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.
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!
Cut up lamb into small bite-sized pieces. (NO bigger than 1 cm)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.Place a tablespoon of the lamb mixture at the bottom right-hand corner of the large spring roll wrapper.Fold upFold leftFold upThen tuck the bottom underneath.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.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.
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
Combine all ingredients and lightly toast in a frying pan.
Transfer to a mortar and pestle or spice grinder and combine until you get a powder.
Keep in a cool, dry place for later use.
Parcels
Preheat oven to 450 F/ 220 F
Cut up lamb into small bite-sized pieces. (NO bigger than 1 cm)
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.
Place a tablespoon of the lamb mixture at the bottom right-hand corner of the large spring roll wrapper.
Fold up, fold left, fold up, then tuck the bottom underneath.
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.
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
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
View all posts by Natasha