The accompanying recipe is the antidote to boring grilled chicken. It's nearly as easy to make, but so much more enticing. The key is to toss the chicken with a mix of dried spices -- ginger, garlic, turmeric, crushed red pepper flakes, salt and pepper -- that turn the blank-canvas protein into something irresistibly flavorful and fragrant. No marinating time required.
The chicken would be delicious grilled just like that, but this preparation goes a step further by threading bite-size chunks onto skewers alternately with plump green grapes. Once grilled, the sugars in those grapes caramelize; the fruit takes on a deep, mellow flavor, and provides a juicy, sweet counterpoint to the savory meat.
It's a dinner you can whip up in less than 20 minutes, or prep up to a day ahead so it is at the ready in the refrigerator when you want to cook it. The skewers are finished with a bright squeeze of lemon juice and a fresh punch of cilantro leaves for a grilled chicken dish that is sure to elicit oohhs and ahhhs, instead of the usual ho-hums.
The recipe calls for preparing these skewers in a grill pan on the stove, but an outdoor grill works too. If preparing on an outdoor grill and using wooden/bamboo skewers, be sure to soak the skewers in water for 30 minutes before threading.
Spiced Chicken Skewers With Grapes
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/8 teaspoon ground turmeric
1 1/4 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 3/4-inch cubes
1 1/2 cups seedless green grapes
2 tablespoons canola oil or other neutral tasting oil
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice, plus lemon wedges for serving
1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro leaves, for garnish
Whisk together the ginger, garlic, crushed red pepper flakes, salt, black pepper and turmeric in a mixing bowl. Add the chicken and toss to coat evenly.
Alternate the chicken and grapes as you thread them onto the skewers. (There should be about 5 pieces of chicken and 4 grapes on each skewer; you may have a few grapes left over.) Brush with the oil.
Heat a grill pan over medium-high heat. Working in batches as needed, cook the skewers about 6 minutes total, turning them once or twice, until grill marks have formed, the grapes have softened and the chicken is cooked through.
Sprinkle with the lemon juice and cilantro; serve with lemon wedges.
Makes 4 servings.
Nutrition information: Each serving (2 skewers) contains approximately 270 calories, 32 g protein, 11 g fat, 10 g carbohydrate (8 g sugar), 105 mg cholesterol, 210 mg sodium and no fiber.
Carbohydrate choices: 1.
Krieger is a registered dietitian, nutritionist and author who hosts public television's Ellie's Real Good Food.
Food on 06/06/2018