Summer Fresh Recipe Series: Gaucho Beef Kabobs with Corn and Orzo Salad

This is a one dish summer feast!  A gaucho style feast that starts with succulent beef, spiced with just the right Latin flavors, surrounded by an orzo, summer corn, and fresh summer tomato salad!

Gaucho Beef Kabobs with Corn and Orzo Salad

I'm seeing fall food and home items all over Pinterest.  I don't know where these people live but in Southern California it's 94 today which is HOT, which means SUMMER IS STILL HERE!  I don't want to be thinking about pumpkins and stews. Heck no.  Bring on the fresh summer food til there ain't no more!

This Gaucho Beef Kabob is fabulous! Gaucho is a Latin American Cowboy and this food steak would be right up his alley. (or trail!)  Cuts of tender sirloin skewered for ease of cooking are seasoned with spicy Latin flavors.  To go with it we have a wonderful fresh summer salad.  August and September is corn and tomato season so why not put them to good use.  The cool salad tames down the heat of the beef and is the perfect side kick.  Enjoy!

What Ingredients do I need?

• chili powder
• garlic powder
• ground cumin
• ground oregano
• ground black pepper
• 1 - 1 1/2 lbs sirloin steak
• orzo pasta
• 2 fresh corn on the cobs - fresh is best
• red onion
• grape tomatoes
• bell pepper - red, yellow, or orange
• limes - needed for zest and juice
• cilantro
• We also grilled zucchini on the side!

Substitutions and Variations

• Use New York strip or filet mignon
• Use cherry tomatoes cut into 4th instead of grape tomatoes
• Bell peppers - use a sweeter one like red, yellow or orange
• Use shallots instead of red onion, or leave it out

Kitchen Tips and Notes

• If you make a lot of kabob buy some metal skewers.  It will save you money in the long run.

• If using bamboo skewers - soak for 30 minutes before threading to prevent the wood from burning

• You can make the orzo pasta ahead but it is not necessary.

• Microwave your limes for 15 seconds to get more juice out of them!

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Gaucho Beef Kabobs with Corn and Orzo Salad

serves 4

Gaucho Kabobs
4 teaspoons chili powder
2 teaspoons garlic
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon oregano

1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1-1 ½ pounds boneless beef sirloin steak, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces

Corn and Orzo Salad
⅔ cup dried orzo pasta
2 cups fresh corn kernels
1 medium bell pepper, chopped
½ cup thinly sliced red onion
⅔ cup grape tomatoes, halved
1 teaspoon lime zest
¼ cup lime juice
2 tablespoons Fresh cilantro, chopped
2 tablespoons olive oil
Lime wedges and cilantro as garnish

In a small bowl combine chili powder, garlic powder, cumin,  oregano and black pepper.  Rub over meat pieces and thread meat onto skewers, leaving a 1/4 inch between each piece.

Grill meat skewers, covered, over medium heat 8 to 12 minutes or until meat is slightly pink in center, turning skewers once or twice during grilling.

Meanwhile, cook orzo according to package directions, adding corn the last minute of cooking. Drain in a colander. Rinse; drain again. 

In a large bowl combine orzo mixture, bell pepper, onion, and tomatoes.   For dressing: In a small measuring cup combine lime zest and juice, 2 Tbsp. olive oil, the cilantro, and 1/2 tsp. salt.   Cover and shake well. Pour dressing over orzo mixture, tossing to coat. 

To serve, arrange Corn and Orzo Salad on a large platter. Top with meat skewers and, if desired, additional cilantro. Serve with lime wedges.

Summer Fresh Recipe Series: Grilled Chicken Kofta

Tender flavor-packed grilled chicken kofta, filled with fresh herb & spices, will be on the table in under 45 min.  The perfect summer Mediterranean dish!

It's almost time to celebrate the 4th of July and that means you need to fire up the grill and get cooking!  Today I'm bring you my 2nd installment of my Summer Fresh Recipe Series.  Recipes that are filled with fresh summer produce and are easy, light, and oh soooo tasty!  The other day I brought you a light and fresh Greek Cobb Salad.  Since we have Independence Day in mind, some grilling is in order.  Let's take our grilling to the next level with a wonderful, but easy, Mediterranean dish.

GRILLED CHICKEN KOFTA

Kofta is similar to the Persian Kabob Chicken Koobideh which is made with ground chicken and grilled on skewers.  Kofta is made with ground chicken and is loaded with herbs and spices but instead of using skewers they are formed into oval patties and grilled for the best flavor.  They come out tender and juicy and bursting with Mediterranean spices.  

