The skewers are always a great success at grilling, but it is not at all necessary that they are composed solely and exclusively of meat. Combining beef, chicken or pork with tasty vegetables and greens will allow you to prepare a complete meal, all skewered in a simple and practical way with a skewer. The good news is that you don't have to wait to be invited to a barbecue to enjoy the skewers. Grilling them is certainly the classic method of preparation, but it is also possible to cook them with the grill of the oven to obtain equally tasty skewers.
Ingrediants
- 1.5kg of a protein ingredient of your choice, such as beef, chicken, pork, or fish
- 3 or 4 greens or vegetables, such as onions, peppers, courgettes or mushrooms
- Marinade (optional)
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper (optional)
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Making the Skewers
Step 1. Cut the meat or fish into cubes
You can use any type of protein ingredient you want for skewers, but beef, chicken, pork, lamb, and fish are among the most common options. You will need 1.5 kg. Use a sharp knife to cut the meat into cubes about two inches apart, so you can easily skewer them.
- For fish, choose one with a thick consistency, such as salmon, swordfish, or tuna. Prawns are also good for skewers.
- If you follow a vegetarian diet, you can exclude meat or replace it with tofu.
Step 2. Marinate the meat or fish for a few hours
To make sure you are making skewers with intense flavor you should make a marinade for the protein ingredient. Choose one that goes well with the type of protein used and let it rest for 2 to 5 hours.
- The marinade doesn't actually penetrate the meat or fish, so you don't need to let it sit overnight.
- If you don't want to marinate the protein ingredient, you can simply season it over the entire surface with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
- Make a simple marinade by mixing 250ml vegetable oil, 180ml soy sauce, 120ml lemon juice, 60ml Worcestershire sauce, 60g mustard, 2 cloves of garlic and freshly ground black pepper.
- You can also try a pineapple marinade, at Jack Daniel's, Coca-Cola or following your favorite recipe.
Step 3. Cut the vegetables or greens
To make sure the skewers cook evenly, combine the protein source with vegetables or greens that have the same cooking times. Onions, peppers, zucchini, cherry tomatoes, and summer squash are options that go well with most proteins. Use 3 to 4 whole vegetables (depending on their size) and cut them into pieces similar in size to meat or fish.
You can also use fruits such as pineapple, peach and mango for the skewers
Step 4. Choose metal or wooden skewers
To prepare the skewers, you will obviously need skewers. The metal ones are reusable, but can be difficult to clean and at the end of cooking they are often hot to the touch. The wooden ones are inexpensive, so you can throw them away after using them and you don't have to worry about washing them; however, they risk scorching.
Choose skewers with a length of about 30 cm to prepare large portions
Step 5. Leave the wooden skewers to soak for half an hour
Since they can burn very easily, you should let them soak in water before cooking the skewers. Put them in a shallow dish and cover them with water. Let them sit for about 30 minutes.
Step 6. Skewer the ingredients
Once the marinade is complete, you can prepare the skewers. Skewer the protein ingredient and vegetables with skewers. Push the ingredients to bring them closer, but avoid them touching. Make sure there is some space left on the end of the skewer to avoid overfilling it; usually 5 cm is enough.
- The protein ingredient and vegetables or greens can be skewered in any order you prefer. Generally the most common method is to alternate them.
- If you are not sure if the proteins and vegetables have the same cooking times, you may want to skewer them with different skewers and cook them separately.
Part 2 of 3: Grilling the Kebabs
Step 1. Preheat the grill to medium-high heat
It is best to grill the skewers over a direct flame by setting it to a medium-high temperature. Allow 10 minutes for a gas grill to heat up and 20-25 minutes for a charcoal grill.
- In the case of the gas grill, you can adjust the knob to a medium-high temperature to make it heat up.
- If you are using a charcoal grill, try holding one hand 10-15cm away from the grill to see if it has reached the right temperature. When you can hold your hand in this position for only 4-5 seconds before the heat gets too intense, then it has reached the right temperature.
- You can also cook them on the stove using a griddle.
Step 2. Grill the skewers on the first side for a few minutes
Once the grill has been heated, spread the skewers on it creating a single layer and let them cook on the first side. Cooking times vary depending on the type of protein you use:
- Beef: 4 to 6 minutes per side.
- Chicken: 6 to 8 minutes per side.
- Pork: 6 to 8 minutes per side.
- Lamb: 4 to 6 minutes per side.
- Shrimp: 2 to 3 minutes per side.
- Salmon, tuna or swordfish: 2 to 3 minutes per side.
- Tofu: 2 to 3 minutes per side.
Step 3. Turn the skewers and cook them for a few more minutes
Once you've grilled them on the first side, turn them over with tongs. Cook them on the second side for the same amount of time as the first.
The skewers will be ready when the vegetables have taken on a tender consistency. Also, both the protein ingredient and the vegetables should have achieved an even browning
Part 3 of 3: Cooking the Kebabs with the Oven Grill
Step 1. Preheat the oven
Place the oven rack approximately 10 cm away from the grill. Set it to maximum and let the oven preheat for about 10 minutes.
Make sure you follow the oven instructions to use the grill properly
Step 2. Place a free-standing grill on a baking sheet
To prevent the skewers from cooking with the steam generated by the liquid they release, it is important to keep them high. Place a free-standing grill on a large baking sheet so that the liquid can drip into it during cooking.
Step 3. Arrange the skewers on the grill
After placing it inside the pan, spread the skewers over it. Create a single layer so that they cook evenly.
Step 4. Cook the skewers for a few minutes
Place the pan under the grill of the oven after it has heated up. Let the skewers cook for a few minutes. The exact duration depends on the type of meat or fish used:
- Beef: 4 to 6 minutes per side.
- Chicken: 6 to 8 minutes per side.
- Pork: 6 to 8 minutes per side.
- Lamb: 4 to 6 minutes per side.
- Shrimp: 2 to 3 minutes per side.
- Salmon, tuna or swordfish: 2 to 3 minutes per side.
- Tofu: 2 to 3 minutes per side.
Step 5. Turn the skewers and cook for a few more minutes
Once they are done cooking on the first side, turn them over with tongs. Cook them on the second side for the same amount of time as the first.
The skewers are ready when the meat or fish has browned evenly and the vegetables have softened
Step 6. Finished
Advice
- You can give free rein to your creativity. Try different combinations of proteins, marinades, and vegetables to figure out which ones you prefer.
- To save time, when buying meat you can tell the butcher that you are going to make skewers. This way he can cut it into cubes.
- To make elaborate and flavorful skewers, try using herb sprigs instead of metal or wooden skewers. Rosemary is best suited for this method, as it has thick, woody stems.
