Chicken shish kebabs are one type of barbeque food liked by every age group of people throughout the world. Even though kebabs are very diverse now, people can choose from many variants in terms of ingredients and methods of preparation. Chicken shish kebabs are popular not only on the streets but also in restaurants. But what was the origin of this favorite dish? To which culture do we owe the discovery of this fantastic combination on the grill of chicken on skewers?
Kebabs overall come from the Middle Eastern region, and make chicken shish kebab, the term comes from Kabul meaning grilled meat in Persian. However, one range originated in the ‘shish kebab’. It is derived from the Turkish kitchen, of which ‘shish’ is a skewer and ‘kebab’ means a flame-grilled meat. This type of barbecuing flesh originated from the nomadic Turks. Thousands of years ago they were in search of an efficient way to cook during their migration. Soon this cooking tradition was adopted by other countries of the ancient world. It is including Greece Persia and the Middle East and grew from there.
Shish kebab that included chicken occurred as poultry assumed prominence and was considered more appropriate than other meats. Like Loin Lamb meat chicken is dotted quicker than the other meats hence suitable for skews and barbecued over red-hot charcoal. The exceptionally soft and palatable meat is normally soaked in a spice rack of spices, herbs, and oil then left to absorb the spices thoroughly. When these chicken shish kebabs traveled across the globe, they took some influences of different regional tastes and methods. Today, they are an embodiment of history and taste satisfying people’s palate all over the world.
Table of Contents
- What is a Chicken Shish Kebab Made Of?
- How to Make Chicken Shish Kebab
- What Can You Serve with Chicken Shish Kebabs?
- Why Does Chicken Shish Kebab Meat Not Burn Being Cooked Constantly?
- FAQs
What is a Chicken Shish Kebab Made Of?
If there’s one thing that I can assure you, these chicken shish kebobs are easy to prepare but packed with so much taste. Usually, it is small pieces of chicken that are skewered and grilled or even barbecued while sometimes it’s marinated to increase its palatability. Its ingredients range from olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, cumin, paprika, oregano, and pepper, to other spices. These ingredients will add a little tenderness to meat besides giving it this splash of smokiness and tang that is so appealing.
Occasionally vegetables together with chicken are used in the skewer for color and variations in taste as well. Those foods are Bell peppers, onions, tomatoes, and zucchini. The vegetables not only lust for the chicken but also add a rice of variety and nutrients to the dish. Charred to a crisp the taste of the chicken and the lightly browned vegetables present a tasty meal to the taste buds.
In some cases, some of these may substitute sauces or marinating based on the taste of the region. For example, in home or restaurant Indian or Middle Eastern recipes you can come across chicken shish kebabs made from meat marinated in yogurt. The yogurt also adds softness to the meat and gives a lot of creaminess and richness. Regardless of how basic it is or how many other ingredients are added, chicken shish kebab is healthy, and has the right balance of protein and carbohydrates.
How to Make Chicken Shish Kebab?
Preparing chicken shish kebabs is quite simple and more enjoyable if you are interested in grilling foods at home. First, start with the chicken which can be either the breast or thigh meat of chicken. Chicken thighs are in general more tender and juicier, and it is also the part that is tastier, but the breast is not bad at all and if well-cooked can be a delicious piece of food. Here’s a simple step-by-step process:
Chicken Shish Kebab Recipe
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Marinate the Chicken:
Another way is to cut the chicken into cubes and marinate it. An example of a marinade is a combination of olive oil, lemon juice, garlic that has been chopped, and spices such as paprika, cumin, and salt. Allow the chicken to marinate for not less than 30 minutes, however, for better flavor, marinate the chicken for several hrs to overnight.
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Prepare the Skewers:
If preparing the dish with wooden skewers, these should be soaked in water for about 30 minutes before sliding the chicken on them to avoid burning. Skewers of metal also work and do not require pre-soaking.
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Thread the Chicken and Vegetables:
Substitute interspersing the pieces of the chicken with vegetables like onions, bell peppers, and cherry tomatoes. This makes it easy to avoid a one-dimensional food experience because there is diversity in the texture as well as the flavor.
