Armenian Spiced Lamb Brochettes on Nutty Rice Pilaf

Cayenne-Infused Meat Marinade:
1 teaspoon cumin seeds
1/3 cup olive oil
2 tablespoons lemon juice, fresh preferred
1 tablespoon soy sauce
2 tablespoons dry sherry
1 cup finely chopped onion
3 tablespoons finely chopped parsley
1 tablespoon finely chopped ginger
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 teaspoons ground cayenne chile
1 teaspoon ground paprika
2 teaspoons fresh oregano
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
Freshly ground black pepper

The Brochettes:
1 1/2 pounds boneless lamb, cut into 1 to1 1/2-inch cubes
1 large bell pepper, stem and seeds removed, cut in 1 1/2-inch squares
1 small onion, cut in 1 1/2-inch squares
12 cherry tomatoes
12 cremini mushrooms, stems removed

Nutty Rice Pilaf:
1/8 teaspoon saffron
2 tablespoons water
3 tablespoons blanched almonds
3 tablespoons pistachio nuts
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 cup vermicelli, broken into 1-inch pieces
1 cup long-grain rice
1/2 teaspoon ground cayenne
2 1/2 cups chicken or beef broth
2 teaspoons Cayenne-Infused Meat Marinade, above

To make the marinade, toast the cumin seeds on a dry skillet until fragrant, taking care that they don't burn. Remove, cool and crush. Place all the ingredients for the marinade in a blender or food processor and puree until smooth. Season with salt and pepper. Reserve 2 teaspoons of the marinade for the rice. Transfer the marinade to a bowl, add the lamb, toss well to coat, cover, and marinate overnight in the refrigerator, turning occasionally.

To make the pilaf, pour 2 tablespoons of boiling water over the saffron in a cup and let sit for 20 minutes. In a skillet, lightly fry the nuts in the oil, stirring constantly, for 2 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon and reserve. Turn heat to low, add the vermicelli to the pan and cook, stirring constantly, until lightly browned, about 2 minutes. Add the rice and stir to coat and sauté for a couple of minutes or until the kernels are opaque, about 3 minutes.

Heat the broth along with the cayenne to boiling and pour over rice mixture. Bring back up to a boil while stirring. Reduce the heat to low, and simmer covered until the rice is done, about 20 minutes. Fluff with a fork before serving, and add nuts. It also can be baked, covered in a 325 degree F oven for 40 minutes.

To make the brochettes, blanch the bell pepper and the onions in boiling water for 2 minutes, remove run under cold water and drain. Remove the lamb from the marinade and place the marinade in a sauce pan and simmer for 20 minutes. Thread the meat on skewers, alternating with the pepper, onion, tomatoes and mushrooms. Brush with the reserved marinade.

Grill over a medium-hot fire until medium rare, about 15 minutes. Baste occasionally with the marinade. Cut a sample of the meat to check for doneness, and remove when a little under done.

Serve with the discard ingredients served over the rice accompanied by a sauce, or make a 1/2 batch of marinade and thicken it slightly with cornstarch.

No matter how you spell it, shisk kabob or sis kebabi, this robust specialty features skewered chunks of meat and onions marinated in oil and spices and then grilled over an open flame. The technique apparently originated in the Caucasus and then spread southward to Mediterranean countries. Serve with a salad of tossed greens, ripe olives, and feta cheese and for dessert, baklava and Turkish coffee.

Yield: 4 to 6 servings