Lamb Skewers with Minted Yoghurt

Ingredients

• 500g lamb mince
• 2 cloves garlic, crushed
• 1 tsp grated lemon rind
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• pinch of ground cloves or replace with 1/4 tsp smoked paprika
• salt and pepper
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 lebanese cucumber, grated
• 1 cup greek yoghurt
• 2 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 clove garlic, crushed
• 3 tbsp finely chopped fresh mint leaves

Method

1. In a large bowl, mix together lamb mince, garlic, lemon rind, cinnamon, cumin and cloves. Season well with salt and pepper. Roll single tablespoons of the mixture into oval shapes and thread onto small skewers. Gently squeeze mixture onto the skewer to secure.
2. Heat 1 tbsp of the olive oil in a large frying pan over a moderately high heat. Cook lamb skewers, in batches, turning frequently, for 5 minutes, to brown evenly. Drain on paper towel. Add extra olive oil when required for cooking.
3. Place grated cucumber onto sheets of paper towel and squeeze gently to remove any excess moisture. In a bowl, mix together cucumber, yoghurt, lemon juice, garlic and mint. Season well with salt and pepper. Serve lamb skewers with minted yoghurt for dipping.