Testi Kebap is a meat and vegetable dish slow cooked in a sealed clay pot. Testi Kebap or Earthenware-jug kebab – is a dish from Central Anatolia and the Mid-Western Black Sea region, consisting of a mixture of meat and vegetables cooked in a clay pot or jug over fire (testi means jug in Turkish). I had this dish at a Turkish restaurant and was just simply amazed with the theatrical presentation of this dish. The waiter actually cooks it on hot fire and breaks the top of the sealed jug and pours the Testi Kebap in your platter. The original dish just like the other Turkish dishes is not heavily spiced like our Desi dishes. So hence I thought of reinventing this dish with our Desi spices to give it an extra kick. This is quite a healthy dish as it is steamed and doesn't use much oil.Do give this dish a try and believe me it is worth investing in some claypots. Once you are familiar with claypot cooking you would want to cook every dish in it as it enhances the flavour of any dish.You can also slow-cook this dish on the stove if you don't want to bake it.
OilAs required for oiling the Claypot and just pour about 1tbsp oil over the assembled ingredients just before covering the Claypot
2TomatoesDe-seeded and cut in cubes
1CapsicumCut in cubes
1OnionCut in cubes
2tbspCorrianderFinely chopped
1cupFlourMix with water and form a dough
Marination Ingredients
1tbspGinger & Garlic Paste
1tbspLemon Juice
1tspRed Chilli FlakesIf you want it spicy, use 1tbsp of Red Chilli Flakes
1tspKashmiri Red Chilli Powder
1.5tspPaprika Powder1/2 tsp keep aside for seasoning the vegetables
1tspChaat Masala
1tspRoasted Cumin Powder
1/2cupYogurt
SaltAccording to taste
Instructions
Marinate the Chicken with all the spices, yogurt and lemon juice for about 1 hour
In the meanwhile soak your Claypot dish in water for about an hour if you are using it in the oven. This will help in bringing moisture to the inner surface of the pot, allowing the food to steam while cooking instead of drying out. Usually in a baking dish the food tends to dry out,
Season the vegetables with paprika powder and salt and mix them all together
Pre-heat your oven for about 10 minutes before putting in your Test Kebap
Assembly of the Testi Kebap
Watch the video for Assembly of the Testi Kebap.
Baking Instructions
If you have a small claypot bake it in the oven after assembling it for 30-45 minutes
If you have a medium to large claypot bake it in the oven for an 60-75 minutes
You can also slow-cook this dish on the stove if you don't want to bake it, just add another 15 minutes to the baking time mentioned above.
Covering the Claypot
Roll the dough flat like a roti and cover Claypot completely without leaving air-holes
Once the Claypot is covered with the dough, just make two holes in it with a tooth pick or stick to allow some steam to let out during baking
Serving Instructions
Testi Kebap can be served with rice, brown rice or quinoa. You can also serve it with chapati