Grilled Chicken Skewers With Deconstructed Pesto Food

GRILLED CHICKEN SKEWERS

Steps:

• Preheat a grill or grill pan to medium heat.
• To make the peanut sauce, put the peanut butter in a blender with the soy sauce, honey, ginger, red pepper flakes, chili oil and lime juice. Add 1/4 cup very hot water as you blend the mixture. Check the consistency and add a little more hot water if needed to make it very smooth. Transfer the sauce to a small dish, cover it with plastic wrap and set aside.
• Brush the grill with oil. Thread the chicken onto the skewers and grill on both sides until the chicken is done in the middle, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Remove to a serving platter and sprinkle on the cilantro.
• Serve the skewers with dishes of the peanut sauce and a good-quality barbecue sauce for dipping.

GRILLED PESTO CHICKEN AND TOMATO KEBABS

Steps:

• In a food processor pulse basil, garlic, parmesan cheese, salt and pepper until smooth. Slowly add the olive oil while pulsing.
• Combine the raw chicken with pesto and marinate a few hours in a bowl.
• Soak wooden skewers in water at least 30 minutes (or use metal ones to avoid this step).
• Beginning and ending with chicken, thread chicken and tomatoes onto 8 pairs of parallel skewers to make 8 kebabs total.
• Heat the outdoor grill or indoor grill pan over medium heat until hot. Be sure the grates are clean and spray lightly with oil.
• Place the chicken on the hot grill and cook about 3-4 minutes; turn and continue cooking until chicken is cooked through, about 2 to 3 minutes.

GRILLED CHICKEN SKEWERS WITH DECONSTRUCTED PESTO

Steps:

• Build a fire in your grill; when the flames have died down, all the coals are covered with gray ash and the temperature is medium (you can hold your hand 5 inches above the grill for about 5 seconds), you're ready to cook. (For a gas grill, turn all burners to high, lower cover and heat for 15 minutes, then turn burners to medium.)
• Combine the chicken, 3 tablespoons of olive oil and the salt and pepper in a large bowl and toss well to coat, then thread the chicken chunks onto the skewers so they press up against one another but aren't jammed together.
• Put the skewers on the grill directly over the coals and cook, rolling the skewers around every 3 to 4 minutes to ensure all the sides are more or less evenly exposed to the heat, until lightly seared, about 12 to 14 minutes. To check for doneness, make a small cut and peek inside a couple of the chunks to be sure they are opaque all the way through with no pink.
• Slide the chicken chunks off the skewers into a large bowl, add all the other ingredients one after the other, toss well to coat evenly, season to taste if needed and serve.

GRILLED PESTO CHICKEN KABOBS

Steps:

• Whisk oil, sherry, pesto, lemon juice, salt, and pepper together in a glass bowl. Add chicken pieces and stir to coat. Cover and refrigerate for 4 hours to overnight.
• Preheat an outdoor grill for medium-high heat and lightly oil the grate.
• Thread marinated chicken, mushrooms, zucchini, red onion, and tomatoes alternately onto skewers. Reserve remaining marinade.
• Place kabobs onto the preheated grill, and cook, turning occasionally and brushing with the reserved marinade, until chicken is cooked and juices run clear, 10 to 15 minutes.

GRILLED CHICKEN WITH AVOCADO PESTO

Steps:

• Prepare an outdoor grill or a grill pan for medium heat.
• Whisk together 1 tablespoon of the oil and the lemon zest in a large bowl. Add the chicken to the oil and toss to coat. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Divide the chicken and thread onto metal or bamboo skewers.
• Toast the pine nuts in a small skillet over medium heat, tossing frequently, until light golden, 3 to 4 minutes. Let cool.
• Combine the pine nuts, basil, parsley, garlic, 1/2 teaspoon salt and several grinds of pepper in a food processor. Process to make a coarse paste. Add the avocado, lemon juice and remaining 3 tablespoons oil and process until mostly smooth.
• Grill the chicken, turning often, until just cooked through, 5 to 7 minutes. Serve the chicken dolloped with the pesto and any extra pesto on the side.

