Za'atar Spiced Chicken Skewers with Whipped Feta
Summertime is when I least feel like cooking and easy recipes like this find their way into my weekly menu. These juicy chicken skewers are flavored with lemon, garlic and za’atar. They can be grilled on the stovetop or an outdoor barbecue. A cool, garlicky whipped feta works as a dipping sauce. Served with some crunchy lettuce and/or pita bread they make for a light and satisfying summer meal.
Recipes
Za’atar Spiced Chicken Skewers
(Serves 4)
Ingredients
500 grams (1 lb) skinless, boneless chicken thighs, cut into 1 1/2” pieces
2 tbsp za’atar spice blend (homemade or store-bought)
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil, more for frying
1 tsp garlic paste
1 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 tsp lemon zest
Salt and freshly cracked black pepper to taste
Few fresh lemon wedges
Method
In a mixing bowl, combine the chicken thighs along with the za’atar spice, olive oil, lemon juice, lemon zest, garlic paste, pepper and salt. Use clean hands to mix everything well. Cover and refrigerate for at least two hours or overnight.
Soak small wooden skewers in water for an hour. Drain and wipe them dry. Skewer the marinated chicken pieces through the wooden skewers and line them up on a plate.
Heat a cast iron or nonstick griddle over medium-low heat. Brush it liberally with olive oil. Place the chicken skewers in the pan, taking care not to overcrowd it (grill them in two batches, if needed). Cook the skewers for a total time of for 10-12 minutes, turning them over every 3-4 minutes to ensure even browning.
Remove the skewers from the pan and squeeze some lemon juice over the chicken. Serve along with the whipped feta (recipe below), fresh lettuce leaves and/or pita bread.
Whipped Feta Dip
Ingredients
200 gms feta cheese, broken into pieces
1 tbsp plain yogurt
1 tsp chopped garlic
1 tsp lemon juice
1 tsp honey*
1/2 tsp dried mint (optional)
1/2 tsp freshly cracked black pepper (more for garnish)
1 tsp freshly chopped cilantro/parsley, for garnish
Method
Combine all the ingredients in a small blender jar and blend until smooth. Spoon the dip into a small serving bowl and refrigerate until chilled.
Garnish with some freshly cracked black pepper, chopped cilantro and serve the whipped feta alongside the chicken skewers. If you want to drizzle the feta over the skewers, add two more tablespoons of yogurt to the mix.
*Since the feta I used was very salty, I added some sweetener (honey) and acid (lemon juice) to balance the flavors.
