History of Khaddi Kebab
Khaddi Kebab is a traditional Balochi food in which full lamb is barbecued in an underground space and put fire on the peak of the iron sheet wrapping the trenched space. Rice is also cooked inside the full lamb by well-trained professionals who know the art of cooking this delicious food. It normally weights around 10-12 kg that can be eaten by too many people at a time. The combination of rice and meat makes this dish too much delicious so that it is very hard to resist it.
Authentic
baluchi cuisine is influenced from the cuisine of Afghanistan because they the
area is Pakistan which shared the border with Afghanistan is Baluchistan so
they have impact of Afghani cuisine of our balochi food and when it comes to
the origin of the dish not this specifically but the roasting technique is
introduced by the foreigner at the time of Indian subcontinent because the
Royals of that time like Mughals used to cook their food by roasting technique
like the oven made from clay or mud and after that it influenced by the
technique and that dish is evolved as salted roast.
The culture of
Baluchistan is not just a set of customs and traditions; it is a way of life
that reflects values, hospitality, unity, beliefs, and aspirations. The
Baloch Culture Day is celebrated every year in the first week of March to
commemorate the unique and vibrant cultural heritage. The Baloch people are an
ethnic group that primarily resides in the southwestern parts of Pakistan, as
well as in Iran, Afghanistan, and parts of the Arabian Peninsula.
The aroma of
the mouth-watering dishes will leave you craving for more. The Balochi cuisine
is not just a meal, it’s an experience that will immerse you in their beautiful
culture. This Baloch culture is rich in its traditions, customs, and values. It
is a culture of hospitality, bravery, and respect for elders. Similarly, other
essential aspect of this culture is regional music and dance. In music, people
can feel heartbeat of Baloch culture, the rhythm of history, and the melody of
people’s dreams.
Around three
decades ago, Khadi Kabab started in the Malang Bagh area, located on the
Western outskirt of Quetta. People used to go for picnics to enjoy this
special dish at an orchard with flowing water. Qadir also belongs to Malang’s
family that introduced this dish in Quetta.
With the
growing population and demise of Malang, his siblings shifted to various
commercial areas of the city and continued this family business. Organic goat
and lamb born in various parts of Southern Afghanistan in mountains are
preferably brought here. They are famous for their natural taste.
Locals like
Dunba (lamb) and people from the rest of the country like goat
“Locals like
dunba, whereas, people from Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad prefer goat”, he
said. The goat is slaughtered and then technically divided into large pieces.
Then special spices are used on the kabab to develop its taste. “Then the goat
or lamb is kept for 2 to 3 hours so that the mutton could absorb spices”, he
added.
Ginger,
garlic, red pepper kept in a bucket
Ginger,
garlic, and red pepper are kept in the bucket. It is then mixed with water and
applied to the meat. “Then we put rice in the stomach of the goat and cashew
nuts in the rice and if someone orders biryani spices we also arrange that”, he
said.
First, they
put wood in Tandoor (mud-oven) and burn it for one and one and half
hours and wood becomes coal. Then smoke disappears and then we put meat inside
the Tandoor. So that the flesh does not spoil.
The pit is
filled with wood which is allowed to burn for a couple of hours. The ambers are
then taken out with a shovel and a marinated full lamb, fixed on a huge skewer
rod, is lowered in the hot pit.
The pit is then covered with an iron sheet, allowing only a hole for air, it is
sealed with mud. The ambers are then spread over the iron sheet.
The lamb cooks on slow, flameless heat inside the pit. The taste of khaddi, or
pit, kebab is very different from any other barbeque, a cook explained.
Recipe
1 whole lamb,
cleaned and deboned (except for the legs)
2 cups yogurt
1 cup ghee
2 tbs garlic
paste
2 tbs ginger
paste
2 tbs red
chili powder
2 tbs
coriander powder
1 tbs cumin
powder
1 tbs garam
masala powder
Salt to taste
2 cups finely
chopped onions
1 cup chopped
fresh coriander
1 cup chopped
fresh mint
1 cup chopped green
chilies
1 cup chopped
almonds
1 cup chopped
cashews
1 cup raisins
1 cup dried
apricots
1 cup cooked
basmati rice
Directions
In a mixing
bowl, combine the yogurt, ghee, garlic paste, ginger paste, red chilli powder,
coriander powder, cumin powder, garam masala powder, and salt. Mix well to form
a marinade.
Rub the
marinade all over the lamb, including the cavity.
In a separate
bowl, mix together the onions, fresh coriander, fresh mint, green chilies,
almonds, cashews, raisins, dried apricots, and cooked basmati rice.
Stuff the lamb
cavity with the mixture, packing it in tightly.
Sew the cavity
shut with kitchen twine.
Wrap the lamb
tightly in several layers of aluminum foil.
Heat a large
pot over medium-high heat and add the wrapped lamb.
Cover the pot
with a tight-fitting lid and cook on low heat for about 6-8 hours or until the
lamb is fully cooked and tender.
Carefully
remove the foil from the lamb and place it on a grill or charcoal fire.
Brush the lamb
with ghee and cook on each side for about 10-15 minutes, or until it is well
browned and crispy.
Remove from
the grill and let it rest for about 10-15 minutes before carving and serving.
Serving
This type of
namkeen roast is usually of dry meat with some thick consistency of gravy that
is usually eaten as it is but it is served with a kind of bread like :
Khameeri roti
Tandoori roti
Naan
Paratha etc
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