- Prep time25 mins
- Cook time20 mins
- Servings4 (about 10 kebabs)
- DifficultyMedium
- CategoryDesi
Chapli kebabs are the opposite of smooth, uniform patties — they are supposed to be rough, craggy and studded with visible bits of tomato, onion and chili. The name comes from "chapli," meaning flat, and the Peshawari original uses beef minced coarse, anardana (dried pomegranate seeds) for tang, and a whole tomato slice pressed into each patty before it hits the pan. Shallow-fried in a generous slick of oil, they emerge crisp-edged and juicy.
Ingredients
- 600 g (1.3 lb) beef mince (20 percent fat, coarsely ground)
- 1 large tomato, finely chopped, plus 1 sliced into rounds
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped and squeezed dry
- 2 green chilies, finely chopped
- 1/4 cup fresh coriander leaves, chopped
- 2 tbsp crushed anardana (dried pomegranate seeds)
- 1 tbsp crushed coriander seeds
- 1 tsp crushed cumin seeds
- 1 tsp red chili flakes
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 egg, beaten
- 2 tbsp chickpea flour (besan)
- 1/2 cup (120 ml) oil, for shallow frying
Method
- Combine the mince with the chopped tomato, onion, green chilies, coriander, anardana, crushed coriander and cumin, chili flakes and salt. Mix gently with your hands — do not overwork.
- Add the beaten egg and chickpea flour and mix just until the mixture holds together. Rest 15 minutes.
- Wet your hands and form 10 flat, rough patties about 1/2 inch thick. Press a tomato round gently into the top of each.
- Heat the oil in a wide skillet over medium heat. Fry the kebabs in batches, tomato-side down first, 4 to 5 minutes per side until deep brown and cooked through.
- Drain briefly on a rack or paper towels. Serve hot with naan, sliced onions and mint raita.
Tips for success
- Squeeze the chopped onion dry — excess water is what makes kebabs fall apart.
- Coarse mince is essential; fine mince turns chapli into burger patties.
- Keep the patties rough and uneven on purpose — the craggy bits get the crispiest.
Watch video tutorial
Prefer to watch it being made? This from Mahvish Kitchen walkthrough covers the same chapli kebab step by step — the spoken narration doubles as an audio tutorial.