They are perfect served along side my Easy Mediterranean Salad (recipe coming next) or with a side a rice.  I served them with the salad, some hummus and toasted pita.  They are easy to prepare and grill up in 8-10 minutes.  You will have them on the table in under 45 minutes. MGG can attest that they made great leftovers! 

What makes them unique?  They are filled with mint and parsley for a burst of fresh herbs.  They are spiced with Ancho chili powder for complex flavoring, red pepper flakes for a little heat, coriander for a bright citrus burst, and sweet paprika for depth of flavor.  This is no ordinary meatball mix!  

Try something new this 4th of July, or anytime this summer and this dish will surely be a winner in your family.

Enjoy!

Grilled Chicken Kofta

serves: 4

1 small  slice of sandwich bread
1 lb ground chicken
1/3 cup grated onion
1 garlic clove, minced
1/3 cup chopped fresh parsley
2 tbsp chopped fresh mint
1 1/2 tsp Ancho chile powder 

1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
3/4 tsp ground coriander
½ tsp sweet paprika
Kosher salt and pepper
1 egg (raw)
Drizzle extra virgin olive oil


Serve along with: (optional)
Hummus

Mediterranean tomato and cucumber salad
Toasted Pita Bread

Instructions:

Toast the slice of bread in the toaster until golden brown.  Place it in a small bowl and add a little water so the slice become soggy and tender.  Squeeze out the excess water from the bread.  

Place the bread in a large mixing bowl.  Add the ground chicken, onion, garlic, parsley, mint, all the spices, and a pinch of salt and pepper.  Add the egg and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil.  Mix the chicken mixture with your hand until well combined.

Form chicken mixture in to 8 oval patties.  (Wet hands help with the stickiness of the mixture.) Place on a tray and refrigerate for 15 to 20 minutes to allow to set.  Meanwhile preheat your grill.

Grease the grates of your grill or indoor grill pan with oil.  Heat to medium-high heat.  Place the patties on the grill and cook for 4-5 minutes per side or until fully cooked through.  Remove from grill and serve.  

adapted from: The Mediterranean Dish

Steak and Potato Kabobs with Chimichurri Sauce

Yum

Isn't food on a stick more fun to eat?  Well if you put any kind of meat and vegetable on a skewer we call them kabobs!

Since is grilling season I think it's time to get out there and grill some delicious kabobs!  We love don't eat too much beef at our house although I totally love it.  So when we have it I want a great tasting steak.  So why not take my love for meat and potatoes and turn them into kabobs.

These kabobs scream summer and call for dining alfresco.  Tender pieces of lean sirloin are cut into chunks and threaded on skewers.  Wonderful meaty chunks of beef that pack a lot of flavor and come out juicy and tender.  The potatoes are grilled right along side the beef and turn out tender and flavorful from grilling.  

The kicker to the whole dish is a variation on a chimichurri sauce.  This is a uncooked green sauce from Argentina.  Typically made with parsley, garlic, red wine vinegar, and olive oil this version bumps it up a notch with the addition of mint and sumac.   Sumac is found in many Middle Eastern dishes and have a wonderfully tangy lemon flavor.  If you don't have sumac or can't find it you can substitute lemon zest in the sauce and have similar results.  What ever you do don't skip this sauce!!  The flavor is out of this world!!!!  You can make it easily in a food processor and it takes only minutes to pull together.

Tender steak and potato kabobs doused with a refreshing chimichurri sauce is just what the doctor ordered for summertime grilling!  Perfect for a party or the upcoming 4th of July holiday.  

Get outside and grill! This dinner will be on the table in under 30 minutes and is so easy to through together you'll wonder why you haven't made this before.








Steak and Potato Kabobs with Chimichurri Sauce

serves 4

FOR THE CHIMICHURRI, PURÉE: 

2 cups fresh mint leaves 
1 cup fresh parsley leaves 
½ cup extra-virgin olive oil 
2 cloves garlic 
2 Tbsp. each red wine vinegar and fresh lemon juice 
1 ½ tsp. ground sumac 
1 shallot 
1 tsp. red pepper flakes 
Salt and black pepper to taste

FOR THE KABOBS: 

6 yellow new potatoes, halved, and sliced into 1/2" disks
4 Tbsp. olive oil, divided 
1 ¼ lb. top sirloin, cut into 2-inch chunks

Preheat grill for two-zone grilling, heating one side to medium and the other to medium-high. Brush grill grate with oil.

