Toasty Feta Kebabs Food

FRENCH TOAST KEBABS WITH FOIL-PACKET BLACKBERRY SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat a grill to medium high. Stack two 12-inch-long pieces of heavy-duty foil. Toss the blackberries, 2 tablespoons sugar and the butter on the foil. Bring the short ends of the foil together and fold to seal, then fold in the sides and seal. Grill until the fruit is bubbling and the juices are syrupy, 12 to 15 minutes. Transfer the berries to a bowl.
• Meanwhile, whisk the eggs, half-and-half, the remaining 1/4 cup granulated sugar, the vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg and a pinch of salt in a bowl until well combined. Put the challah in a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Pour the egg mixture on top and let soak, turning to coat, 1 to 2 minutes. Thread onto 6 skewers (if using wooden skewers, soak them in water for about 20 minutes first). Grill, turning, until well marked, 6 to 8 minutes. Transfer to a platter and dust with confectioners' sugar. Drizzle with maple syrup and serve with the blackberry sauce.

GRILLED FRENCH TOAST KEBABS

Steps:

• Thread 6 bread cubes onto each skewer, leaving at least 1/4 inch of space between cubes. Leave the skewers out overnight, uncovered, to dry out.
• The next day, prepare an outdoor grill for medium heat. Grill the bacon, flipping as needed to ensure even cooking, until most of the fat has rendered and the bacon is charred in spots on both sides, about 10 minutes. Transfer to a paper-towel-lined plate to absorb any excess fat. (Note: If you have a charcoal grill, cook the bacon in a grill pan. It should not be grilled over charcoal because of the risk of flare-ups.)
• Whisk together the buttermilk, eggs, butter, sugar, cinnamon and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a medium bowl until combined; pour into a rimmed baking sheet. Put the skewers of bread in the buttermilk mixture to soak, turning as needed, until the bread has absorbed some of the liquid but is not falling apart, no more than 5 minutes.
• Spray a large piece of aluminum foil all over with cooking spray and place it on half the grill. Transfer the skewers to the foil in 1 layer, at least 1/2 inch of space between them. Grill, covered, turning the skewers a few times as needed, until the cubes of bread are golden in most places and no longer wet, 5 to 8 minutes.
• Remove the skewers and foil from the grill, and return the bacon to the grill just until warmed through, 1 to 2 minutes.
• Serve the grilled French toast kebabs and bacon with warm maple syrup.

KOFTA KEBABS WITH TZATZIKI

Steps:

• Smash the garlic cloves, sprinkle with a generous pinch of salt, and, with the flat side of a large knife, mash and smear mixture to a coarse paste. Mix the paste and the remaining 1 tablespoon salt with the meat, onion, parsley, and spices.
• Line a pan with aluminum foil. Divide the meat mixture into 28 rough balls. Mold each piece around the pointed end of a skewer (if you use wooden ones, soak them in water for 15 minutes before threading them), making a 2-inch oval kebab that comes to a point just covering the tip of the skewer. Lay the skewers on the pan, cover, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes and up to 12 hours.
• Heat a grill pan over medium heat or prepare a grill. Brush the pan lightly with olive oil. Working in batches, grill the kebabs, turning occasionally, until brown all over and just cooked through, about 6 minutes. Transfer to a serving platter and serve with tzatziki and flat bread.
• If you're using plain whole milk yogurt, line a small sieve with a coffee filter. Put the yogurt in it, set it over a bowl, and refrigerate 12 hours. Discard the expressed liquid and put yogurt in the bowl.
• Grate the cucumber on the large holes of a box grater into another bowl. Sprinkle with the 2 teaspoons salt and rub into the cucumber with your hands. Set aside 20 minutes, then squeeze the cucumbers to express as much liquid as possible.
• Smash the garlic, sprinkle with a generous pinch of salt, and, with the flat side of a large knife, mash and smear the mixture to a coarse paste. Stir the cucumber, garlic, olive oil, lemon juice, and mint into the yogurt. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving.

KOFTA KEBABS

Steps:

• Mash the garlic into a paste with the salt using a mortar and pestle or the flat side of a chef's knife on your cutting board. Mix the garlic into the lamb along with the onion, parsley, coriander, cumin, cinnamon, allspice, cayenne pepper, ginger, and pepper in a mixing bowl until well blended. Form the mixture into 28 balls. Form each ball around the tip of a skewer, flattening into a 2 inch oval; repeat with the remaining skewers. Place the kebabs onto a baking sheet, cover, and refrigerate at least 30 minutes, or up to 12 hours.
• Preheat an outdoor grill for medium heat, and lightly oil grate.
• Cook the skewers on the preheated grill, turning occasionally, until the lamb has cooked to your desired degree of doneness, about 6 minutes for medium.