Chicken Skewers With Dukkah Crust And Balsamic Reduction Recipes

EASY BALSAMIC CHICKEN SKEWERS

Steps:

• Whisk together balsamic vinegar and honey until combined to form your marinade. Add the marinade and chicken pieces to a large ziplock bag or mixing bowl, and toss until combined. Seal/cover and refrigerate to marinate for at least 10 minutes, or up to 8 hours. Also, if you are using wooden skewers, set them to soak in a pan of water for at least 10 minutes so that they do not burn.
• When you are ready to cook the chicken, heat a grill to medium-high heat. Remove the chicken pieces from the marinade, reserving the marinade for later, and thread chicken onto skewers. Season the skewers generously with salt and pepper. Place on a grill that has been lightly greased with cooking spray. Cook the chicken skewers for 3-4 minutes per side, turning once, until the chicken is no longer pink inside and cooked through. Remove chicken skewers from grill and place on a serving plate.
• Meanwhile or after, pour the reserved marinade into a small saucepan and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for about 12 minutes, or until the mixture is reduced by half and is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon. (The glaze will thicken even more as it cools.) Remove from heat, and brush the glaze onto the skewers until they are all evenly coated. Serve warm.

HONEY & CUMIN CHICKEN AND AUBERGINE SKEWERS WITH PISTACHIO DUKKAH

Steps:

• Pre-soak wooden skewers in warm water for 20 mins. (You will need about 32 skewers and they must be able to fit inside a griddle pan or frying pan.) Meanwhile, mix the marinade ingredients and some seasoning in a large bowl, then tip half into another bowl. Add the chicken to 1 bowl and the aubergine to the other. (If you're not catering for vegetarians, you can mix them together in one bowl.) Leave to marinate in the fridge for at least 20 mins, or up to 24 hrs.
• To make the dukkah, toast the sesame, cumin and coriander seeds in a dry pan until aromatic. Meanwhile, tip the pistachios into a small food processor and blitz until finely chopped, but still with some texture, then transfer to a bowl. Tip the toasted seeds and spices into the processor and blitz again until finely chopped, then add these to the pistachios, along with the paprika, black pepper and a good pinch of salt. Mix, then set aside until ready to serve.
• Heat oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Thread the aubergine onto skewers, about 4-5 chunks per skewer, and place on 2 parchment-lined trays. Bake for 20-25 mins until tender and golden, turning the skewers and swapping the trays halfway through cooking.
• Meanwhile, heat a griddle pan or a frying pan (or use both to speed up the cooking) over a medium-high heat. Thread the chicken pieces onto the remaining skewers. Cook the chicken skewers in batches in the hot pan, turning regularly to prevent the honey burning. When nicely charred, but not cooked through, transfer to a baking tray. When all the chicken skewers are browned, drizzle them and the aubergine skewers with the remaining honey. Pop the chicken into the oven with the aubergine for the final 5-10 mins cooking, or until they are cooked through and sticky. Serve the skewers with a bowl of dukkah for dipping.

CHICKEN SKEWERS WITH DUKKAH CRUST AND BALSAMIC REDUCTION

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F
• Combine balsamic vinegar and honey in a small saucepan over medium heat. Simmer until reduced by half, about 10 to 15 minutes. Set aside to cool.
• In a shallow bowl, combine the mustard and olive oil, and season well with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Toss the chicken in the mustard mixture until well coated.
• Combine the dukkah and Parmigiano-Reggiano in a wide, shallow dish and mix thoroughly. Roll each tender in the dukkah mix until well coated.
• Thread a chicken tender on each skewer. Place the chicken skewers on wire cooling racks. Nest each wire rack in a baking sheet and place in the oven. Bake until the meat is firm and the dukkah crust is golden, about 25 to 30 minutes.
• Serve the skewers with the vinegar-honey sauce.