For the chimichurri, purée mint, parsley, 1 ⁄2 cup oil, garlic, vinegar, lemon juice, sumac, shallot, and pepper flakes in a food processor; season with salt and black pepper. 

For the kebabs, toss potatoes with 2 Tbsp. oil; thread potato slices onto each of four skewers so potatoes lay flat. Toss beef with 2 Tbsp. oil. 

Evenly divide and thread beef onto each of four skewers. Season kebabs with salt and black pepper. 

Grill potatoes over medium heat, covered, until brown and soft, about 7 minutes per side. Add beef kebabs to grill; cook over medium-high heat, covered, to desired doneness (about 3 minutes per side for medium-rare). 

Let kebabs rest 5 minutes. While resting, brush kabobs chimichurri sauce. Serve remaining chimichurri on the side.


source:  Cuisine at home

Mediterranean Chicken Kabobs

Yum

Summer, oh Summer, don't leave me yet.....!

I'm in love with summer and I'm going to grill until the rain comes!  Even though the evenings are shorter now I still find that we love to grill and eat al fresco every chance we get.

Our go to meal this summer has been this extremely tasty grilled chicken dish, but MGG's love of kabobs is the inspiration for today's recipe.  When shopping for food the other day he said "Let's make chicken kabobs, but not Persian ones, something with a different flair."  Taking that lead I knew that we had enough vegetables to make a Mediterranean meal, so we grabbed some chicken and a lemon and off we went.

Mediterranean Chicken Kabobs

What are kabobs?  They are varieties of meat that are cooked on skewers or a spit.  Typically from the middle east, but many countries have a version of a kabob (kebab).  They've been adapted in American to fit any type of meat and vegetable mix with any flavor profile.  I've made Jamaican Jerk Chicken Kabobs, Lemon Garlic Beef Kabobs, Moorish Pork Kabobs, and Hawaiian Chicken Kabobs to name a few.  Anything goes!

It's all about the flavor! 

Mediterranean Chicken Kabobs

serves 4

2 tsp Spanish paprika
1 tsp dried thyme
1 tsp dried oregano
4 clove minced garlic
Salt and pepper
1/4 cup lemon juice - 1 lemon
1/2 cup blood orange olive oil
2 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into cubes
1 large zucchini, halved and cut into large chunks
1 large yellow squash, halved and cut into large chunks

wooden skewers

In a re-sealable bag add the cubed chicken along with the spices, salt and pepper to taste, garlic, lemon juice and olive oil. Toss to coat. Allow to marinate in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours.

If using wooden skewers place them in water and soak for 30 minutes.

Place sliced vegetables in a medium bowl and toss with olive oil. Season with salt and pepper.

Pre-heat a gas grill to medium heat. Thread the chicken cubes, zucchini, and yellow squash onto wood skewers. 

Lightly oil the grill grate. Place the kabobs on the grate and cover, turning occasionally for 12-15 minutes, or until the chicken juices run clear. Remove and serve immediately.

Lemon Garlic Herb Chicken and Beef Kabobs with Roasted Veggies

Yum

We're having a wonderful Spring so far and the weather is wonderful.  Taking advantage of the semi-hot days and the cooler evenings, it's time to break out the grill!  We just love kabobs and we both love beef and chicken.  So why pick when you can have both.

Today's recipe is all about basting sauce.  Don't get me wrong the chicken and beef are stars in itself but this lemon, garlic, and herb basting sauce just takes this over the top!  I love anything with lemon on it, but this combination is one of the best.  Why have plain old meat when you can jazz it up with flavors that carry a punch?  Can't think of any reason...

We decided to fire up the grill and make "all meat" kabobs and roast the veggies in the oven.  MGG also wanted Roasted Cauliflower and Tahini Sauce as well so it was easier to just roast all the veggies at once instead of mixing them with the protein on the kabobs.  Not to worry though, the veggies got a good douse of the basting sauce as well, so they came out sizzling and delishhhh!

LEMON GARLIC HERB CHICKEN AND BEEF KABOBS

We used summer squash (yellow squash) and zucchini as the veggies.  Boneless chicken breasts were cubed and threaded onto skewers, and for the beef we used sirloin steak that was cubed as well and threaded onto skewers.

While the veggies were roasting in the oven MGG grilled the meat outside, rotating the meat and dousing them with this wonderful basting sauce.  The smell of garlic, and the tang of lemon, and the savory taste of the herbs is heaven.  This was definitely a favorite meal.  One that we will repeat over and over this summer!

