Chicken Skewers with Garlic Yogurt Sauce
Deliciously marinated chicken skewers are grilled to perfection and accompanied by a refreshing Garlic Yogurt Sauce known as Taratur.
Servings : 6 servings
Ingredients
For The Chicken Skewers
- 4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon white vinegar
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon Italian Seasoning
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon dried basil
- salt and fresh ground black pepper, to taste
- wooden skewers
For The Garlic Yogurt Sauce (Taratur)
- 1 small English cucumber, finely diced
- 4 garlic cloves, , minced
- ½ teaspoon salt
- fresh ground pepper, to taste
- 2 cups non-fat plain yogurt
- ½ cup walnuts, ground + couple more tablespoons of ground walnuts on the side for sprinkling on top of the dip
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, divided
- 1 teaspoon fresh chopped mint
- chopped fresh parsley, for garnish
Instructions
For The Chicken Skewers
- Cut the chicken lengthwise into 12 to 16 strips.
- Place chicken in a resealable bag and set aside.
- In a mixing bowl, combine olive oil, lemon juice, vinegar, garlic, Italian Seasoning, thyme, basil, salt, and pepper; whisk until well incorporated.
- Pour the marinade over the chicken and seal the bag.
- Refrigerate for 2 hours, or overnight.
- Remove chicken from bag and discard marinade.
- Thread the chicken onto wooden skewers.
- Heat the grill to a medium heat.
- Brush grilling surface with vegetable oil.
- Place the chicken skewers on the grill, directly over heat.
- Grill for 10 minutes, or until chicken is no longer pink, turning the skewers once during cooking.
For The Garlic Yogurt Sauce (Taratur)
- Dice the cucumbers and try to absorb as much of the moisture as possible by drying off the cucumber pieces with a paper towel.
- Place cucumbers and minced garlic in a bowl.
- Sprinkle with salt and 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil; mix it all together.
- Stir in the yogurt and ground walnuts.
- Drizzle the remaining extra virgin olive oil on top, sprinkle with remaining ground walnuts and add the mint.
- Chill before serving it in an individual, cup-sized bowl OR drizzle some of it over the chicken skewers as I have done here.
- Add chopped fresh parsley.
- Serve.
Notes
- Marinate the Chicken: Marinating the chicken before grilling infuses it with flavor and helps to tenderize the meat. Aim for at least 30 minutes, but if you have time, a few hours or even overnight would yield the best results.
- Soak the Skewers: If you're using wooden or bamboo skewers, remember to soak them in water for at least 30 minutes before threading the chicken. This will prevent them from burning on the grill.
- Uniform Pieces: Try to cut your chicken into uniformly sized pieces. This ensures even cooking.
- Don't Overcrowd the Skewers: Leave a little space between the pieces of chicken on the skewer to allow heat to circulate evenly.
- Taratur Sauce: Fresh ingredients are key here. Using fresh garlic, cucumbers, and quality yogurt will result in a flavorful and tangy sauce that pairs perfectly with the chicken.
- Grill Care: Make sure your grill is preheated, and the grates are clean and oiled before adding the skewers. This helps the chicken cook evenly and prevents sticking.
Nutrition
Calories: 292 kcal | Carbohydrates: 11 g | Protein: 23 g | Fat: 18 g | Saturated Fat: 2 g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 6 g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8 g | Trans Fat: 0.01 g | Cholesterol: 50 mg | Sodium: 346 mg | Potassium: 622 mg | Fiber: 1 g | Sugar: 8 g | Vitamin A: 87 IU | Vitamin C: 6 mg | Calcium: 192 mg | Iron: 1 mg | Net Carbs: 10 g
Nutritional info is an estimate and provided as courtesy. Values may vary according to the ingredients and tools used. Please use your preferred nutritional calculator for more detailed info.