Yogurt marinated Aleppo Pepper Chicken Kababs
It’s a mouthful to say, but it’s a delicious mouthful. These kababs are true to their name. Chicken cubes are submerged in yogurt based marinade that is flavored primarily with Aleppo Pepper. Aleppo pepper is, like its name suggests, a pepper native to Aleppo, Syria. It has a subtle yet unique flavor unlike your basic paprika. It has notes of earthy cumin and a very light spice that pairs perfectly with the yogurt and lemon juice. These Aleppo pepper chicken kababs are marinated in minimal ingredients but the flavors are unmatched!
Time is your best friend when it comes to kababs
The longer you marinate your chicken, the better it’ll taste and the more tender it’ll be. That doesn’t mean you leave the marinated chicken kababs in the fridge for a week. I’m talking more along the lines of 1-2 days. The longer the kababs marinate, the more time the Aleppo pepper has to sink into the chicken. The yogurt will have more time to tenderize the chicken, and you’ll be left with delicious and flavorful kababs. Yogurt and lemon juice work wonders when it comes to tenderizing meat.
You can cook up these Aleppo pepper chicken kababs any way you like
While I love a good summer bbq, I have to remind myself that I live in the midwest, where rain and winters comes in abundance. So even though my first preference would be to grill these, cooking them stovetop or in the oven is just fine. I like adding onions and bell peppers to the mix to add a difference in texture and color. Red bell peppers would really bring the flavor of Aleppo pepper out, but green works great as well. One thing I would insist on you using is the Aleppo Pepper itself. While some say a mix of normal paprika and cayenne is a good substitute, I’ve found that there’s no match to Aleppo pepper itself. You can easily find this at your local Arab grocery store or even your local Whole Foods or Marianos. As for Pakistan, I’m sure you can find this spice at any large grocery store. You can find my favorite brand of Aleppo Pepper here.
Aleppo Pepper Chicken Kababs
Equipment
- 6-8 bamboo bbq skewers
Ingredients
Chicken
- 1 pound chicken cubes breast or thighs
- 2 tbsp yogurt
- 1 tsp crushed garlic
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp Aleppo Pepper
- 3/4 tsp salt or add according to taste
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1/4 tsp Kashmiri laal mirch or cayenne pepper
Skewers
- 1/2 onion cut into squares
- 1 bell pepper cut into squares
- 6-8 bamboo bbq skewers
- lemon wedges to serve
Instructions
- Add all the ingredients listed under chicken to a medium bowl. Mix well, cover and marinate for at least 5 hours in the fridge, but overnight is recommended. If you are short on time marinate at room temperature for at least 1 hour.
- Soak the bamboo skwers in water for at least 20 minutes so they don't burn while you cook the chicken.
- Start assembling the skewer by placing an onion square, then slide a piece of chicken and continue alternating between chicken and vegetable squares until half the skewer is full. Finish off with a vegetable and set onto a plate.
- Grilling instructions: Place the chicken kababs on a hot grill (line with foil for easy cleanup) and cook on either side for 3-4 minutes.
- Oven instructions: Preheat oven to 400 F. Place the chicken kababs on a baking rack in a baking sheet, spray or lightly brush skewers with oil and bake for 20-25 minutes, flipping half way. Bake until the chicken starts to get some color on it. You an also place under the broiler for 1-2 minutes to get a light char.
- Stovetop instructions: Heat a little oil in a pan and place the chicken kababs in the pan on a medium flame. Cook on either side for 4-5 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and is golden brown.
- Serving instructions: Sprinkle over a little Aleppo pepper onto the cooked chicken kababs and serve immediately. Place a piece of pita bread or naan on a platter. Stack the Aleppo pepper chicken kababs onto the pita and serve with some lemon wedges.
Notes
Have you tried these flavorful Aleppo Pepper Chicken kababs?
I love hearing your feedback. If you tried this recipe I’d love to hear how it turned out in the comments below.
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