Chicken Thigh Kebabs With Turmeric Chile And Saffron Recipes

CHICKEN-THIGH KEBABS WITH TURMERIC, CHILE AND SAFFRON

Steps:

• Combine all the ingredients in a nonreactive dish (or a resealable plastic bag), and marinate in the refrigerator between 3 hours and overnight.
• Once the chicken has marinated, discard the onions (or grill them on the side in a grill basket, or sauté on the stovetop, if you like), and thread the chicken onto skewers. Heat a charcoal or gas grill; the flame should be fairly low and the rack about 6 inches from the heat.
• Grill the chicken slowly, turning as necessary and basting with any leftover marinade, until it's browned all over, 15 to 20 minutes.

GRILLED CHICKEN SKEWERS

Steps:

• Start a gas or charcoal grill (or preheat the broiler); the fire should be moderately hot. If you're using wooden skewers, soak them in water to cover while you prepare the food. Using 8 skewers, alternate the ingredients, but generally, surround both chicken and sausage with the moister lemon and eggplant. Pack the food fairly tightly together on each skewer, and sprinkle with salt and pepper. If you're not using rosemary skewers, tuck some rosemary among the chicken and vegetables.
• Grill over moderate heat, covered or not, turning the skewers 3 or 4 times to brown evenly. Total cooking time will be 10 to 15 minutes, depending on the heat of the grill and the distance from the heat source. When the chicken and sausage are browned, the eggplant will be tender; do not overcook.
• Serve, squeezing hot lemon juice over all.

JOOJEH KABAB BA HOLU (SAFFRON CHICKEN KABABS WITH PEACHES)

Steps:

• Using a mortar and pestle (or small bowl and the handle end of a wooden spoon), grind the saffron with the sugar to a fine powder (about 1/4 teaspoon). Transfer to a large bowl.
• Bring 2 tablespoons water to a boil in a kettle, saucepan or using the microwave, then let stand for 2 minutes to allow the water temperature to drop slightly. Add to the ground saffron powder, gently stir, cover and steep for 5 minutes.
• To the saffron water, add the lemon zest, lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, salt and pepper; carefully stir to mix. Add the chicken and onion to the marinade and combine until well-coated. Cover and marinate in the refrigerator for 2 to 24 hours, turning the chicken pieces around in the marinade every once in a while.
• Prepare a charcoal grill until the coals are ashed over and still hot, or heat a gas grill to medium-high. Skewer the tomatoes and peaches separately and set aside. Remove the chicken pieces from the marinade and skewer them. It's best to use flat, 1/2-inch-wide skewers or double skewers so the chicken pieces stay put when turned.
• Transfer the onion and any remaining marinade to a medium skillet and cook over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium-low and continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until the onion has softened and the skillet is nearly dry, 15 to 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, grill the chicken, basting with the butter and turning every 2 minutes, until the chicken is cooked through, 10 to 12 minutes on a charcoal grill and 15 to 18 minutes on a gas grill.
• Grill the tomatoes and peaches alongside the chicken: Grill the tomatoes, turning every 2 to 3 minutes, until softened and slightly blistered, 6 to 8 minutes on charcoal and about 10 minutes on a gas grill. Grill the peaches, turning every 2 to 3 minutes, until softened but not falling apart, about 10 minutes.
• If using lavash bread, drape on a serving platter. Place the chicken, tomatoes and peaches on the bread. (As the kababs sit, the bread soaks up the wonderful juices and becomes a highly sought-after bite.) Serve with the cooked onions, lime wedges for squeezing and sumac for sprinkling.

IRANIAN CHICKEN WITH TURMERIC, SAFFRON, AND LEMON JUICE

Steps:

• Rough chop the onion and place in a large pot.
• Add chicken on top.
• Season with salt and pepper.
• Add turmeric.
• Add 1/2 cup of water.
• Cover and cook for 30 minutes, or until chicken is cooked all the way through. 10 minutes into the cooking, give the whole pot a stir to allow the turmeric to coat the chicken and onions.
• If you choose to use fresh lemon juice, squeeze your lemons now.
• When the chicken is done, remove it from the pot and keep warm.
• Add saffron mixed with water and lemon juice to the water remaining in your pot. Adjust seasonings if needed.
• With a hand or regular blender, process the juice and onion until nice and smooth. Let reduce for a few minutes on low hear until the sauce thickens, about 10 minutes.
• Arrange your chicken in a platter and pour the sauce over the chicken.
• Serve with Iranian polo (rice).

GRILLED CHICKEN THIGHS WITH SAUCE AU CHIEN

Steps:

• Prepare a charcoal or gas grill, or preheat the broiler. While it is heating, prepare the sauce: in a small bowl, combine the garlic, scallions, chili, salt, allspice and oil. Add 1/2 cup boiling water; stir and set aside.
• Sprinkle the chicken with salt and pepper, and grill or broil, turning 2 or 3 times, until it is cooked through, about 15 minutes. Taste the sauce, and add more chili, salt, pepper or allspice if needed. Stir in the lime juice. Serve the chicken hot or at room temperature, passing the sauce at the table.

GRILLED CHICKEN SKEWERS WITH TARRAGON AND YOGURT

Steps:

• Prepare the chicken: Cut each thigh in half against the grain. Rub with salt and set aside.
• Prepare the marinade: In a small bowl, mix the yogurt, lime juice, olive oil, salt and garlic. Reserve and refrigerate 1 cup marinade for serving. Put remaining marinade into a large resealable plastic bag and add the ginger, cumin and chicken; squelch around to coat thoroughly then refrigerate for 1 hour, or up to 48 hours.
• Remove the chicken from the refrigerator 1 hour before you plan to grill. If using wooden skewers, immerse them in water to soak for 15 minutes. Alternatively, use metal skewers or none at all.
• Prepare the grill: Clean the grate thoroughly and build a hot fire. The skewers will cook over intense, direct heat. The coals are ready when they glow red and the grate hisses when you drop water on it.
• Thread the chicken lengthwise onto skewers (if using), then smear with the marinade from the bag.
• Prepare the baste: Place the butter and salt in a small saucepan to melt on the cooler side of the grill (or use the stovetop). Once butter is melted, add the lime juice and chopped herbs; keep warm but do not boil.
• Grilling in batches if necessary, place the chicken on the grill a few inches apart. When you see a good char forming underneath, about 3 to 5 minutes, gently tug a skewer or the chicken: If it feels very stuck, leave it a few more minutes before turning. When the chicken releases easily and looks nicely charred in places, flip it using a fish spatula to gently pry any stuck bits off the grate.
• Baste the chicken with the herb butter and arrange the scallions in a single layer on the cooler edges of the grill. Let the chicken cook on the second side until firm and cooked through and turn the scallions occasionally until grill-marked and tender, about 8 minutes.
• Grill the pitas until marked, about 1 minute, turning halfway through. Lay them on the serving platter and place the scallions and chicken on top. Drizzle the bread, scallions and chicken with any remaining warm herb butter. Dollop chicken with reserved marinade, squeeze with lime and top with extra tarragon or mint.