Uyghur Spiced Lamb Parcels

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Tasty little buns

       For me, Uyghur food from Xinjiang holds a special place in my heart.   When I first started dating my husband we were seeing each other long-distance – meeting up every two weeks or so.  Before parting ways, we would indulge in a local Uyghur restaurant where we would order these tasty little buns. Buttery soft with just a bit of crunch, salty and with the most delicious spiced lamb inside.  These tasty morsels were a delectable parting gift that was always eaten as soon as they hit the table and always ordered immediately again after being devoured.
       As food goes, these are as irresistible as they come.  Something about them always left me coming back for more.  After all, who can resist tender lamb coated in ginger, garlic, butter, and all those central Asian spice flavors wrapped up in a buttery shell?   I certainly can’t.

Golden Uyghur lamb parcels with Xinjiang spice

 

What is Uyghur food?

Some of the best food in China can be found in Xinjiang province, located in Western China and typically halal and more reminiscent of middle Eastern cuisine than of anything you would recognize from your local takeaway.  Popular dishes of this region are barbequed spiced lamb, hand-pulled noodles, crunchy flatbread and a whole host of other tempting pastries, stews and pilafs.  If you ever get a chance to try, definitely do.  You’ll be so glad you did!

Golden Uyghur lamb parcels with Xinjiang spice, garlic and ginger
Chopped red meat in a bowl
Cut up lamb into small bite-sized pieces. (NO bigger than 1 cm)
Chopped lamb with minced ginger, garlic and spice
Combine ginger, garlic and 4 tbsp of melted butter.  Puree until a paste is formed.  Toss ginger garlic paste and 2 tbsp of spice mix with the lamb until everything is evenly coated with the paste.
Spiced lamb mixture in the corner of a spring roll wrapper
Place a tablespoon of the lamb mixture at the bottom right-hand corner of the large spring roll wrapper.
Folded spring roll with lamb mixture
Fold up
Folded spring roll with lamb mixture
Fold left
Folded spring roll with lamb mixture
Fold up
Folded spring roll with lamb mixture
Then tuck the bottom underneath.
Stuffed spring roll parcels brushed with turmeric butter
Place on a baking tray. Add a pinch of turmeric to the remaining 4 tbsp of butter and mix. Brush parcels on both sides with turmeric butter.
Baked Uyghur lamb parcels on a baking sheet
Bake in the oven (flap side down, of course) for 15-20 minutes or until parcels are crunchy and the lamb is cooked to your liking.

 

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Golden Uyghur lamb parcels with Xinjiang spice, garlic and ginger

Crispy Parcels Stuffed with Spiced Uyghur Lamb

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  • Author: Spicepaw
  • Total Time: 40 minutes
  • Yield: 16-18 parcels 1x
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Description

Tender pieces of lamb tossed with ginger, garlic and Uyghur spice then stuffed into a spring roll wrapper and baked until golden brown. A taste of Xinjiang that you can’t resist! #lamb #pastry #appetizer #Chinesefoodrecipes #quickrecipes

Ingredients

Scale
Uyghur Spice Mix
  • 2 tbsp cumin seeds
  • 1 tbsp black pepper
  • 1 tbsp coriander seeds
  • 1 tsp nutmeg
  • 3 dried red chilies
  • pinch of turmeric
Parcels
  • 14–18 large spring roll wrappers
  • 500 g lamb (about 1 lb)
  • 1 tsp sea salt
  • 4 tbsp ginger
  • 4 tbsp garlic
  • 8 tbsp melted butter
  • a pinch of turmeric

 

Instructions

Uyghur Spice Mix
  1. Combine all ingredients and lightly toast in a frying pan.
  2. Transfer to a mortar and pestle or spice grinder and combine until you get a powder.
  3. Keep in a cool, dry place for later use.
Parcels
  1. Preheat oven to 450 F/ 220 F
  2. Cut up lamb into small bite-sized pieces. (NO bigger than 1 cm)
  3. Combine ginger, garlic and 4 tbsp of melted butter. Puree until a paste is formed.
  4. Toss ginger garlic paste and 2 tbsp of spice mix with the lamb until everything is evenly coated with the paste.
  5. Place a tablespoon of the lamb mixture at the bottom right-hand corner of the large spring roll wrapper.
  6. Fold up, fold left, fold up, then tuck the bottom underneath.
  7. Place on a baking tray.
  8. Add a pinch of turmeric to the remaining 4 tbsp of butter and mix.
  9. Brush parcels on both sides with turmeric butter.
  10. Bake in the oven (flap side down, of course) for 15-20 minutes or until parcels are crunchy and the lamb is cooked to your liking.
  • Prep Time: 20
  • Cook Time: 20
  • Category: Lamb, Pastry
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: Chinese

Keywords: Lamb, Pastry, Uyghur, appetizer, snack, quick, easy, spring roll wrappers

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Author: Natasha

I'm just a busy expat mom who has a psychological need to feed people. I enjoy learning about new cultures, (especially the food) and enjoy experimenting with new ingredients and spices

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