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Grill:
Wipe your grill then turn on the heat to medium-high. Put the skewers on the grill, without turning for about 10 to 15 minutes. When the chicken is ready it should be slightly burnt on the outside and juicy. The correct inside temperature should reach 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
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Serve and Enjoy:
When they are done, you should leave the kebabs to stand for a few minutes before serving them. This helps to allow the juices to stand which makes the chicken even tastier.
Whichever method you are using, whether it is outside barbecue grilling or even indoor griddle cooking. The relative ease of having chicken shish kebabs speaks volumes.
What Can You Serve With Chicken Shish Kebabs?
It is a delicious way for how chicken shish kebabs can complement a great number of side dishes and thus can be considered very flexible. The options are nearly endless, but here are some ideas to inspire you:
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Rice or Pilaf:
Arrangements of shish kebabs include a fluffy portion of basmati or jasmine rice. You may also enhance the taste by cooking rice pilaf with nuts or dried fruits or adding spices like cumin and turmeric.
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Flatbreads:
Beans are suitable for chicken kebabs, and they should be well accompanied by soft and warm pita bread or naan. To use them, fill the skewers with your choice of items or just place the items in this case to be grilled or barbecued into them. Then use them to soak up the juices like hummus or tzatziki.
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Grilled Vegetables:
Pair your kebabs with more barbecue veggies such as eggplant, zucchini, corn on the cob, etc. The smoky flavors of the grilled veggies make it an additional feature of the meal.
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Salads:
The best way to complement kebabs is by pairing fresh crisp salads with them. As for vegetables, you can go to a tried-and-true Greek salad with the remains of cukes, olives, and feta or Middle Eastern tabbouleh based on bulgur, parsley, mint, and lemon.
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Dips and Sauces:
Like any other meal, no kebab meal is perfect without a tasty sauce. Tzatziki – a yogurt and cucumber sauce cools things down, and for warmth, harissa or just garlic mayo can be used.
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Potatoes:
Chicken shish kebabs go well with roasted or grilled potatoes. It is cut into wedges, or better still potatoes prepared as a rich potato salad.
Therefore, as you can tell these sides can be interchanged according to your preference or according to the nature of the dinner party regarding the chicken shish kebab.
Why Does Chicken Shish Kebab Meat Not Burn When Being Cooked Constantly?
A very important aspect that needs to be understood while preparing shish kebabs is the answer to how long it takes to cook chicken on a grill. Thus, why does not the meat burn, while it stays on the grill for quite a while?
So, pulling and tenderizing occur due to the indirect cooking method, while the marinade works to impart moisture. They soak the meat and not only enhance the meat taste but also, act as a barrier to the meat from charring during the grilling process. When used in the marinade such as olive oil and yogurt coat the chicken preventing it from coming into direct contact with the grilling heat source. The wetness from the marinade protects the meat from drying out while it bends to a uniform, caramelized brown top.
But some things must be done while cooking the most important of these is to turn the meat skewers occasionally. Frequent flipping guarantees the all-round heat distribution with regards to the cooking of the meat. The exposure to constant heat is moderate enough not to allow the food to burn or get overcooked. Like all types of barbeques, grills have regions that can become very hot and regions that are comparatively cooler. So the kebabs can be rearranged in case the grill regions become unbearably hot.
Finally, as for the 5th factor, they noted that the spaces between the pieces of chicken and vegetables on the skewer contribute to the cooking. Each of them sits at least half an inch apart so that heat is on the outside to get the meat well cooked and not burn in the process.
Conclusion
Therefore, besides satisfying everyone’s pallet and being an easy-to-prepare meal, chicken shish kebabs are deeply rooted in culture. As a result, chicken shish kebabs are one of the most stunning examples of how people were able to create traditions with food products, starting from Turkey itself,
FAQs
Is chicken kebab a breast or thigh?
Chicken kebabs can be made from the breast or thigh of the chicken. Thighs are moister, breast on the other hand is rather lean and is perfectly good when cooked to perfection.
Are kebabs fried or roasted?
Kebabs are strictly barbecued on a stand or grill or can be baked in an oven though the traditional way is barbecuing.
Do you have to flip kebabs?
Yes, it is flipping kebabs their side is that no part of the food stays raw or burnt after grilling.