GRILLED CHICKEN KABOBS

Steps:

• Place the olive oil, soy sauce, honey, garlic and salt and pepper in a large bowl.
• Whisk to combine.
• Add the chicken, bell peppers, zucchini and red onion to the bowl. Toss to coat in the marinade.
• Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, or up to 8 hours.
• Soak wooden skewers in cold water for at least 30 minutes. Preheat grill or grill pan to medium high heat.
• Thread the chicken and vegetables onto the skewers.
• Cook for 5-7 minutes on each side or until chicken is cooked through.
• Sprinkle with parsley and serve.

GRILLED CHICKEN SKEWERS WITH TOUM (SHISH TAOUK)

Steps:

• Toum:
• Pulse garlic, egg whites, and lemon juice in a food processor until smooth. With motor running, very gradually stream in half of the oil (this will help the emulsion stay together). Scrape down sides of processor and continue to process, gradually adding remaining oil, until mixture thickens and becomes light and airy (it should cling to a spoon). Season with salt.
• Do Ahead: Toum can be made 2 days ahead. Cover and chill.
• Chicken and assembly:
• Mix lemon juice, tomato paste, coriander, 1/4 cup toum, and 3 Tbsp. oil in a large bowl to combine. Transfer marinade to a large resealable plastic bag. Save remaining toum for serving.
• Working one at a time, slice chicken thighs in half lengthwise and season generously with salt. Add to bag with marinade, seal bag, and massage marinade into chicken. Chill at least 3 hours and up to 12 hours.
• Let chicken sit at room temperature 1 hour before grilling.
• Prepare a grill for medium heat; oil grate. Thread chicken onto skewers, folding pieces back and forth accordion-style so they pile onto themselves (it should be about 3 strips per skewer). Grill, turning occasionally, until browned and beginning to char in spots, 10-12 minutes.
• Serve chicken on top of pitas, with pickles and reserved toum alongside

CHICKEN PESTO KABOBS

Steps:

• In a gallon size Ziploc bag or large bowl, combine chicken and pesto; marinate for at least 30 minutes to overnight, turning the bag occasionally. Drain chicken from the pesto. Thread chicken and cherry tomatoes onto skewers; season with salt and pepper, to taste. Preheat grill to medium high heat. Add skewers to grill, and cook, turning occasionally, until the chicken is completely cooked through, reaching an internal temperature of 165 degrees F, about 10-12 minutes.* Serve immediately, garnished with parsley, if desired.

EASY GRILLED PESTO CHICKEN

Steps:

• Preheat the grill to 425 degrees. Brush the basil pesto evenly on each chicken breast. Be sure to put pesto on both sides of chicken.
• Reduce heat to medium, about 350 degrees, and place chicken on the grill. Cook about 5-6 minutes per side. Internal temperature of the chicken should be 165 degrees.
• Let chicken rest about 5 minutes to let the juices settle. Slice and serve
• Preheat the oven to 375° degrees. Coat a medium-sized casserole dish with non-stick cooking spray, set aside.
• Brush the basil pesto evenly on each chicken breast. Be sure to put pesto on both sides of the chicken.
• Place chicken into the prepared casserole dish.
• Place in the preheated oven for about 20-25 minutes. The internal temperature of the chicken will be 165° when chicken is cooked through.
• Serve chicken with your favorite sides, enjoy.

GRILLED CHICKEN SKEWERS WITH RED PEPPER PESTO

Steps:

• Blend first 7 ingredients and 6 tablespoons of oil in a food processor until almost smooth. Add almonds and process until finely chopped, but not ground. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Prepare grill (medium-high heat) or preheat broiler. Brush chicken with remaining 2 tablespoons oil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Grill until cooked through, about 5 minutes per side. Cut chicken into 1-inch pieces. Skewer each piece with toothpick. Arrange on platter and serve with pesto.