Delicious, succulent Avocado Shami Kababs are an unusual way to eat this healthful veggie. A gluten-free, soy-free and nut-free recipe.
You might also like these recipes for pasta avocado and avocado chickpea salad.
When life gives you avocados and you just don't want more guacamole, try my Avocado Kababs.
Avocados are among my most favorite veggies. After all, what's not to love? They are creamily delicious, packed with healthy goodness, and who can hold a candle to that pretty pale-greenness? But avocados do present a challenge-- other than knowing exactly when to open one, that is. They do not lend themselves to cooking because heat destroys their flavor. And that means you have to find ways to use it up raw: I mostly use mine in salads, soups, pastas, Butternut Squash Soup, and even in raitas and chutneys.
I do have one exception that I've shared with you before on this blog: my Butterless Avocado Brioche, where the avocados replace the butter and get baked into a perfectly flaky, light bread.
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Yesterday, faced with a bag of fast-ripening avocados and wondering what to do with them, I was hit with inspiration. I made my Avocado Kababs pretty much as one would make traditional vegetarian shami kababs, using a lentil base. And I kept the cooking to a minimum by pan-frying them over medium-high heat to give them a perfectly golden, crispy crust. That way the center remained creamy and gorgeous and flavorful. Perfect.
I like to think of this recipe as a unique blend of Indian and Mexican flavors: there are a number of traditional Indian spices here, but an equal-credit star is the smoky-hot chipotle chili in adobo sauce.
Gotta go now, but not before I share the recipe. Enjoy your Friday, all! I think it's the best day of the week, don't you?
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Recipe card
Avocado Shami Kababs
Ingredients
- 1 ripe avocado , mashed
- ½ cup chana dal (bengal gram dal)
- 1 bay leaf
- 3 cloves
- 2 green cardamom pods
- 1-inch piece cinnamon
- 1 chipotle chili in adobo sauce (with 1 tablespoon of the adobo sauce they are packed in. Adjust up or down based on your spicy-hot preference.)
- 1 teaspoon ground coriander
- ¼ cup cilantro
- 2 tablespoon chickpea flour (besan)
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- Salt to taste
- Cooking spray (or vegetable oil to brush the skillet)
For serving
- Coconut chutney
Instructions
- Place the chana dal, bay leaf, cloves, cardamom and cinnamon in a saucepan and cover with water. Bring it to a boil and then lower the heat and allow it to simmer about 40 minutes or until almost tender. Turn off the heat and drain.
- Place the chana dal in a food processor and process until you have a pretty fine powder. Add the avocado and process together until everything comes together.
- Remove the mixture to a bowl and add the coriander powder, chopped chipotle chili and sauce, cornflour and chickpea flour. Mix thoroughly. You should have a mixture that holds together. If it is still too soft, you can add more chickpea flour.
- Shape the mixture into tiny patties, about ¾ of an inch in diameter.
- Spray oil on a cast-iron or non-stick griddle and heat.
- Place the kabobs one at a time, with a little distance between each, on the griddle.
- Cook over medium-high heat about a minute on each side or until golden-brown. Everything is already cooked, so you don't need to cook this-- all you want is that crisp crust.
Nutrition Information
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Rod
Yum! I misread the recipe and used moong dal but it was still really delicious. I had to make my own adobo sauce and, I know this is a vegan site, but I had it for breakfast with a fried egg on top. I'm definitely going to make again with chana dal!
Rod
Paro
Hi. The kebabs look yum! Can this be made without a food processor? Can we mash and combine with no water? Thanks
Vaishali
Hi, yes definitely but the dal needs to be nicely mashed. Don’t use water and be sure to drain any cooking water from the chana dal before using.
Brenda Ginsberg
Hi, I found this when looking for something great for when my vegan aunt comes to visit and hope to try it next week. I have one problem: she does not use any kind of oil (not even olive oil). Any idea how to get around that one? Thanks so much.
Brenda
Komal
Hey Vaishali!I am a big fan of your blog and follow you on Instagram. I just had a quick question. In Step 2, you say "Place the chana dal in a food processor and process until you have a pretty fine powder." Did you mean fine paste, since you cook the channa dal in Step 1?
Thank you again for the wonderful vegan recipes
Vaishali
Hi Komal, yes, the cooked chana dal with the other ingredients it was cooked with. Don't let the dal turn mushy, and drain out any excess water because you don't want a pasty mixture, but a powdery consistency.
DEEPS
Dis is my all time favorite kababs... I oan fried dem, bake dem, grill dem... Ne way dey tasty delicious! Awesome recipe...
Rafal
The lemon and oregano sets these kebobs off nicely. I used a combination of zucchini, yellow squash, mushrooms and red onion. Served this with grilled corn on the cob and Spinach & Roquefort Salad recipe Delicioius!
Shweta
Avocado kebabs look awesome. Wondering if we can use thai chilies or maybe soaked dried red chilies instead of the chipotle chili in adobo sauce?
Vaishali
Hi Shweta, yes, you can definitely sub regular dry chillies. Add to taste.