7 Kebabs for a Healthier Cookout
While hand-held dogs and soft potato bun-encased burgers stand out in our minds as the all-American cookout foods, there are equally satisfying no-bread-necessary options for your grill. Middle Eastern in origin, kebabs consist of pieces of meat, fish or vegetables grilled on a skewer for easy, one-handed snacking. As far as healthy cookouts go, you can’t go wrong when pairing lean protein and fresh, seasonal vegetables with an array of your favorite spices. This summer, embrace outdoor cooking with these seven good-for-you kebabs that won’t slow down your backyard game of horseshoes.
Chicken Kebabs with No-Cook Peach Chutney (pictured at top)
Tender chunks of dark-meat chicken skewered and grilled to smoky perfection pair perfectly with bright and aromatic peach chutney in this traditional Indian recipe. The longer you marinate the chicken, the more flavorful the results, so give it at least two hours but up to eight. Once marinated and skewered, these kebabs cook up in just 15 minutes.
Spiced Chicken and Grape Skewers
Alternate threading plump, seedless green grapes and cumin-marinated chicken onto soaked wooden skewers for a low-calorie cookout treat. The spicy chicken is complemented by the burst of sweet-tart flavor from every grape.
Garlic-Mustard Grilled Beef Skewers
Keep your cookout menu simple and fuss-free with Bobby Flay’s versatile grilled beef skewers that are seasoned with grainy mustard, Dijon and paprika. They’re ready in under an hour and will round out your cookout.
Related: What Does 100 Calories Look Like?
Spiced Salmon Kebabs with Yogurt Sauce
Take a break from the usual lineup of beef, pork and chicken with these protein-packed salmon kebabs. Coriander, cayenne and fresh lemon juice invigorate the heart-healthy fish with zesty flavor.
Tender grilled shrimp are another satisfying, pescatarian alternative to grilled meat for your kebab party. Sriracha, garlic, fish sauce and light brown sugar make a sweet and pungent marinade for these low-calorie grilled skewers.
In the mood for cheese? Halloumi will be great on the grill, since it stays intact and won’t get too melty to stay put on your skewer. Add shrimp or bread plus seasonal summer vegetables, like cherry tomatoes and zucchini.
Related: Healthy Grilled Foil Packs
Grilled Strawberry Kebabs with Lemon-Mint Sauce
Just because it’s dessert hour doesn’t mean it’s time to turn off the grill. Satisfy your sweet tooth with these juicy strawberry kebabs sweetened with pure maple syrup. The plump, smoky berries make an unforgettable cookout item, especially when drizzled with the lemon-mint sauce.
Ingredients
24 ripe medium strawberries, hulled (about 1 ½ pounds)
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
4 tablespoons pure maple syrup
¼ cup loosely packed mint leaves, torn
1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest
3 tablespoons lemon juice
Directions
Special equipment: eight 10-inch wooden skewers, soaked in water at least 15 minutes
Preheat a grill or grill pan to medium-high and scrape it clean with a grill brush.
While the grill preheats, thread the strawberries onto the skewers, piercing each strawberry with 2 skewers and making a total of 4 kebabs with 6 strawberries on each (double-skewering the strawberries will make them easier to turn). In a cup, combine the oil and 2 tablespoons of the maple syrup. Brush the syrup mixture over the strawberries.
In a small bowl, combine the mint, lemon zest and juice and remaining 2 tablespoons of maple syrup.
Grill the strawberries until they are softened and have grill marks, 3 to 4 minutes per side. Serve the strawberries drizzled with the lemon-mint sauce.
From Food Network Kitchen
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