Grilling Season: Shish Kebab Secrets
The lawn is freshly mowed and dad has on his fresh white New Balance shoes. The sun is out, but not too hot with blue skies and no rain clouds in sight. Mixed in with the smells of the blooming flowers of spring is the distinct smell of smoke pouring off the grill. Spring is a beautiful season after a cold and dreary winter, but maybe even better than spring, the Grilling season is now here!
Cooking on the grill is its own kind of art form. Meats - Veggies - Potatoes - and everything in between is that much more delicious on the grill. Or you can pack them all on one delicious stick with shish kebab.
The oxford definition of a shish kebab is: a dish of pieces of marinated meat and vegetables cooked and served on skewers - and the literal meaning is “gobbets of meat roasted on a spit or skewer.” Traditionally shish kebabs are made of lamb, but today there are versions with basically any meat, or none at all. Steak and chicken are of the more popular versions, but you can also use fish, other seafood, or even tofu. Some of the best veggies to use are mushrooms, tomatoes, bell peppers, onions, and zucchini. Again, this can be a personal choice, you can use any veggie you like.
Like most cooking adventures, there are secrets to creating the very best kebab.
Make each skewer with one ingredient. While it is the combination that packs in the flavor profile and really makes a Kebab, it is also impossible to make a meat and veggie skewer all together and cook everything perfectly. You will end up with perfectly cooked meat (hopefully) paired with undercooked mushrooms and overcooked tomatoes. If you create a meat skewer, a pepper skewer, a mushroom skewer, etc. it gives you the ability to cook each element to perfection, and then combine later!
Consistent cuts are key. It can be quite a disappointment to grab a skewer and see you have an ant size portion of steak, but a giant chunk of onion, with everything else varying in size between the two. Making uniform cuts ensures the cook times will be accurate, you get an even amount of every element, and it will just be that more aesthetically pleasing to look at.
Leave a little space between each piece. When it comes to the finished product, you can jam-pack as much as possible on each skewer, but for cooking, it is important to leave a little room. If they are packed in too tightly they won’t cook properly in the middle.
Fresh is Best! When it comes to the ingredients you used, whether it is the meat or the vegetables, using fresh ingredients will enhance the taste of your kebabs.
It is all about the seasoning! When cooking anything the addition of seasoning can make all the difference in the world. Luckily Julia Belle’s has the best ones for the job, check out some of our grilling favorites for both the meats and veggies.
Rockin the Bird - This hand-blended seasoning is superb when you want great flavor with just a hint of heat for your fried, baked, roasted, or grilled chicken dishes. Excellent in all your ground meats, on French fries, or baked or steamed veggies.
Espresso Chili Rub - Can be used as a rub or marinade (with olive oil, orange juice, orange juice, and zest). Adds a fantastic flavor to steaks, pork, lamb, salmon, duck, and heartier seafood.
Jamaican Jerk Style Seasoning - Add the distinct taste of Caribbean flavor to all your special dishes. For real jerk flavor, it’s worth the extra time it takes to make a marinade, but if you're not into marinades the flavor is still great sprinkled over ribs, chicken, fish, and grilled shrimp or veggies.
Grilling season is one of the best times of the year. Spring into the season this year with the help of Julia Belle’s Seasoning. The addition of these unique hand-blended seasonings, rubs, and mixes can help you elevate your skills to be on par with the grill masters on Food Network. We take grilling seriously and with our seasonings, you can become the talk of the neighborhood after every cookout. It is about time to plan the first one of the season - check out our shop to make sure you have everything you need in time.