Now that grilling season is here, it’s time to revisit our favorite methods of grilling.  High on the list is grilling just about anything on skewers.  Add a little marinade and basting sauce and you can easily transform beef, poultry, fish, vegetables and even fruit into a scrumptious, healthy treat.

Here are a few tips that will help you prepare perfect skewered delights every time.

Grilled Lemon Chicken Skewers with Satay Dip

The sticks

There is no great advantage, as far as the quality of the finished product, to using metal or wood skewers.  Metal skewers are available in various thicknesses and lengths and can be used over and over again.  Wood skewers are available in different lengths and must be soaked for at least 30 minutes prior to grilling to avoid burning and they are discarded after use.

Size matters

There are two tricks to getting various foods on the same skewer to be done at the same time.  The first is the size of the pieces of food.  Make sure that every piece of food is cut to approximately the same size.  Bite-size pieces of meat, poultry, fish and vegetables are perfect for skewers because the goal is to lightly char the outside of the food while the center stays moist and tender.  

The second is that you can prepare your skewers with foods that will cook in about the same amount of time.  As an example, you can make one skewer with just meat and onions and another with softer vegetables like zucchini and tomatoes.  This way, you can pull a skewer off the grill when it is done and leave another on that requires a little extra time.

Halibut Skewers with Wasabi Mustard Sauce

Beef

Skewers are generally bit-size pieces of grilled food that should not require a knife to eat.  It is very important that when using beef, you select a tender cut of meat.  Top sirloin or filet are the best choices for skewers.

Marinade

Marinating meats or poultry for several hours before grilling will ensure that they will be flavorful, more tender and because most marinades contain oil, the meat will be less likely to stick to the grill.  While the skewers are grilling, make sure to baste them often with the left over marinade or sauce on all sides.  If you want to baste with the left over marinade, pour the marinade into a small saucepan and bring it to a boil before using.

Shrimp & Mango Skewers

High Heat

Because skewers are made with small pieces of foods, they do not require a long cooking time.  Make sure your grill is very hot before you place the skewers on the grill.  Grill over direct medium-high heat and turn when lightly charred to grill all sides.

We’ve put together a selection of our favorite skewer recipes using beef, fish, poultry, vegetables and even a spectacular grilled fruit recipe that is out of this world.  Serve your skewers with steamed white rice and you have the perfect summer meal!

Thai Coconut Chicken Skewers
Grilled Beef Skewers with Mustard Sauce
Grilled Lemon Chicken Skewers with Satay Dip
Tuna Kebabs
Halibut Skewers with Wasabi Mustard Sauce
Apple Pork Kebabs
Shrimp & Mango Skewers
Grilled Teriyaki Beef Skewers
Curried Scallop Kebabs
Grilled Fruit Kebabs
Potato Skewers with Mustard and Rosemary

- Chef Yvonne

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