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Oasis Chicken Kebabs
Oasis Chicken Kebabs bring the bold flavors of Uighur cuisine straight to your backyard grill. This dish features tender cubes of chicken breast and thigh meat seasoned simply with crushed cumin, salt, and a hint of cayenne pepper. The skewers cook quickly over a medium flame, developing a beautiful char while remaining juicy inside. They are an excellent choice for a relaxed weekend cookout or a fast weeknight dinner. Serve them hot off the grill for a satisfying meal that requires minimal prep work.
Ingredients
- 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts and/or thighs
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon crushed or ground cumin seeds
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne
Instructions
- 1Soak 10 to 12 long wooden skewers in water for 30 minutes if you plan to use them instead of metal ones.
- 2Prepare a fire in a charcoal grill or preheat a gas grill to establish a medium-low flame.
- 3Position the grill rack approximately 5 inches above the coals or gas burners.
- 4Cut the boneless, skinless chicken breasts and thighs into uniform cubes measuring about 3/4 to 1 inch thick.
- 5Thread the cut chicken pieces onto the prepared skewers.
- 6Leave a small gap between each piece of meat and keep at least 2 inches of empty space at both ends of the skewer.
- 7Avoid overloading the skewers to ensure the chicken cooks evenly from all sides.
- 8Place the loaded skewers directly onto the hot grill rack.
- 9Season the meat with a third of the salt, a third of the cumin, and a pinch of cayenne pepper, then cover the grill and cook for 4 minutes.
- 10Loosen the chicken from the grate with tongs, roll the skewers onto their sides, cover, and grill for 3 more minutes.
- 11Rotate the skewers another quarter turn, season with the remaining salt, cumin, and cayenne, cover, and cook for 3 minutes.
- 12Give the skewers one final turn and grill covered for 2 to 3 minutes until the meat is completely cooked through the center.
- 13Remove the skewers from the heat and serve the chicken directly on the sticks or slide the pieces onto a large platter.