{"id":32533,"date":"2022-10-07T14:28:16","date_gmt":"2022-10-07T18:28:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/omnivorescookbook.com\/?p=32533"},"modified":"2024-09-01T12:04:22","modified_gmt":"2024-09-01T16:04:22","slug":"air-fryer-lamb-skewers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/omnivorescookbook.com\/air-fryer-lamb-skewers\/","title":{"rendered":"Air fryer Lamb Skewers (\u7f8a\u8089\u4e32\u513f)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Make authentic Chinese lamb skewers using an air fryer to create perfectly charred lamb pieces that are juicy and seasoned with a bold savory spice mix. The dish takes no time to put together and it\u2019s so fun to eat either as an appetizer, a snack, or a part of the main course of your grilling party! {Gluten-Free adaptable}<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Air<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Chinese lamb skewers, or chuar (\u4e32\u513f), originally came from Xinjiang, the largest region in the northwest of China. It has become an iconic street snack in Northern China and I considered it a hometown food growing up in Beijing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Xinjiang lamb skewers are similar to Middle Eastern style lamb kebabs, but vary in the size of the cut and the way they\u2019re seasoned. The most common type you\u2019ll find in Beijing are the smaller skewers. For a dinner for two, it\u2019s not strange that they\u2019d start by ordering a few dozen skewers paired with cold beer. The skewers are marinated with a rich savory sauce and aromatics, then heavily seasoned with cumin powder and Chinese chili powder while on the grill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019ve shared the grilled version of the lamb skewers<\/a> in the past. Today I can\u2019t wait to share this air fryer version, which is super easy to prepare, takes no time to cook, and lets you enjoy the lamb skewers throughout the year without a grill!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Air fryer lamb skewer ingredients <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

What cut of lamb to use<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Chinese street vendors usually use a combination of lean and fat pieces. The lean pieces are larger, with smaller fat pieces in between. The lamb fat will mostly melt away during grilling and become crispy brown bits. The combination of grilled lamb meat with fat tastes even better than crispy bacon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I found lamb leg is the best cut to make air fryer lamb skewers. You can either use a boneless cut or a bone-in one. You can choose to trim off the fat part and thread it between the pieces of lean meat on the skewer. If you do not like fatty cuts, it\u2019s also OK to skip the fat pieces in between. However, I do prefer to leave a very thin layer of fat on the lean lamb meat, which keeps the skewers juicy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Marinating ingredients <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

You should always marinate the lamb before air frying, which makes the skewers burst with flavor. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The marinating ingredients are quite simple and you probably already have most of them in your pantry, including soy sauce, cumin powder, and chili flakes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shaoxing wine<\/a> is an ingredient that was not originally used in Xinjiang lamb skewers, since they are supposed to be halal. But when the food got popular and spread all over Northern China, we preferred to use a little wine to add richness to the flavor. Plus, the wine also masks the gaminess of the lamb. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sichuan peppercorn<\/a> is another optional ingredient that adds a lot of umami to the dish. Replace it with black pepper if you do not have Sichuan peppercorns on hand. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to make air fryer lamb skewers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Making air fryer lamb skewers is super easy. All you need to do is:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  1. Soak the skewers so they won\u2019t burn in the air fryer<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Marinate the lamb at room temperature for 30 minutes<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Thread the lamb pieces onto the skewers<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Air fry for 10 minutes, rotating them halfway through<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    \"Air<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    NOTE: to make the authentic tasting Xinjiang lamb skewers, you should heavily sprinkle cumin and chili flakes during the air frying process. I recommend sprinkling both at least once halfway through the cooking. You can sprinkle a bit more towards the end, when there\u2019s only 1 to 2 minutes left.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    How to serve and store air fryer lamb skewers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    The lamb skewers taste the best when they\u2019re just cooked and still piping hot. You can serve them as an appetizer, a snack, or one of the main courses. Although we usually snack on the skewers by themselves at a restaurant, it\u2019s totally OK to serve them on the side or serve them as a main course. Steamed rice, a bed of hummus and a green salad are all perfect options for sides.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    If you have leftover lamb skewers, simply reheat them in the air fryer at 350\u00b0F (176\u00b0C) until warmed throughout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"Homemade<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    More delicious air fryer recipes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n