Spiced Chicken Kebabs with Homemade Romesco Sauce Recipe

Receta de Pincho Moruno con Salsa Romesco Casera

1 Hour 5 Minutes

6 skewers

Ingredients

For the Romesco Sauce:
1/4 cup olive oil
1 head garlic, roasted
1/2 cup Marcona almonds
1/2 cup roasted hazelnuts
1 (1 1/2-inch) slice crusty bread, toasted
1 can (~15 oz) fire roasted tomatoes, drained and rinsed of seeds
10 whole fire-roasted piquillo peppers
3 tsp sweet smoked paprika
2-3 tbsp sherry vinegar
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
1 tsp sea salt
For the Skewers and Marinade:
1 1/2 lbs chicken (boneless and skinless, cut into 1-1 ½-inch pieces)
1/4 cup table salt
6 cups hot water
4 tbsp smoked olive oil
2-3 fresh lemons (about ½ cup juice for marinade)
2 tbsp honey
3 garlic cloves, peeled and finely chopped
1 tsp smoked paprika
1 tsp hot smoked paprika, if you want the chicken a bit spicier
1 tbsp fresh thyme leaves or 1 ½ tsp dried thyme
3/4 tsp ground ginger
3/4 tsp ground cinnamon
3/4 tsp ground coriander
3/4 tsp ground cayenne pepper
1/2 tsp ground cumin
1/4 tsp each ground allspice and ground cloves
1/2 tsp each sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
4 slices bacon cut into ~1-inch pieces (about 18 pieces)
1 red pepper, deseeded and cut into 1-inch squares
1 yellow pepper, deseeded and cut into 1-inch squares
1 medium sweet white onion peeled, halved and cut into quarters
Skewers (soaked in water 30 minutes if wooden)

Nutritional Facts

Calories 872
Total Fat 43.7 gr (56%)
Saturated Fat 8.3 gr (41%)
Cholesterol 212 mg (71%)
Sodium 1396 mg (61%)
Total Carbohydrates 33.3 gr (12%)
Fiber 4.4 gr (16%)
Sugars 15.7 gr
Protein 83.4 gr
Vitamin D 0%
Calcium 9%
Iron 90%
Potassium 21%

* Percent Daily Values are based on 2000 calorie diet. Your Daily Values may be higher or lower depending on your caloric needs.

Moorish spiced meat skewers are an extremely popular tapa throughout all of Spain. The spice blend was introduced to Spain by the Moors who occupied the Iberian Peninsula during the 8th to 15th centuries. While most Pinchos Morunos recipes don’t include vegetables, adding optional pieces of peppers and onions brightens and lightens them up. We’ve also added the optional step of brining the chicken which will give you the juiciest chicken kebabs ever! Serve the kebabs with delicious homemade fresh Romesco sauce which goes great with any grilled meats.

Steps

Preheat oven to 400°F. Rub off any excess skin from the head of garlic and cut ½ inch from the top. Place garlic on a piece of foil large enough to enclose the garlic well. Drizzle the cut top of the garlic with olive oil and lightly rub it into the cloves. Bring the corners of the foil up and twist tightly (making sure the foil is not touching the top of the garlic). Roast in the oven for about 30 minutes. Unwrap and let rest until needed. Place the almonds and hazelnuts into a food processor and pulse until finely ground. Tear toasted bread into pieces and pulse with the nuts until fine. While the food processor is running on medium speed, add the tomatoes, roasted piquillo peppers, roasted garlic (squeezed from its skins) and the remainder of the ingredients except olive oil and vinegar. Process until the sauce is a thick purée. With the processor still running, slowly drizzle in the olive oil and 2 tbsp of the vinegar. Add salt and more vinegar to taste. Transfer to a serving bowl, cover and chill until needed. The sauce will keep refrigerated for up to one week. Begin by brining the chicken (optional). Add 4 cups hot water to a large pot and dissolve the ¼ cup table salt. Add chicken pieces and allow to brine for 20-30 minutes. In a large mixing bowl, make marinade by whisking together olive oil, lemon juice, honey, garlic and spices. Reserve ¼ cup marinade in a separate small bowl. Drain the chicken from the brine (if using) and add chicken pieces to a bowl or large freezer bag. Pour marinade over chicken, cover bowl or press air out of the bag and seal tightly. Gently squeeze and turn the bag to distribute the marinade around the chicken evenly. Refrigerate for at least 3 hours or overnight. Thread one piece of chicken, bacon slice, pepper, and onions (keep onions to 2 to 3 layers of thickness) in alternate fashion, rotating the color of peppers. Repeat process until you have 6 kebabs. Preheat outdoor grill. Spray or wipe grill rack with oil and cook the skewers over high heat for 3-4 minutes per side, basting with reserved marinade and turning 2-3 times so chicken cooks evenly. Cook until the chicken is nicely charred and is firm to the touch. Serve with romesco sauce and a glass of Spanish white or rosé wine.