Skewers refer to a cooking method where pieces of food, typically meat, vegetables, or seafood, are threaded onto a long thin rod or stick and cooked over a grill, under a broiler, or over an open flame. The skewer itself can be made of metal, bamboo, or other suitable materials that can withstand heat without burning (although wooden skewers like bamboo need to be soaked in water first to prevent burning).
Types of Skewers:
Meat Skewers: Often include chicken, beef, lamb, or pork, marinated in various spices and sauces before grilling.
Vegetable Skewers: Can include any combination of vegetables such as bell peppers, onions, mushrooms, and zucchini.
Seafood Skewers: May feature shrimp, fish, scallops, or other seafood, sometimes combined with vegetables.
Skewers are popular worldwide and appear in many cuisines under different names:
Kebabs: Common in Middle Eastern and South Asian cuisines.
Satay: A Southeast Asian version, typically served with a peanut sauce.
Yakitori: A Japanese variant that involves skewering chicken and grilling it over a charcoal fire.
Skewers are favored for their convenience at cookouts and barbecues, allowing for easy serving and eating, and for the way they evenly cook small pieces of food, enhancing flavor through marination and quick grilling.
