
The humble kebab is a favourite worldwide. From simple street food to classy restaurant meals, there are countless delicious kebab variations all built around the same idea – meat, chicken, fish, vegetables or fruit roasted or grilled on a skewer.
Kebabs are the perfect choice for a healthy, simple summer meal. They can feed your family or are great for a crowd.
Often people think about the meat as the primary ingredient of a kebab, but vegetables and fruit can be equally as tasty. Grilling (and roasting) brings out the natural sweetness in many vegetables which pair well with savoury meats. The combination of the two on a kebab adds colour, texture and a more balanced flavour profile.
Here are some tips for delicious, juicy kebabs:
- Marinate meat or chicken from one hour up to overnight (marinate seafood for about 30 minutes) as a general rule
- Pick veggies and fruit that will take the same time to cook as the meat (you can precook them if needed). Some good picks are coloured peppers, mushrooms, zucchini, onion, peach and mango
- Cut all foods to be skewered into large cubes (about 1 ½ inches) or chunks
- Soak wooden skewers in water for at least 30 minutes before using to avoid burning, or use metal skewers
Try these tasty combinations:
Kebab | Main ingredients | How to put it together |
---|---|---|
Squash and pork kebabs | Butternut squash, cubed Pork loin, cubed |
|
Zucchini and rosemary lamb kebabs | Zucchini, chunks Lamb leg, cubed |
|
Pineapple and jerk chicken kebabs | Pineapple chunks (canned in own juice or fresh) Whole boneless skinless chicken thighs, in chunks |
|
Cherry tomato and Greek shrimp kebabs | Cherry tomatoes, whole Large shrimp, out of their shell Lemon, sliced |
|
Rainbow veggie kebabs | Zucchini, cubes Eggplant, cubes Coloured bell peppers, chunks |
|
*Recipes adapted from: Food Network
Another great thing about kebabs is that you never have a problem figuring out what to do with leftovers. Make yourself a hand-held meal - just take the food off the skewer after cooking, put it in a whole grain pita, and top it with a dip.
What are your favourite summer kebabs? Tell us about what goes on your grill.
Photo credit: Tim Marconi
Related blogs
Healthy Canadians: Barbecue safety