Your whole family will love this easy to pull together meal, I promise.

Enjoy!





Lemon Garlic Herb Chicken and Beef Kabobs with Roasted Veggies

Kabobs:

1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts, cubed

1 lb sirloin steak, fat removed, and cubed

bamboo skewers

Roasted Vegetables:

2 Summer Squash, cut lengthwise and sliced in big chunks

2 Zucchini, cut lengthwise and slice in big chunks

Marinade/Basting Sauce:
1½ tablespoons finely minced garlic
1 tablespoon fresh lemon zest
4 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
1/4 - 1/3 cup minced fresh herbs, I used a mix of oregano and thyme

1 teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon pepper
4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

Soak your bamboo skewers in water for at least 30 minutes to prevent burning.

Preheat your oven to 425 degrees.

In a small bowl combine the garlic, lemon zest, lemon juice, herbs, salt, pepper, and olive oil. Remove 3 tablespoons to a small bowl and set aside.  The larger bowl will be for basting the meat on the grill. 

Thread the chicken breasts onto skewers leaving a small amount of space between them.  Do the same with the steak.  Make sure to cook them on separate skewers as the chicken and beef cook at different rates. Set aside.  Preheat the grill to medium high.

Place the chopped vegetables in a bowl and pour the 3 tablespoons over them, tossing to coat.  Spread the veggies on a baking sheet in an even layer.  Place in the preheated oven and cook for 15 minutes.  Take the veggies out and turn them over and place them back in the oven for another 10-15 minutes until golden brown.  Make sure to watch them so they don't burn.

Meanwhile, on a preheated grill the chicken first turning after 5-6 minutes.  Place the beef on shortly after and turn after 5 minutes for medium.  When you turn both meats, use the basting sauce and give this side a good dousing.  Grill chicken another 5-6 minutes, turning and basting.  Grill the steak to your desired degree of doneness, turning and basting all sides.  Remove from the grill and place on a platter.

Remove vegetables from the oven and arrange on the platter with the kabobs.  Serve with sliced lemons.

Jamaican Jerk Chicken Kabobs

There is just something about eating food that's on a stick. I'm not quite sure what it is, but it's just fun!  Any food on a stick.  It could be a popsicle, roasted marshmallows, satay...it's just really cool.

Today we are making kabobs.  They originated in the Middle East and are so popular all over now that you see them popping in many different cuisines.  We both love kabobs and find that they are quick and easy to assemble and to cook.  They are something that you can grill on a charcoal or gas grill and are usually made with beef, pork, chicken, lamb, and mixed with vegetables....or not!

I usually pick a theme for dinner and all the dishes are surrounding that theme. Today we are dreaming of Jamaica. I love, love, love jerk chicken and decided to make Jamaican Jerk Chicken Kabobs.  The perfect dish for grilling!

This is really simple to make.  You just take your chicken, some veggies, and some Jamaican Jerk seasoning and assemble your kabobs.  Serve it with some Coconut Rice and you are all set for night in Jamaica!  I happened to have a friend that just got married in Jamaica and she brought me some authentic Jamaican Jerk Seasoning, which I used but you can use any brand you like from the store. Mine was super hot (habaneros...) but I've found that there are many out there that are not quite that hot so everyone is happy.

So what's your favorite item on a stick?

Today ours is kabobs...but tomorrow who know?

Enjoy!




Jamaican Jerk Chicken Kabobs

serves 4

1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts
1/2 red onion, cut into chunks
1 red bell pepper, seeded and cut into chunks
1 summer squash, cut in half and into chunks
1 zucchini, cut in half and into chunks
Jamaican Jerk seasoning blend
skewers (wooden or metal)

Heat your grill (charcoal or gas) to medium high heat.

Cut your boneless skinless chicken into 2 inch chunks.  Sprinkle with jerk seasoning on all sides.  To assemble your skewers:  thread skewers with a pieces of onion, bell pepper, chicken, squash, and zucchini alternating.  I start out with 1 or 2 vegetables and then add chicken and alternate with more vegetables, ending with a vegetable.  About 4 pieces of chicken per skewer. 2-3 skewers per person.

Cook over medium high heat until chicken is thoroughly cooked through, about 10-12 minutes. Rotate the skewers several times to cook all sides.  Serve with rice.

Restaurant Review: Panini Cafe

A visit to Panini Cafe for fresh paninis, pastries, and casual café vibes—here’s what we ordered and what stood out.

