Grill-roasted Vegetable Pita Sandwiches with Grilled Lamb
Roasting summer produce--eggplant, tomato, zucchini, and peppers--on a baking sheet on the grill yields silky, melt-in-your-mouth vegetables. We tuck them into pita pockets with or without chunks of skewer-grilled lamb. Prep and Cook Time: 1 1/2 hours, plus at least 3 hours marinating time. Notes: Vegetables can be grilled a day ahead and refrigerated, covered. Allow to come to room temperature and toss in feta and walnuts before serving. If you're using regular-size pitas, this filling makes enough for 4 or 5.
How to Make It
Step 1
1
In a large bowl, whisk together 2 tbsp. olive oil, soy sauce, Worcestershire, red wine, 1 tsp. salt, and 1/2 tsp. pepper. Stir in lamb and refrigerate 3 hours or overnight.
Step 2
2
Prepare a gas or charcoal grill for indirect heat. If using a gas grill: Turn all burners to high and close lid. When temperature inside grill reaches 400°, lift lid and turn off one of the burners. The area over the turned-off burner is the indirect heat area. If using a charcoal grill: Light 50 to 60 briquets and let burn until covered with ash, 20 to 30 minutes. Mound to one side. The area over the section cleared of coals is the indirect heat area.
Step 3
3
In a large bowl, toss peppers, onions, eggplant, zucchini, and tomatoes with remaining olive oil, remaining salt and pepper, and garlic. Transfer vegetables to a rimmed baking sheet (not nonstick).
Step 4
4
Put baking sheet on indirect heat area and cook until vegetables are beginning to get very tender, 30 to 60 minutes, tossing vegetables every 15 minutes. Drizzle vegetables with balsamic vinegar, toss to coat, and cook 15 minutes more. Remove baking sheet from grill and let vegetables cool.
Step 5
5
Prepare grill for lamb: If using gas, turn all burners to medium-high. If using charcoal, add about 5 briquets (if the coals look significantly burned down) to bring the heat back to medium-high.
Step 6
6
Toast walnuts in a medium frying pan over low heat on the stovetop, tossing frequently, until light golden and fragrant, about 10 minutes. Transfer to a medium bowl and toss with feta and cooled vegetables.
Step 7
7
Skewer lamb onto 4 metal skewers (10 to 12 in.) and grill 5 minutes per side for medium (if using charcoal, grill over direct heat). With a fork, push lamb off skewers and into a bowl.
Step 8
8
Spoon vegetable mixture into halved pita and top with lamb if you like.
Step 9
9
Note: Nutritional analysis is per mini sandwich.
Ingredients
9 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
1/4 cup soy sauce
2 tablespoons Worcestershire
1/2 cup red wine
3 teaspoons coarse kosher salt, divided
1 1/2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper, divided
2 pounds lamb, cut into 1 1/2-in. chunks
2 red bell peppers, stemmed, seeded, and sliced into 3/4-in.-wide wedges
2 peeled red onions, sliced into 1-in.-wide wedges
1 large eggplant, quartered lengthwise and cut into 1-in.-thick slices
2 small zucchini, sliced crosswise into 1/4-in.-thick slices
3 Roma tomatoes, seeded and quartered lengthwise
3 cloves garlic, chopped
3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1/4 cup coarsely chopped walnuts
1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
8 to 10 mini pitas, halved
Directions
Step 1
1
In a large bowl, whisk together 2 tbsp. olive oil, soy sauce, Worcestershire, red wine, 1 tsp. salt, and 1/2 tsp. pepper. Stir in lamb and refrigerate 3 hours or overnight.
Step 2
2
Prepare a gas or charcoal grill for indirect heat. If using a gas grill: Turn all burners to high and close lid. When temperature inside grill reaches 400°, lift lid and turn off one of the burners. The area over the turned-off burner is the indirect heat area. If using a charcoal grill: Light 50 to 60 briquets and let burn until covered with ash, 20 to 30 minutes. Mound to one side. The area over the section cleared of coals is the indirect heat area.
Step 3
3
In a large bowl, toss peppers, onions, eggplant, zucchini, and tomatoes with remaining olive oil, remaining salt and pepper, and garlic. Transfer vegetables to a rimmed baking sheet (not nonstick).
Step 4
4
Put baking sheet on indirect heat area and cook until vegetables are beginning to get very tender, 30 to 60 minutes, tossing vegetables every 15 minutes. Drizzle vegetables with balsamic vinegar, toss to coat, and cook 15 minutes more. Remove baking sheet from grill and let vegetables cool.
Step 5
5
Prepare grill for lamb: If using gas, turn all burners to medium-high. If using charcoal, add about 5 briquets (if the coals look significantly burned down) to bring the heat back to medium-high.
Step 6
6
Toast walnuts in a medium frying pan over low heat on the stovetop, tossing frequently, until light golden and fragrant, about 10 minutes. Transfer to a medium bowl and toss with feta and cooled vegetables.
Step 7
7
Skewer lamb onto 4 metal skewers (10 to 12 in.) and grill 5 minutes per side for medium (if using charcoal, grill over direct heat). With a fork, push lamb off skewers and into a bowl.
Step 8
8
Spoon vegetable mixture into halved pita and top with lamb if you like.
Step 9
9
Note: Nutritional analysis is per mini sandwich.
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