Persian Shashlik with homemade pita bread

👨‍🍳 Method

For the homemade pita bread ✓ Homemade · or skip – back to store-bought

1. 1
   Mix the flour, yeast, sugar and salt in a large bowl.

   Bowl
2. 2
   Add the lukewarm water and olive oil and Knead about 10 minutes, until the dough is smooth, pliable and doesn't stick to your hands.

   BowlStand mixer

   💡For yeast dough, use the windowpane test: a small piece stretches into a thin, translucent sheet without tearing, and that's the sign the kneading is done. Add flour only by the tablespoon, and only if the dough is still sticky after a few minutes: too much flour makes a tough dough.
3. 3
   Cover and Let rise about an hour in a warm place, until the dough doubles in size.

   Plastic wraporKitchen towel

   💡Let rise in a warm, draft-free spot. The dough is ready when it has doubled, and a gentle finger press leaves a dent that fills back slowly; if it springs right back, wait longer.
4. 4
   Preheat the oven to 250°C (480°F), with an upside-down baking sheet inside, for at least half an hour.

   Oven

   💡Put things in the oven only once it's reached temperature, after the heating light has gone off: an oven that hasn't reached temperature changes baking times, and the bake burns outside or stays underbaked.
5. 5
   Divide the dough into 10 balls and roll each ball into a circle about ½ cm thick.

   Rolling pin

   💡Don't roll too thin: in a round half a centimeter thick or more, the steam in the dough puffs it into a pocket; a round that's too thin dries into a cracker.

   💡Dough that springs back needs rest: cover the balls for 10 minutes and the gluten relaxes.
6. 6
   Cover the rounds with a towel and let rest 15 minutes.

   Kitchen towel
7. 7
   Bake on the hot baking sheet, 3–4 pitas at a time, 3–5 minutes, until the pitas puff into a pocket and take on a little color.

   OvenBaking sheet

   💡Full heat and a scorching-hot baking sheet are what make the pocket: in an oven that isn't hot enough, the pita bakes flat.

   💡Check by the cue (until…), not just the clock: every oven bakes a little differently.
8. 8
   Wrap immediately in a towel, so the pitas stay soft.

   Kitchen towel

For the Meatball mix

1. 9
   Mix the ground meat with the onion, garlic, parsley, cumin, paprika, turmeric, salt and black pepper until evenly combined.
2. 10
   Knead the mixture well, until smooth and sticky.

   💡Kneading binds the meat, and chilling firms it a little: that way the kebab stays on the skewer and doesn't fall apart over the fire.
3. 11
   Chill the mixture 30 minutes.

   Refrigerator
4. 12
   With wet hands, shape the mixture into long logs and thin around skewers.

   Skewers

To assemble

1. 13
   Heat a grill over high heat.

   Charcoal grillorGas grill
2. 14
   Grill the skewers 4–5 minutes per side, until they are browned outside and done to your liking.

   Tongs

   💡Don't press the meat or flip it more than once: the juices run out and the meat dries out. It releases from the grate once the underside is browned.
3. 15
   Serve the skewers on the pitas with the onion and tomatoes and with tahini.