughal rule starting 16th century.  Mughals were originally Afghans and as mentioned, the land was very prosperous during their reign, in particular, the first 200 years. Many from the Arab world came to seek work here especially at the Mughal court. Syria was well-known for its food industry since the 1500s or earlier. Several Syrians came to work in the huge kitchens of the Mughal palace. They prepared falafel which was greatly liked.  Since meat dishes were especially popular in the royal court, the Syrian cooks decided to prepare a variation of 'falafel' using minced beef. It became very popular in the palace and they named it "Shami kebab" (Syrian kebab).