Curried Beef Skewers with Lime Mint Yogurt

Curried Beef Skewers with Lime Mint Yogurt
On the street corners of the world, ground beef is grilled in many ways—juicy hamburger patties, spicy seasoned tacos, even hand-formed skewers. For cooks all over the globe, ground beef is dressed up with local aromatic flavours. I enjoyed this favourite on my first trip to Greece.
Serves 4

Ingredients:
1 egg
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon (15 mL) dried oregano
1 tablespoon (15 mL) curry powder
1 tablespoon (15 mL) tomato paste
1 pound (500 g) ground beef chuck
A sprinkle or two of salt and lots of freshly ground pepper
Olive oil for drizzling

Dipping Sauce:
The zest and juice of 1 lime
1/2 cup (125 mL) plain yogurt
1/2 cup (125 mL) finely chopped fresh mint

Directions:
1. Soak 8 long wooden skewers in a bowl of water for an hour or so. Prepare and preheat your grill to its highest setting.
2. In a medium bowl, gently whisk together the egg, garlic, oregano, curry powder, and tomato paste. Add the ground meat and lightly season it to your taste with salt and pepper. Mix everything together quickly and efficiently with your hands. Divide the mixture into 8 parts and carefully form each portion into a thick cigar shape around the top 6 inches (15 cm) or so of a wooden skewer. Drizzle the skewers with olive oil and reserve on a platter.
3. Stir the lime zest, lime juice, yogurt, and mint together to make a simple dipping sauce. Grill the skewers, turning frequently, until they’re nicely browned, juicy, and tender, 6 to 8 minutes. Serve and share with the dipping sauce.

Tip:
It’s best to avoid overmixing the ground meat—its texture is best when it remains a bit coarse. The structure of cooked ground beef is very strong, so it easily absorbs many creative ingredients and flavours. As with any ground meat, though, if the meat is accidentally overcooked, the oven or grill’s heat will first squeeze out all its juicy, flavourful moisture before the protein structure literally breaks down and crumbles into oblivion.