Whether you choose to call these easy marinated chicken skewers kebabs, kabobs, or skewers, one thing is for certain. The sweet and spicy flavor from the ginger, garlic, soy sauce, honey, and chile powder marinade will have you making them over and over again.
Adapted from Asma Khan | Ammu | Interlink Books, 2022
For these Indian-inspired marinated chicken skewers, or kebabs, boneless chicken thighs are infused with a marinade of honey, soy, ginger, garlic, Kashmiri chile powder, coriander, and vinegar. They can be broiled or grilled and cook very quickly, making them ideal for a quick weeknight meal. Just remember to toss them into the marinade before you leave for work in the morning.–Angie Zoobkoff
Marinated Chicken Skewer FAQs
Ginger root can be a little intimidating – but fear not. With a couple of easy steps, you’ll be on your way to fresh chopped ginger in no time. First, take the ginger root in your non-dominant hand and hold a cheap spoon in your dominant hand. Scrape the edge of the spoon across the skin until it peels off. Then use a microplane or grater to grate your ginger into tiny pieces.
Don’t have either of those? No big deal. Using a large chef’s or santoku knife, cut your peeled ginger into thin slices in one direction, then chop in the other direction until you have a lovely mince. Please don’t substitute ginger powder for the fresh version called for in this recipe.
There are so many options. Jasmine or Basmati rice would be lovely, perhaps with a side of cooling raita and a basket of fresh naan. Grilled peppers and onions would work well with the chicken. Look for bright, vibrant colors to complement the deep dark reds of the chile powder. Vegetables like grilled asparagus or broccolini would be marvelous.
Absolutely. You’ll probably need to marinate for more than two hours due to the larger pieces of meat, and your cooking time will be longer, but the chicken will still be fantastic. Use a meat thermometer and make sure your chicken cooks to an internal temperature of at least 165°F (74°C), then move it to a plate or cutting board and let it rest under a loose foil tent for about five minutes. All that’s left to do then is to serve, sit back, and enjoy.
Easy Marinated Chicken Skewers
These chicken kebabs are a cinch to throw together. Whip up a flavorful honey, soy, and chile marinade, let the pieces of chicken thigh soak up all that flavor, and then quickly grill or broil.
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In a mortar and pestle, crush the ginger and garlic, then stir in the soy sauce, vinegar or lime juice, honey, coriander, and chile powder to make a marinade. Alternatively, the marinade ingredients can be blitzed in a food processor.
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Place the chicken in a bowl, pour over the marinade, and mix well to ensure all the pieces are coated. Cover the bowl and leave to marinate in the fridge for at least 2 hours or preferably overnight. Bring the chicken to room temperature before cooking, about 30 minutes.
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If you are using a broiler, it is better to use wooden skewers. Soak four skewers in water for 20 to 30 minutes before threading the chicken onto the skewers. Preheat the broiler on high with a rack set 4 to 6 inches (10 to 15 cm) from the heat source.If you are using a grill, metal skewers work best. Divvy the chicken between four skewers and thread the chicken onto the skewers. Preheat the grill to medium-high heat and spray with nonstick cooking spray.
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Grill or broil the skewers until the chicken is cooked all the way through and an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) is reached, 3 to 6 minutes per side. Serve.
Serving: 1skewerCalories: 173kcal (9%)Carbohydrates: 7g (2%)Protein: 24g (48%)Fat: 5g (8%)Saturated Fat: 1g (6%)Polyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 108mg (36%)Sodium: 975mg (42%)Potassium: 400mg (11%)Fiber: 1g (4%)Sugar: 5g (6%)Vitamin A: 176IU (4%)Vitamin C: 1mg (1%)Calcium: 26mg (3%)Iron: 1mg (6%)
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Originally published June 8, 2022
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