{"id":"iskender_kebap_96730637fd","slug":"iskender-kebap-turkish-alexander-kebab","title":"İskender Kebap (Turkish Alexander Kebab)","description":"A world-renowned Turkish classic from Bursa featuring succulent, thinly sliced lamb or beef served over a bed of warm pide bread, drizzled with a tangy tomato sauce and finished with a dramatic pour of sizzling melted butter.","serves":4,"time":{"prepMinutes":20,"cookMinutes":25,"totalMinutes":45,"activeMinutes":30},"ingredients":[{"id":"ingredient-1","original":"600g lamb or beef (thinly sliced like döner)","name":"Lamb","quantity":600,"unit":"g","usQuantity":1.3,"usUnit":"lb","form":"thinly sliced","notes":"Or a mix of both beef and lamb","group":"Meat","optional":false},{"id":"ingredient-2","original":"2 large pide breads (pitta or flatbread)","name":"Pide bread","quantity":2,"unit":"piece","usQuantity":2,"usUnit":"piece","form":"cubed","notes":"Turkish pide bread is preferred","group":"Base","optional":false},{"id":"ingredient-3","original":"150g unsalted butter","name":"Butter","quantity":150,"unit":"g","usQuantity":5.3,"usUnit":"oz","form":"melted","notes":"Divided for sauce and topping","group":"Fat","optional":false},{"id":"ingredient-4","original":"2 tbsp tomato paste","name":"Tomato Paste","quantity":30,"unit":"g","usQuantity":2,"usUnit":"tbsp","form":"concentrated","notes":"Can use a mix of pepper paste and tomato paste","group":"Sauce","optional":false},{"id":"ingredient-5","original":"1 cup hot water","name":"Hot Water","quantity":240,"unit":"ml","usQuantity":"1","usUnit":"cup","form":"hot","notes":"","group":"Sauce","optional":false},{"id":"ingredient-6","original":"400g thick Greek yogurt","name":"Greek Yogurt","quantity":400,"unit":"g","usQuantity":14.1,"usUnit":"oz","form":"thick/strained","notes":"Served on the side","group":"Side","optional":false},{"id":"ingredient-7","original":"4 green long peppers","name":"Green Pepper","quantity":4,"unit":"piece","usQuantity":4,"usUnit":"piece","form":"whole","notes":"Grilled for garnish","group":"Garnish","optional":true},{"id":"ingredient-8","original":"2 tomatoes","name":"Tomato","quantity":2,"unit":"piece","usQuantity":2,"usUnit":"piece","form":"sliced","notes":"Grilled for garnish","group":"Garnish","optional":true},{"id":"ingredient-9","original":"Salt to taste","name":"Salt","quantity":2,"unit":"g","usQuantity":0.07,"usUnit":"oz","form":"fine","notes":"approx 1/2 tsp","group":"Seasoning","optional":false}],"instructions":[{"id":"instruction-1","text":"Heat a small amount of butter (about 30g/1 oz) in a saucepan. Add the tomato paste and sauté for 2 minutes until fragrant. Pour in the hot water, add salt to taste, and simmer for 5-7 minutes until the sauce slightly thickens.","group":"Tomato Sauce","title":"Heat a small amount of butter","timerMinutes":7,"sourceTitle":"Tomato Sauce"},{"id":"instruction-2","text":"Cut the pide bread into small 1-inch squares. Spread them on a baking tray and warm in a preheated oven at 350°F (177°C) for 5-8 minutes until they are slightly toasted but still soft inside.","group":"Bread Base","title":"Cut the pide bread","timerMinutes":8,"sourceTitle":"Bread Base"},{"id":"instruction-3","text":"While bread is warming, grill or pan-sear the whole green peppers and tomato wedges until they have char marks. Set aside.","group":"Garnish","title":"While bread is warming","timerMinutes":null,"sourceTitle":"Garnish"},{"id":"instruction-4","text":"In a large skillet over high heat, sear the thinly sliced meat until fully cooked and slightly browned. Season with a pinch of salt and pepper.","group":"Meat Preparation","title":"In a large skillet","timerMinutes":5,"sourceTitle":"Meat Preparation"},{"id":"instruction-5","text":"To assemble, place a layer of warm pide squares on a large serving plate. Pour half of the hot tomato sauce over the bread. Place the seared meat over the sauce-soaked bread.","group":"Assembly","title":"To assemble, place a layer of warm pide squares","timerMinutes":null,"sourceTitle":"Assembly"},{"id":"instruction-6","text":"Place a generous dollop (about 100g) of thick yogurt on the side of the plate. Garnish with the grilled peppers and tomatoes.","group":"Assembly","title":"Place a generous dollop of thick yogurt","timerMinutes":null,"sourceTitle":"Assembly"},{"id":"instruction-7","text":"In a small pan, melt the remaining butter (approx 80-100g) until it is foaming and very hot. Pour the sizzling butter directly over the meat at the table for an authentic experience.","group":"The Finish","title":"In a