THYME AND LEMON CHICKEN SKEWERS
Thyme and Lemon Chicken Skewers A delicious, healthy meal to grill or roast in the oven; tangy, alive citrus flavour mixed in with some fragrance from thyme ensures a wonderful breast of chicken, which will be moist and juicy-so you end up enjoying your meal. Suitable for any outdoor barbecue, quick dinner, or even as part of your weekend lunch spread. Using just a few simple ingredients, the point of these kebabs is in the excellent balance of their citrus and herbal flavour. They must be served with a fresh salad, roasted vegetables, or light couscous for a well-balanced and healthy dish.
RECIPE CATEGORY
Lunch, Dinner, Snack, Appetiser, Entrée
SERVING SIZE
1
CUISINE
Mediterranean, European
PREPARATION / TECHNIQUES
Grill, Roast, Pan-Fry, Marinate
OCCASION / HOLIDAY
Backyard BBQ, Summer, Family Reunion, Picnic, Tailgating, Valentine’s Day, Fall, Super Bowl
SPECIAL CONSIDERATION / DIETARY CONCERNS
Healthy, Low Fat, Low Sodium, Gluten-Free, Quick & Easy, High Protein
DISH TYPE
Skewers, Grilled Chicken, Entrée
INGREDIENTS
- 150g chicken breast, cubed
- 1 sprig fresh thyme
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp olive oil
- Salt & pepper, to taste
FULL NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION (PER SERVING)
- Calories: 210
- Protein: 25g
- Fat: 10g
- Carbohydrates: 1g
- Fibre: 0g
- Sodium: 140mg
PREPARATION
- Marinate the chicken: Mix cubed chicken, olive oil, lemon juice, leaves plucked from the thyme stems, salt, and pepper in a small bowl. Toss chicken to coat, cover, and refrigerate at least for 15 minutes, but better with up to 2 hours for flavour.
- Assemble skewers: Alternate threading marinated chicken cubes on skewers. If you are using wooden skewers, soak them for 30 minutes in water before grilling so they do not burn.
- Grill or roast:
- Grill: Grill over medium-high heat. Cook for 4 to 5 minutes per side or until the chicken skewers are cooked through and slightly charred.
- Roast: (200°C or 400°F). Arrange skewers on a parchment-lined baking sheet and roast them in the oven for 15-20 minutes, flipping halfway through, until an internal cooked-through temperature of the chicken.
- Serve: Remove skewers from the grill or oven and let them sit for a minute. If desired, sprinkle with fresh thyme leaves and serve over lemon wedges to drive flavour home.
PREP TIME
15 minutes (plus marinating time)
COOKING TIME
15-20 minutes
TIPS
- Fresh thyme is used best, but dried thyme is also used if fresh is not available.
- To prevent undercooked chicken, cook the chicken until it reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit or 75 degrees Celsius.
- Even quicker still, prepare the marinade and the chicken the night before and refrigerate overnight.
- For a deeper flavour, add garlic or red pepper flakes to the marinade.
VARIATIONS
- Substitute shrimp or tofu instead of chicken if you have a pescatarian or vegetarian dietary preference.
- Stuff the skewers with bell peppers, cherry tomatoes, or zucchini to make it a little healthy and textured.
- Experiment using herbs like oregano or rosemary to create a house flavour profile.
- The kebabs are nice served with roasted potatoes or a quinoa salad if you want it to be filling.
PREPPING AND STORAGE
- Fridge: You can reheat leftover chicken skewers in the fridge in a container for up to 2 days. Then heat through in a skillet or oven.
- Freezing: The marinated raw chicken can be frozen for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and cook according to grilling or roasting guidelines.