Savory Beef Kebabs

Total time: 45 minutes
    These are best if prepared earlier in the day and allowed to soak up the flavors - plus it makes dinner a breeze!  By doing the meat and some of the vegetables separately you can cook the skewers for different times: allowing the onion to get done to your liking without overcooking the beef. 

 Ingredients:

• 12oz (360gr) beef loin or sirloin, cut into 1 1/2" (3.75cm) cubes
• 1/2 yellow, orange or red bell pepper 
• 1/2 green bell pepper
• 1 red or sweet onion
• 1 small - medium zucchini (courgette) 8" (20cm)
• 6 - 8 mushrooms, large enough to be skewered
• 6 - 8 large cherry tomatoes
• 4 - 8 skewers, depending on length   if wood, soak in water while preparing the rest
• Marinade:
• 3 tbs olive oil
• 3 tbs ketchup
• 2 tbs Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tbs soy sauce
• 1 tbs chili powder
• 1 tbs paprika
• 1/2 tsp ground ginger
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• Hot pepper sauce or red pepper flakes - optional  too hot for me ;)

 Instructions:

• Put wooden skewers in water to soak.
• In small bowl whisk together all ingredients for marinade. 
• Pour over meat and let marinate for 20 - 30 minutes, or longer. 
• Clean mushrooms, removing stems.  Add to marinade.
• Cut each half pepper into 1 1/2 " (3.75cm) squares.  
• Peel and cut onion into 8 wedges. 
• Cut zucchini into slices about 1/2 inch (1.25cm) thick.
• At this point you can set it all aside while the meat marinates, or assemble the skewers and allow to marinate on the skewers.
• To assemble: 
• Remove meat and mushrooms from marinade.
• Put onions, zucchini and peppers in the marinade and stir to coat.
• Thread meat, tomatoes and mushrooms onto half of the skewers, alternating. 
• Remove vegetables from marinade and thread onions, peppers and zucchini on the remaining skewers, alternating.
• To cook:
• Start to cook the vegetable-only skewers first, over indirect heat with the cover closed. 
• After about 7 minutes, lift cover and turn vegetables, moving over direct heat. 
• Add beef skewers over direct heat. 
• Cook for 6 - 10 minutes, or until beef is done to your liking, turning halfway through cooking time. 
• Vegetables should be crisp-tender.  
• Remove and serve with Basmati Rice or Couscous.
• Could also be cooked under the broiler (grill) for 12 - 15 minutes, or until done.

Yogurt Dipping Sauce

 Ingredients:

• 1/3 cup (3oz, 90gr) Greek or plain yogurt
• 1 tbs olive oil
• 1 tsp lemon juice
• 2 tsp snipped fresh mint leaves (spearmint)  if you don't have any, you could use 1 tsp dried mint or leave it out
• 2 tsp fresh snipped chives
• 1 tsp fresh snipped tarragon

 Instructions:

• Combine all ingredients in a small bowl. 
• Mix well and refrigerate until ready to use.  Serve with kebabs.