Moroccan Chicken Kabobs Recipes

MOROCCAN CHICKEN KABOBS

Steps:

• Heat gas or charcoal grill. In large bowl, mix preserves, cumin, cinnamon, coriander and salt. Place chicken pieces in bowl and turn to coat. On each of 4 (10- to 12-inch) metal skewers, thread chicken.
• Spray chicken with cooking spray. Carefully brush oil on grill rack. Place chicken on grill over medium-high heat. Cover grill; cook 10 minutes, turning once, until chicken is no longer pink in center.

MOROCCAN-SPICED CHICKEN SKEWERS

Steps:

• Whisk olive oil, 1/4 cup mint, cilantro, 2 tablespoons lemon juice, honey, 1 1/2 teaspoon salt, 2 cloves garlic, paprika, cumin, coriander, cinnamon, and cayenne in a large bowl. Reserve 1/4 cup marinade in a separate bowl.
• Place chicken in a large resealable plastic bag. Pour marinade over chicken. Press air out of the bag and seal tightly. Turn the bag to distribute the marinade. Place in a bowl and refrigerate for 5 hours.
• Whisk yogurt, 1/2 cup lemon juice, 1/4 cup mint, 2 cloves garlic, lemon zest, and 1 teaspoon salt together in a bowl to make sauce. Cover and place in the refrigerator.
• Toss green bell peppers and red onion in the reserved 1/4 cup marinade. Remove chicken from the bag and discard all marinade. Thread chicken, peppers, and onion alternately onto skewers.
• Preheat an outdoor grill for medium-high heat and lightly oil the grate. Arrange skewers on the grill. Close lid and cook, turning once or twice, until chicken is firm to the touch, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from grill and let stand for 2 to 3 minutes. Serve with cold sauce.

MOROCCAN CHICKEN KABOBS

Steps:

• Cut the chicken into 1-inch cubes and place in a large, shallow, nonmetallic dish. Put all the remaining ingredients, except parsley, in a bowl and whisk together. Pour the marinade over the chicken cubes and toss the meat in the marinade until well coated. Cover and let marinate in the refrigerator for 8 hours or overnight, turning the chicken 2-3 times if possible.
• If using wooden skewers, soak the skewers in cold water for about 30 minutes to prevent burning and to keep food from sticking. If using metal skewers, lightly brush with oil. Preheat the broiler or grill pan. Remove the chicken pieces from the marinade, reserving the remaining marinade and thread an equal quantity onto each prepared skewer leaving a little space between each piece.
• Brush the broiler rack or grill pan with a little oil. Add the kabobs and cook, turning frequently and brushing with the reserved marinade halfway through cooking, for 15 minutes or until browned on all sides, tender, and cooked through. Serve hot, sprinkled with chopped parsley to garnish.

MIDDLE EASTERN-STYLE GRILLED CHICKEN KABOBS

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, combine the yogurt, olive oil, paprika, cumin, cinnamon, red pepper flakes, lemon zest, lemon juice, salt, pepper and garlic.
• Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil for easy clean up. Thread the chicken onto metal skewers, folding if the pieces are long and thin, alternating with the red onions. Be sure not to cram the skewers. (Note: You'll need between 6-8 skewers.) Place the kabobs on the prepared baking sheet. Brush the marinade all over the meat, coating well. Cover and refrigerate at least eight hours or overnight.
• Preheat the grill to medium-high heat. To grease the grill, lightly dip a wad of paper towels in vegetable oil and, using tongs, carefully rub over the grates several times until glossy and coated. Grill the chicken kabobs until golden brown and cooked through, turning the skewers occasionally, 13 to 15 minutes. (The yogurt marinade makes these kabobs prone to sticking to the grill grates; if necessary, use a metal BBQ spatula to scrape underneath the kabobs and release them.) Transfer the kabobs to a platter and serve.
• Note: I've specified boneless skinless chicken thighs for this recipe; they're juicier and more flavorful than chicken breasts, and they work better in this type of yogurt and lemon-based marinade. They're also much easier to cook without drying out.