small pan, melt the remaining butter","timerMinutes":null,"sourceTitle":"The Finish"}],"notes":"For the most authentic flavor, use a mix of lamb and beef. Traditionally, this is made with döner meat, but thinly sliced ribeye or lamb leg works perfectly at home. Use a thick, strained yogurt (Greek style) for the side to provide the best contrast to the hot meat.","cuisine":{"group":"Mediterranean","specific":["Turkish"]},"course":["main"],"cookingMethod":["sear","boil","bake"],"equipment":["Large skillet","Saucepan","Baking tray","Small butter pan"],"diet":["high_protein","mediterranean"],"allergens":["milk","gluten","wheat"],"difficulty":"medium","yield":{"amount":4,"unit":"servings","note":"A generous main course for four adults"},"makeAhead":{"instructions":"The tomato sauce can be made 2 days in advance and reheated. The meat is best cooked fresh."},"storage":{"food":{"instructions":"Store leftover meat and sauce separately. Pide bread will become soggy once sauce is added, so it's best to assemble only what will be eaten immediately.","reheatingNotes":"Reheat meat and sauce in separate pans. Warm bread in the oven."}},"image":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/ezdish-prod.firebasestorage.app/o/public_recipes%2Fiskender_kebap_96730637fd%2Fcover.jpg?alt=media&token=62fdfe74-1a50-4f0e-8564-ba91009c1ca6","imageAlt":"İskender Kebap (Turkish Alexander Kebab) — recipe cover","aiGenerated":true,"publishedAt":"2026-10-10","updatedAt":"2026-10-11","sourceUrl":"","tags":["iskender","kebab","turkish","meat","lamb","dinner","traditional","bursa"],"schemaVersion":1,"sourceTitle":"İskender Kebap (Turkish Alexander Kebab)","sourcePublishedAt":"2026-02-04T01:47:30.864Z","sourceUpdatedAt":"2026-02-04T01:47:30.864Z","related":[{"id":"recipe_93cd8cc1d5","slug":"foul-mudammas-egyptian-b0a2d1a5","title":"Quick Foul Mudammas with Canned Fava Beans","description":"A traditional Egyptian and Mediterranean breakfast staple made from slow-cooked fava beans, seasoned with garlic, lemon, and high-quality olive oil.","serves":2,"time":{"prepMinutes":5,"cookMinutes":15,"totalMinutes":20,"activeMinutes":10},"cuisine":{"group":"Mediterranean","specific":["Egyptian"]},"course":["main"],"difficulty":"easy","diet":["vegan","vegetarian","mediterranean","high_protein","gluten_free","dairy_free"],"image":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/ezdish-prod.firebasestorage.app/o/public_recipes%2Frecipe_93cd8cc1d5%2Fcover.jpg?alt=media&token=5f51ba9c-cd23-448e-9c6a-c10cf077e07d","imageAlt":"Quick Foul Mudammas with Canned Fava Beans — recipe cover","tags":["fava beans","egyptian breakfast","healthy","high protein","vegan"],"aiGenerated":true,"publishedAt":"2026-10-10","updatedAt":"2026-10-11","ingredientCount":7,"stepCount":4},{"id":"recipe_e90a4fd311","slug":"kagianas","title":"Kagianas","description":"A traditional Greek breakfast delight featuring vine-ripened tomatoes and creamy feta cheese scrambled with fresh eggs for a Mediterranean start to your day.","serves":2,"time":{"prepMinutes":5,"cookMinutes":15,"totalMinutes":20,"activeMinutes":15},"cuisine":{"group":"Mediterranean","specific":["Greek"]},"course":["main"],"difficulty":"easy","diet":["vegetarian","gluten_free","high_protein"],"image":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/ezdish-prod.firebasestorage.app/o/public_recipes%2Frecipe_e90a4fd311%2Fcover.jpg?alt=media&token=b290bd3d-1e1d-42f8-8a20-bcfda19a5c6e","imageAlt":"Kagianas — recipe cover","tags":["eggs","tomato","feta","greek","mediterranean","healthy","quick"],"aiGenerated":true,"publishedAt":"2026-10-10","updatedAt":"2026-10-11","ingredientCount":7,"stepCount":6},{"id":"menemen_a62c2fd7c2","slug":"menemen","title":"Menemen","description":"A classic Turkish breakfast dish consisting of eggs, tomatoes, and green peppers, traditionally served in a metal skillet with crusty bread.","serves":2,"time":{"prepMinutes":5,"cookMinutes":15,"totalMinutes":20,"activeMinutes":20},"cuisine":{"group":"Mediterranean","specific":["Turkish"]},"course":["main"],"difficulty":"easy","diet":["vegetarian","low_carb","gluten_free","mediterranean"],"image":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/ezdish-prod.firebasestorage.app/o/public_recipes%2Fmenemen_a62c2fd7c2%2Fcover.jpg?alt=media&token=e9e71400-16af-40b7-bac9-bd5fd60261a7","imageAlt":"Menemen — recipe cover","tags":["turkish breakfast","eggs","tomatoes","vegetarian","healthy","quick"],"aiGenerated":true,"publishedAt":"2026-10-10","updatedAt":"2026-10-11","ingredientCount":7,"stepCount":5}]}