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Meat, Italy

Arrosticini lamb skewers with tomato salad

Arrosticini are small lamb skewers from the Abruzzo region, served here with a tomato salad and toasted bread, for 4 people in 35 minutes. It's a very easy recipe, around €4 per serving. The key is cutting the lamb into small cubes and not overcooking it, so it stays tender and juicy.

Tonight, arrosticini, those little lamb skewers from the Abruzzo region, with bread and a tomato salad.

Arrosticini lamb skewers with tomato salad
Total time
35 min
Difficulty
Very easy
Cost per person
€4.00
Calories per person
640 kcalcalculated by Kiloach, your weight coach
Season
Summer, Spring
The kids
They generally like it

Lamb cut into small cubes grills in just a few minutes, staying tender inside with a lightly caramelized crust outside. The bit of fat you keep on the meat melts during cooking and keeps the skewers juicy, no complicated marinade needed. Alongside, the tomato and red onion salad brings freshness and a touch of acidity that balances the grilled meat nicely.

This is the kind of dinner you throw together on a weeknight in summer or spring, when tomatoes are good and you don't want to spend hours at the stove. Kids love eating the little lamb cubes straight off the skewer, and everyone digs into the salad and toasted bread sitting in the middle of the table.

The ingredients

4 people

Butcher

  • Lamb shoulder 700 g

Pantry

  • Wooden skewersoften in the pantry 20
  • Olive oiloften in the pantry 4 tbsp
  • Balsamic vinegaroften in the pantry 1 tbsp
  • Fleur de seloften in the pantry 1 pinch
  • Saltoften in the pantry 1 pinch
  • Pepperoften in the pantry 1 pinch

Fruits and vegetables

  • Tomatoes 6
  • Red onion 1
  • Basil 6 sprigs

Bakery

  • Country bread 8 slices

Allergens Gluten

The step by step recipe

  1. Soak the wooden skewers in cold water, cut the lamb into small cubes keeping a bit of fat.

    Keep a little fat, it keeps the skewers juicy.

  2. Thread the lamb cubes onto the skewers, packing them tightly, and rub them with oil.

    Pack the cubes tightly, they hold together better while cooking.

  3. Make the salad with the tomatoes cut into wedges, the sliced red onion, basil, oil and balsamic vinegar. 10 min

    Salt the tomatoes ten minutes ahead, they release their juice.

  4. Grill the skewers in a very hot skillet or on the grill, two minutes per side. 8 min

    Turn the skewers only once, they brown better that way.

  5. Serve with the salad, a pinch of fleur de sel and the toasted bread.

    Eat the skewers while hot, they toughen as they cool.

Our tips to get it right

  • Pick a lamb shoulder that isn't too lean, a bit of fat between the cubes keeps the skewers from drying out on the grill.
  • If you're cooking in a skillet, use a cast iron or heavy bottomed one, it gets hotter and sears the meat better.
  • Thread all the skewers before you turn on the heat, cooking goes fast and you won't have time to assemble more between batches.

The variations

  • Swap the lamb for cubed pork, the flavor changes but the texture stays similar.
  • For a vegetarian version, thread halloumi or white mushroom cubes onto the skewers, two minutes on the grill is enough.
  • For kids in a hurry, serve the meat already off the skewers, in shorter chicken skewers instead, easier to eat.

What to serve it with

  • Toasted country bread for scooping
  • A glass of light red wine
  • Cold sparkling water

Storage

Cooked skewers keep for 2 days in the fridge in a sealed container. The tomato salad doesn't keep, it releases too much water by the next day. Reheat the lamb quickly in a skillet, just to warm it through, otherwise it toughens up.

Questions about this dish

Can you cook arrosticini in the oven instead of a skillet or grill?

Yes, place the skewers under the broiler for a few minutes per side. Watch them closely, they cook faster than you'd expect since the cubes are so small.

Do you really need to soak the wooden skewers?

Yes, ten minutes in cold water is enough to keep them from burning during cooking. It's a quick step worth not skipping.

Can you prepare the skewers ahead of time?

You can thread the lamb onto the skewers a few hours ahead and keep them in the fridge. Take them out a bit before cooking so the meat isn't too cold.

What cut of lamb works if you can't find shoulder?

Leg of lamb works too, but it's leaner, so keep a bit of extra fat elsewhere in the recipe. Shoulder stays the juiciest choice for this kind of skewer.

How long does it take to make arrosticini lamb skewers with tomato salad?

Count 35 min in total, prep and cooking included. The recipe is rated “very easy”.

How many calories are in arrosticini lamb skewers with tomato salad?

About 640 kcal per serving, for a recipe meant for 4 people. Calories are calculated by Kiloach, your weight coach, the app that partners with Mon Chou.

How much does arrosticini lamb skewers with tomato salad cost?

About €4.00 per serving, or €16.00 for 4 people, based on average supermarket prices.

What allergens does this recipe contain?

This recipe contains gluten. Always check the labels of the products you buy.

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