Lamb Skewers with Spicy Yogurt Dressing Sometimes the best recipes also have the most interesting stories. The Lamb Skewers with Spicy Yogurt Dressing from Oberon are based on a family recipe given to owner and host Zoran Matulic by his mother, who lives in the coastal town of Split in what is now Croatia. This recipe has it all: The lamb skewers are easy to assemble ahead and are perfect for outdoor grilling. The ground lamb mixture is stirred together the day before and allowed to rest. The chile-mint yogurt sauce can also be made ahead to blend the flavors, or it can be made at the last minute, depending on the cook's schedule. When it's time to serve, the host only needs to form the meat into logs, thread the skewers and quickly cook the meat. The combination of sweet onions, scallions, and garlic bring out a sweet intensity in the lamb. This is one of the best dishes served at Oberon, which has accents of Middle Eastern, French, and Italian cooking. Lamb 1 tablespoon olive oil 2 medium yellow onions, finely diced (about 1½ cups) 1 pound ground lamb 2 scallions (white part only), minced 2 garlic cloves, minced 1 tablespoon minced fresh mint 1½ teaspoons salt ½ teaspoon ground pepper 16 wooden skewers 1 cup Spicy Yogurt Dressing (recipe follows) Spicy Yogurt Dressing 2 cups plain yogurt ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh mint Salt and pepper To cook the lamb: The day before serving, heat the olive oil in a sauté pan over low heat. Add the onions and cook slowly until translucent, about 30 minutes. Drain any excess oil. Break the ground lamb up into a bowl. Add the onions, scallions, garlic, mint, salt, and pepper. Mix well. Cover and refrigerate overnight. When ready to serve, soak 16 six-inch wooden skewers in water for 30 minutes. (This helps prevent the skewers from burning on the grill.) Preheat a grill (high heat). Divide the lamb mixture into 16 equal pieces. Shape each piece into a 1-inch diameter log, approximately 3-inches long. Thread each piece lengthwise onto a skewer. Grill lamb to medium rare, turning once, about 5 minutes. Serve with Spicy Yogurt Dressing. Serves 4. To make the dressing: Mix the yogurt, cayenne, and mint in a small bowl. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve at room temperature with the lamb skewers. From "The Secrets of Success Cookbook — Signature Recipes and Insider Tips from San Francisco's Best Restaurants" by Michael Bauer middle eastern recipe index christina m k al-sudairy buy the book!