Shish kebab

A must-have in any Eid spread, shish kebab is made with a spicy meat mixture threaded on a skewer and cooked over an open fire. Variants of this delicacy are found throughout the Middle East, the Balkans and the Caucasus — and, according to Paradise Restaurant owner Salah Mohammed, it is also an Indian favourite. This is his version:

Ingredients

1 tsp salt

1 tsp red chilli powder

½ tsp garam masala

4 pinches of cinnamon powder 4 pinches of China salt or

monosodium glutamate (MSG) 5 pinches of chaat masala 1 green chilli, chopped

1 bunch of coriander,

chopped

1 bunch of fresh parsley,

chopped

2 cloves of garlic, crushed 2 pinches of red food colouring 1 lemon, juiced

½ tsp ginger

1 egg

1 kg minced lamb

METHOD

Mix all the ingredients into a bowl and ensure they are combined well. Marinate for at least an hour. The mixture could even be left in the refrigerator overnight. Thread the meat on to skewers, leaving enough space on one end to allow ease of turning the skewers. Preheat the barbecue or grill pan to medium-high heat. Add the meat when the grill is hot but not smoking. Cook for about five minutes per side, until each side is brown.

Other dishes to celebrate Eid-ul-fitr at Paradise Indian Restaurant:

KADAI GOSHT A Mughlai dish of rich mutton curry made by slow-cooking lamb on-bone pieces with tomatoes, onion, garlic and garam masala.

BIRYANI No Eid spread is complete without biryani, especially in Hyderabad. The fragrant rice dish is layered with favourite meats that usually include chicken, lamb or goat.

HALEEM A popular Iftar staple, haleem is a rich mutton stew made with coarsely pounded meat. The dish is slowcooked for seven to eight hours and vigorously stirred with a stirring stick.

SHEER KHURMA A must-have sweet treat for Eid, this wholesome sweet milk pudding and vermicelli is topped with nuts and raisins.