Why is Kabab popular in Iran ?
Iran, a country with thousands of years of history, boasts a wide variety of cuisines. These authentic dishes are renowned for their delicious flavors worldwide. One of the most popular dishes is Kabab Koobideh. Its delightful taste has made Kabab Koobideh a favorite not only among Iranian families but also among people globally. Kabab Koobideh is a beloved dish for family gatherings, and making it, including skewering the kababs, brings joy and entertainment to families. Most tourists enjoy the delicious taste of Iranian kababs. Iranians living abroad have learned the art of making kababs and, by opening Iranian restaurants and serving traditional foods, especially kababs, they have introduced authentic Iranian kababs to other countries. The recipe for Kabab Koobideh is almost the same throughout Iran.
The Art of Making Kababs
Making kababs is not as easy as eating them. The process is quite complex and involves three stages, each with its own techniques.
1. Preparing the Kabab Mixture: The key to this stage is getting the right ratio of meat to fat, the right amount of onions, and the necessary spices. The recipe for Kabab Koobideh must be followed precisely to achieve an authentic Iranian kabab.
2. Skewering the Kababs: This is one of the most challenging stages because if done incorrectly, the kababs will fall off the skewers.
3. Cooking the Kababs: Cooking a large number of kababs over a charcoal grill is time-consuming.
For a delicious kabab, each of these three stages must be done correctly. However, only a few people know the secrets of making kababs well. Thus, most families prefer to buy kababs from kababi shops or restaurants.
The Solution to Making Delicious Kabab Koobideh
With the advent of the internet, many people became familiar with various Kabab Koobideh recipes, solving the problem of preparing the kabab mixture. However, the issues of skewering and cooking kababs persisted.
An Easy Solution for Skewering Kababs
Skewering kababs may seem easy, but it is an art. The challenge of skewering kababs exists in both homes and restaurants. In homes, skilled individuals for skewering are rare, resulting in kababs that are not visually appealing and often fall off the skewers. In restaurants and kababi shops, the challenges differ. These places usually have skilled workers for skewering.
Challenges in Skewering Kababs in Restaurants:
– Contamination due to direct hand involvement in preparation
– Dependence on skilled labor and long time required for skewering
– Health risks for professional kabab makers (e.g., carpal tunnel syndrome, varicose veins, cervical spine wear)
– High costs due to the need for skilled labor
Some companies have designed and produced household kabab makers to address the skewering problem, which can meet the needs of households for making delicious kababs (given a good kabab mixture).
However, household kabab makers do not meet the needs of restaurants and kababi shops and cannot solve the aforementioned problems. To address this issue, companies producing industrial kitchen and restaurant equipment have developed industrial kabab makers. These machines significantly help kababi shops and restaurants by improving hygiene (due to no hand involvement), increasing skewering speed, and reducing overall kabab costs since no skilled labor is needed. The cost savings from reduced labor quickly offset the purchase price of the machine, making it a valuable investment for restaurants.
The Solution for Cooking Kababs
Most people prefer grilling kababs over charcoal, believing it tastes better. However, research shows that charcoal grilling is carcinogenic. Moreover, the fat from the meat dripping onto the charcoal creates a lot of smoke. In restaurants, cooking a large number of kababs on a grill is time-consuming and exhausting. Additionally, cooking kababs thoroughly on a charcoal grill is challenging. Thus, infrared kabab grills were developed. These grills can cook a large number of kababs per hour, and since they heat from both sides, the kababs are cooked thoroughly.
These advancements have increased trust in the healthiness of kababs, enhancing enjoyment. Today, the culinary field benefits greatly from industry and technology, leading to significant changes in food preparation, cooking, and customer satisfaction, as well as a considerable reduction in costs and improved hygiene in the food industry.
The popularity of kabab in Iran can be attributed to several reasons:
- 1. Taste and Flavor: Iranian kababs have a very delicious and appealing taste due to the precise combination of meat and spices, making them favored by most people.
- 2. History and Culture: Kabab is one of Iran’s traditional and ancient dishes, holding a special place in Iranian culinary history and culture. It is often prepared and consumed during ceremonies and celebrations.
- 3. Family Gatherings: Preparing and eating kabab with family and friends is a popular social activity that strengthens family bonds.
- 4. Variety: There are many different types of kababs in Iran, including Kabab Koobideh, Kabab Barg, Joojeh Kabab, and more, each with its own unique flavor and cooking method.
- 5. Accessibility: Kabab is widely available in most restaurants and kababi shops, making it easy to obtain.
- 6. Health: Since kabab is mostly made from fresh and high-quality meats and is grilled rather than fried, it is considered a healthy and nutritious food.
These reasons have made kabab one of the most popular dishes in Iran.
