About this Dish
Smoky skewered and grilled meat, Armenia's answer to the backyard barbecue.
History & Origin
Khorovats is the centerpiece of Armenian family gatherings, grilled over vine cuttings for a distinctive smokiness and traditionally prepared by the men of the household.
IngredientsServes 3
🥩Bone-in pork shoulder or ribs, 1.5kg cut into large chunks
🧅White onions, 3 large, grated or very finely sliced
🫚Sunflower oil, 3 tablespoons
🌶️Sweet paprika, 2 teaspoons
🌿Dried thyme, 1 teaspoon
🧄Garlic, 4 cloves, minced
🍋Lemon juice, from 1 lemon
🧂Salt, 1.5 teaspoons
🫙Black pepper, 1 teaspoon freshly ground
🌱Fresh flat-leaf parsley, a large handful, to serve
Method
1
Grate the onions into a large bowl — Armenian cooks swear this is the secret, as the onion juice tenderises the meat far better than chunks. Add the minced garlic, paprika, thyme, salt, pepper, lemon juice and oil, and stir everything together.2
Add the pork pieces to the marinade and massage it in thoroughly with your hands so every surface is well coated. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, but ideally overnight — the longer the better.3
About an hour before cooking, take the meat out of the fridge and let it come to room temperature. Thread the pieces onto flat metal skewers quite snugly, as this helps keep the meat juicy and prevents it spinning.4
Light your charcoal barbecue and let it burn down until you have glowing white-edged coals with no open flame — real khorovats is always cooked over wood or charcoal, never gas, as the smoke is everything. Lay the skewers over the grill about 10–12cm above the coals.5
Cook the pork for roughly 20–25 minutes, turning the skewers every 4–5 minutes so all sides caramelise evenly. You want a deep charred crust on the outside while the inside stays succulent — don't rush it by cranking the heat.6
Rest the skewers off the heat for 5 minutes before sliding the meat off. Serve directly on a board or plate scattered generously with fresh chopped parsley, with flatbread and sliced raw onion alongside.User Reviews
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