Brochette Recipes: Shrimp, Beef & Chicken Brochette

Brochettes, which are the French word (pronounced "bro-SHET") for skewers in English. It allows ingredients to cook through fast and evenly, sealing in moisture as well as flavor. All too often, we grill chicken or beef brochettes (or kebabs) and think that it is special only because of the skewer.

I will be sharing with you 3 different brochette recipes in this article — one for Chicken, Beef and Shrimp so that you too can make these extraordinary restaurant-quality meals right at home.

Delicious Brochette Recipes: Chicken, Beef, and Shrimp

So first up the chicken brochette, a simple recipe that is big on taste and perfect for getting something in your mouth fast … Follow that up with a whiskey smoker beef brochette, marinated in red wine and conclude the deal by grilling some chili bacon wrapped shrimp boerewors puppets.

Chicken Brochettes

These chicken skewers are simple, tasty and have a refreshing summer flavour that accompanies very well with it. So, lets begin with the ingredients and start cooking!

Ingredients

• Chicken: 2 skinless, boneless chicken breasts (6 oz each, 175g)

• Bay leaves: 6 fresh

• Red onion: ½ medium, peeled, halved, and separated into 8 layers

• Yellow pepper: ½ large, deseeded and cut into 8 pieces

• Peanut oil (or any neutral oil): 1 teaspoon

• Salt and pepper: To taste

Marinade Ingredients

• Garlic: 1 clove, crushed

• Fresh ginger: 1 teaspoon, peeled and grated

• Green chili: 1, deseeded and chopped

• Fresh coriander (cilantro): 1 tablespoon, chopped

• Turmeric: 1 teaspoon, ground

• Buttermilk: 6 fluid ounces

• Salt and pepper: To taste

Directions

〰 Make the Marinade: Crush the garlic with ½ teaspoon of salt until it forms a paste. Add Grated ginger, chopped chili, coriander leafs, turmeric and black pepper. Add buttermilk and mix everything together.

〰 Marinate the chicken: Slice each piece of chiken breasts to get for 5 slices. Place the chicken in to marinate and cover your bowl with a lid, then pop it into the fridge for several hours (or overnight is even better!)

〰 How To Prepare Skewer: Soak the wooden skewers in some hot water for 30 minutes before using them.

〰 Form the Brochettes: Place a bay leaf, piece of chicken ond onion and bell pepper onto each skewer You can need to do this twice on each skewer, with a bay leaf at the end.

〰 To Preheat and Grill: Heat the grill on high for 10 minutes. With the grill at medium-high heat (about 4 inches from flame), rotate skewers every few minutes, brushing them with marinade throughout cook. Grill on one side for 10 minutes; flip and grill the other for an additional 8-9 mins or until fully cooked.

Beef Brochettes

These beef brochettes are a nice, flavorful way to enjoy juicy and tender bites of seasoned beef with just a touch of red wine. Great for a quick weeknight dinner or weekend BBQ.

Ingredients

• Beef: Prepared beef brochettes or tenderloin pieces, threaded on wooden skewers

• Red wine: For the marinade

• Shallots: Chopped

• Garlic: Crushed

• Seasonings: garlic seasoning (or whatever is your favorite spice)

• Rosemary: Fresh, chopped

• Olive oil: For the marinade

• Red onions: Sliced thick, for grilling

• Balsamic salad dressing: To marinade the onions

Instructions

〰 Prepare the Marinade: In a dish, mix red wine, chopped shallots, crushed garlic, seasoning, rosemary, and olive oil. Use a whisk to combine everything.

〰 Marinate the Beef: Place the beef brochettes in the marinade, turning to coat them fully. Cover the dish and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, or up to 4 hours.

〰 Marinate the Onions: Cut red onions into ¾-inch thick rings. Insert a skewer through each ring, place in a plastic bag, and add balsamic salad dressing. Seal and refrigerate.

〰 Preheat the Grill: Heat your grill to 450°F. Place a cast iron pan on the grill and let it heat up for 15 minutes.

〰 Grill the Brochettes: Wipe beef brochettes dry and lay on hot cast iron pan. Grill on both sides for 5 minutes. Grill the onion rings until well browned, 4-5 minutes per side.

〰 Serve: Let the meat rest for a few minutes under foil, season with salt, and serve with horseradish sauce or balsamic onion rings.

Shrimp Brochettes

If you’re a fan of seafood, these shrimp brochettes will be your new favorite. With jalapeño and bacon, they bring a delicious balance of heat and savoriness.

Ingredients

• Shrimp: 2 pounds, large, peeled, deveined, and butterflied

• Monterey Jack cheese: 8 oz, sliced

• Jalapeños: 3, seeded and julienned

• Bacon: 1 pound, cut into thirds

• Cajun seasoning: 1 teaspoon (or to taste)

• Skewers: Soaked in water

Instructions

〰 To make Shrimp: stuff a jalapeño strip into each butterflied shrimp, wrap with bacon and string on skewer. Be sure to spread shrimp out so they don't overcook. Season with Cajun seasoning.

〰 Preheat the Grill: Rub Grill Grates with an Oil Cloth and Preheat grill to high heat.

〰 Grill Shrimp: Cook the shrimp skewers for 2-3 minutes on each side. Place 1 slice of cheese over each shrimp.

〰 To Serve: Serve hot with suggested sides like dirty rice salad or crusty bread.

Tips for Making Perfect Brochettes

〰 Soak Skewers: If you are using wooden skewers, make sure to soak them in water before grilling so they do not burn.

〰 Marinate for flavors: Allow your proteins to marinate and soak in the flavors.

〰 Even Cooking: Cut ingredients to a uniform size, so everything cooks at the same time.

FAQs

Is it ok to use metal skewers instead of wood ones?

Yes, metal skewers are just fine and need no soaking.

What is the required marinate time for these brochettes?

At least 30 minutes, but for best results, a few hours is ideal.

Can I make brochettes in the oven instead of on a grill?

Yes, broil them in the oven at high heat for a similar result.

What sides go well with brochettes?

Couscous, rice, and fresh salads pair beautifully with any brochette.

How do I know when the brochettes are done?

Use a meat thermometer: 165°F for chicken, 130°F for medium-rare beef, and firm, opaque shrimp indicate doneness.