Review of Panini Cafe

MGG and I love to try new restaurants.  One weekend we happened to go to a relatively new place called Panini Cafe  over in Woodland Hills that serves Italian and Mediterranean food. 

WoooWee!  Did we hit the jackpot.  Their food is outstanding!  Let me say upfront that Panini Cafe isn’t asking me or paying me to say this.  They don’t even know about it!  These are purely our own impressions of their wonderful dishes! 

The menu is filled with wonderful items.  They serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner.  Breakfast specialties include scrambles and omelets, French toast, and oatmeal.  We haven’t had their breakfast yet but hear that it is delish! 

We've eaten here several times now and are addicted to some items.  Both times we have a late lunch or early diner after a long day of running around.  Each time we’ve chosen an appetizer that will knock your socks off.   We’ve had their fresh Tatziki with fresh pita bread…killer.  This time we chose their Humus Trio which consists of 3 varieties of humus (black bean, traditional, and edamame) and includes fresh pita and chopped tomatoes and greens.  The Edamame humus is my favorite.  Nice and light but with a zip of garlic.  As I was eating this I said…”I need to buy more of this and take it home!”  Just fabulous!   Just look at this appetizer plate.  It’s rather large and should be shared by several people, or you can try and eat it all yourself like I almost did.  

Now, on to the main course.  We've tried several of their dishes such as Mousaka and the Linguine with Grilled Vegetables and Feta.  Both were delicious!  But my hands down, flip your skirt up, favorite dish has to be the Charbroiled Chicken Skish kabob.  O..M..G!  Even the menu says “A MUST” next to the item…that says it all!

Just look at this baby.  A HUGE plate with wonderful, succulent, marinated chicken, and vegetables.  And that’s not all…it comes with your choice of grain and salad.  We chose the Basmati Rice and a Romaine Avocado Salad dressed with a light lemon vinaigrette.  HEAVEN!

This is my new obsession.  I can’t stop thinking about it.  So much so I think I will order some to take home for dinner tonight.

So if you get the change to try the Panini Cafe, please do.  The food is outstanding.  The atmosphere is nice.  It’s a family friendly place with excellent food.  Next time I’m not going to eat so much food so I can try one of their desserts…they look decadent for sure.

 

World Grilling: Moorish Pork Kabobs

I just took another cooking class and boy was it fun!

The class held at Williams-Sonoma was a hands on class on World Grilling.  We made three different kabobs from various countries.  First off was a Greek kabob, then we made a North African kabob, and then the hit of the night (for me at least!) were the Moorish Pork Kabobs (Pinchos Morunos).

Now the Moors were Muslims and did not eat pork, so Christian Spain took the Arab seasonings traditionally used on lamb kabobs and applied them to their beloved meat, pork.  You could use the marinade on chicken just as easily and the results would be outstanding.

I just loved the savory flavors of the cumin, turmeric, oregano, and the kick of cayenne.  This is an excellent marinade!  It may be a little hot for the little ones, so leave out the cayenne pepper if feeding the kids.  

This is a definite winner, loved by all that tasted it!  So next time you grill try some flavors from around the globe.

Moorish Pork Kabobs

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 3 Tbs. ground cumin
• 2 Tbs. ground coriander
• 1 Tbs. sweet paprika
• 1 1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper
• 1 tsp. ground turmeric
• 1 tsp. dried oregano
• 1 tsp. salt, plus more, to taste
• 1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
• 2 lb. pork shoulder, cut into 1-inch cubes
• 2 Tbs. minced garlic
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
• 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
• Lemon wedges for garnish 

Directions:

In a small fry pan, combine the olive oil, cumin, coriander, paprika, cayenne pepper, turmeric, oregano, the 1 tsp. salt and the black pepper. Place over low heat until warmed through and fragrant, about 3 minutes. Remove from the heat and let cool to room temperature.

Place the pork pieces in a bowl and rub with the spice mixture. Add the garlic, parsley and lemon juice and toss well. Cover and refrigerate overnight.

Preheat a cast-iron grill pan over medium-high heat, or prepare a hot fire in a grill.

Thread the meat onto skewers and season with salt. Place on the grill pan or a grill rack and grill, turning once, until just cooked through, about 4 minutes per side. Transfer to a platter and serve with lemon wedges.

 

Serves 8.

 

Adapted from Williams-Sonoma Savoring Series, Savoring Spain & Portugal, by Joyce Goldstein (Time-Life Books, 2000).