Mediterranean Chicken Kebab
One of my all-time favorite recipes for a healthy dish, these chicken kebabs are marinated in a tangy Mediterranean blend of Greek yogurt, lemon, garlic and spices, then grilled on skewers until golden brown. They are delicious over a bed of golden Basmati Rice Pilaf or with a Greek salad, maybe both!. Just be sure to make extra — the first time I made this dish for a crowd, I actually ran out of food!
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Servings: 4-6
Prep Time: 20 Minutes
Cook Time: 15 Minutes
Total Time: 35 Minutes, plus 8 hours to marinate
Ingredients
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1 cup plain whole milk Greek yogurt
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2 tablespoons olive oil
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2 teaspoons paprika
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1/2 teaspoon cumin
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1/8 teaspoon cinnamon
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1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (reduce to 1/2 teaspoon if you don't like heat)
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Zest from one lemon
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2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice, from one lemon
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1-3/4 teaspoons salt
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1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
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5 garlic cloves, minced
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2-1/2 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs, trimmed of any excess fat and cut into large bite-sized pieces
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1 large red onion, cut into wedges
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Vegetable oil, for greasing the grill
Instructions
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In a medium bowl, combine the yogurt, olive oil, paprika, cumin, cinnamon, red pepper flakes, lemon zest, lemon juice, salt, pepper and garlic.
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Thread the chicken onto metal skewers, folding if the pieces are long and thin, alternating occasionally with the red onions. Be sure not to cram the skewers. (Note: You'll need between 6-8 skewers.) Place the kebabs on a baking sheet lined with aluminum foil. Spoon or brush the marinade all over the meat, coating well. Cover and refrigerate at least eight hours or overnight.
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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 kebabs until golden brown and cooked through, turning skewers occasionally, 10 to 15 minutes. Transfer the skewers to a platter and serve.
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Note: I've specified chicken thighs as opposed to boneless chicken breasts for this recipe because they are more flavorful, and less likely dry out. Additionally, the lemon juice in the marinade will make boneless chicken breasts tougher when cooked.
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