I was bored with my typical burgers, roast and chicken dishes but needed inspiration that brought me to a chicken kebab. I had not made a kebab in so long and I was itching to get back to it. I developed a new recipe for a main meat dish 😊.
I looked on Pinterest one evening cuddled up in front of a show and had inspiration to create a gluten free kebab recipe. I have been making chicken burgers for a while now but wanted a new twist on an old recipe.
I knew that I wanted a chicken kebab, but I didn’t know what other flavors I wanted to exude…..
….Then I remembered an old favourite, a cucumber salad. I was going to mix a great cucumber salad recipe with ground chicken and pan-fry them to perfection.
My mouth was watering, and I got right down to work.
The ingredients all made sense together and I was so excited to try it out. It is a melt in your mouth kind of meal.
My husband loves this new recipe and I cannot wait to have people over to try it too.
Chicken Kebab Marinade
A good marinade is going to make or break a meat dish. You want the flavors to mix well with the whole meal.
In this recipe I opted for an awesome marinade. I took it one step further then just basting the meat with the marinade. I actually mixed the marinade in with the ground meat and it was the best decision ever.
If you are working with a chicken, then the marinade will also work fine.
Smoother the chicken with the chicken kebab marinade for up to six hours in the fridge. Next, put on skewers to form the kebab.
Kebabs in Oven
There are many different ways to cook kebabs. You could BBQ, pan fry or bake.
For this recipe I choose to bake the kebabs and then finish it off with pan frying them to a beautiful golden brown.
My reason for not just BBQ’ing or pan frying is that the kebabs get evenly cooked and do not have a charred taste.
The combination of baking kebabs in the oven and then pan frying provides for the perfectly cooked kebab. It is great for leftovers too!
Ground Chicken Kebab
Using ground chicken for a kebab is a great way to fold in any of the marinade or sauces that you want to add to the meat.
I also find that using ground chicken is more cost effective than using chicken breast. Do not get me wrong, I love a juicy chicken breast, but using ground chicken for kebabs or meatballs is a fabulous option for everyone.
Chicken Kebab Recipe
Equipment
- Food processor
- Baking sheet
- stainless steel pot or cast iron skillet
Ingredients
- 1816 grams ground chicken (4 small packages)
- ½ cup dill (chopped)
- 1 small onion
- 10 slices cucumber
- 85 grams plantain chips (or any chips that you have)
- 1 tsp turmeric
- 1 tsp ginger
- 1 tbsp salt
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 2 large cloves of garlic (minced)
- 4 tbsp coconut cream
- 6 tbsp coconut oil (or other frying oil)
Instructions
- Add dill, onion, cucumber, lemon juice, and garlic in a food processor. Turn to low until you get a nice paste.
- Add plantain chips and pulse 10 times.
- Add coconut crème and pulse 5 times.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- In a large bowl, add the ground chicken and spices.
- Add the food processor paste to the large bowl and mix well.
- Mold into 20 kebab shapes.
- Place on baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes, turning halfway.
- Add the coconut oil to a frying pan and have medium heat.
- Evenly fry each side of the kebab until lightly golden and remove.
Video
Notes
Best Quality Chicken
Air-chilled chicken is a great option to ensure the best quality chicken. It also adds weight to the chicken, so you get more bang for your buck if you choose air-chilled.
I also purchase all of my chicken from a local farmer who ensures that are free-range and do not use antibiotics.
I can taste the better quality and the size of chickens I get from the farm are always bigger and I yield much more meat from them too!
The best way to find good quality chicken is to reach out to local farmers and butchers to see what they can offer you. I loved the whole experience of finding a great farm that I purchase a large amount from once a month. They even deliver!
Is Baked Chicken Good for You?
Baked chicken is an extremely healthy option for protein. It is a lean meat and is very versatile.
If you are looking to reduce the overall fat content of your meals, then discard the skin if you are working with a whole chicken or thigh.
If you do have any stomach issues, that are plenty of sources out there that shown baked chicken is least disruptive to your digestive tract.
If you have no health issues and are not looking to cut down on fat, then keeping the skin is a great choice. I personally, love to keep the skin on for flavor and I need the extra fat.
Do not Overcrowd the Pan
Once you are ready to panfry the kebabs, remember not to overcrowd the pan. It may be tempting to have everything cook at once on the pan, but if it does not fit, do not force it.
If you do not overcrowd the pan, you will not get a beautifully browned kebab, which locks in the flavor.
Do yourself a big favor and take the time it needs to properly bake the kebabs; you will not regret it.
What Nutrients Does Chicken Have?
Chicken is a great source of potassium, iron, zinc, and magnesium. All of these vitamins and minerals are essential for any healthy diet.
It has also been noted that eating chicken regularly reduces the risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
Cheers, Brett
