SAEDNEWS: Tali Kebab, or Tetali, is one of Arak’s most delicious local dishes, closely resembling the traditional pan-cooked kebab. In the local Araki dialect, a pan is called “Tal.”
According to the Family Magazine of SaedNews, Ta-Tali Kebab (also spelled Tataly) is a highly delicious local dish from Arak, Iran, very similar to pan-cooked kebab. In the local Araki dialect, the word tal refers to a pan.
The name of this dish comes from its cooking method: placing the kebab ingredients at the bottom of the pan, hence the name Ta-Tali Kebab (Pan Kebab). Eating this dish fills the people of Arak with pride!
Preparation & Cooking Time: 60–90 minutes
Servings: 2–3 people
Difficulty: Medium
Ingredient | Quantity |
|---|---|
Ground meat | Enough for 2–3 servings |
Onion | 1–2 medium-sized, grated or pureed |
Salt | To taste |
Black pepper | To taste |
Red pepper | To taste |
Turmeric | To taste |
Garlic | 2–3 cloves, minced |
Tomato paste | 1–2 tablespoons |
Potatoes | 2–3 medium, sliced into rings |
Tomatoes | 2–3 medium, sliced into rings |
Verjuice powder (optional) | 1–2 teaspoons |
Vegetable oil | 2–3 tablespoons |
Wash and peel the onions. Grate them, or use a blender/food processor to puree them. Drain excess water using a sieve or colander.
In a suitable bowl, combine the grated or pureed onions with the ground meat.
Add salt, black pepper, red pepper, and turmeric to taste. Knead the mixture well until fully combined.
Cover the meat mixture with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30–60 minutes.
Peel and finely dice an onion. Heat oil in a pan over medium heat and sauté the onion until soft and golden.
Add turmeric and pepper to the sautéed onions and cook briefly to release their aroma. Crush the garlic and add it to the pan, frying until fragrant.
Stir in the tomato paste and cook until it darkens in color and loses its raw taste.
Take walnut-sized portions of the meat mixture, shape and flatten them by hand, and place them on top of the simmering sauce in the pan.
Peel and slice potatoes into rings and layer them over the meat. Slice tomatoes into rings and arrange them on top of the potatoes.
Sprinkle verjuice powder over the ingredients and add boiling water. Increase heat until the mixture starts boiling, then cover the pan and reduce heat. Cook for 30–40 minutes until everything is tender and the sauce thickens.
Once the sauce reaches the desired thickness, adjust the seasoning with salt. Serve hot with bread or rice.
Ta-Tali Kebab is a rich, savory, and aromatic dish that beautifully represents Arak’s culinary tradition.
