Ginger-Lemongrass Chicken Skewers with Spicy Peanut Dipping Sauce
At the Market we sell platters of these as appetizers, but they’re also a great way to make a little bit of chicken stretch into a light entrée. They’re always a crowd-pleaser, so make more than you think you’ll need. The skewers are wonderful paired with grilled or steamed veggies and a mound of coconut-infused rice. Leftovers are great on a sandwich, too. For this recipe, you’ll need thirty 6-inch or 8-inch wooden skewers (a few extras never hurt) that have been soaked in water for 2 hours.
Recipe information
Yield
MAKES ABOUT 30 SMALL SKEWERS
Ingredients
Preparation
Step 1
Cut the pale yellow bottom portion off the lemongrass stalk and discard the green top. Trim about 3/4 inch from the root end, then peel off and discard the tough outer layers. You should end up with a stick of only the more tender inner layers, about 1/2 inch thick and 3 inches long. Finely mince the lemongrass, along with the ginger and garlic; the pieces should be no bigger than 1/16 inch. (You can do most of this in a food processor and finish with a little hand chopping.) Put the mixture in a medium bowl and stir in the scallions, the oil, 1 tablespoon of the lime juice, 2 teaspoons of the fish sauce, and 1/2 teaspoon of the honey.
Step 2
Slice the chicken into 1/3-inch-thick strips about 1 inch wide—slice across the grain and at an angle on breasts, and with the grain on thighs. You should have about 30 strips. Add to the bowl with the lemongrass mixture, stir to coat the chicken evenly, and refrigerate for about 30 minutes.
Step 3
To make the dipping sauce, put the peanut butter in a small bowl. Stir in enough warm water to make a thick sauce (about 1/4 cup, depending on the peanut butter), then add the vinegar, chile garlic sauce, and the remaining 2 teaspoons fish sauce, 1 1/2 teaspoons lime juice, and 1/4 teaspoon honey. Taste and adjust the saltiness, heat, or acidity to your liking; thin with more water if necessary.
Step 4
Prepare a medium-hot gas or charcoal grill or heat a large grill pan. Meanwhile, thread the chicken onto the skewers. Grill the chicken, flipping once, until just cooked through, 1 to 3 minutes per side. (Alternatively, you can cook the skewers under a broiler—about 8 minutes total—but they won’t brown as well.)
Step 5
Serve with the dipping sauce.
