3090. CHICKEN SKEWERS with BACON PASTE

yields six servings 


For the BBQ Sauce

½ cup ketchup
¼ cup honey
2 tablespoons yellow onion, grated
2 tablespoons worcestershire sauce
2 tablespoons dijon mustard
2 tablespoons cider vinegar
1 tablespoon brown sugar
hot sauce, a few dashes

For the Chicken
2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs, fat trimmed and cut into 1-inch cubes
2 tablespoons kosher salt
2 tablespoons sweet paprika
4 teaspoons sugar
2 teaspoons smoked paprika
1/8 teaspoons cayenne pepper
2 slices bacon, cut into ½ inch pieces
metal skewers

For the sauce, bring all the sauce ingredients to a simmer in a small saucepan over medium heat. Cook, stirring occasionally for about 5 to 7 minutes. Sauce should thicken and reduce to about 1 cup.  Remove from heat. Transfer the sauce to a small bowl and set aside to serve with the chicken skewers.

Preheat the grill while you start prepping the chicken skewers.

Pat dry the chicken cubes with a paper towel then place the chicken in a large bowl. In a small bowl, combine smoked paprika, sweet paprika, salt, sugar, and cayenne pepper.

Process the bacon in a food processor until a smooth paste forms, scraping down the bowl as needed.  Add the bacon paste to the spice mixture, then add all of it to the large bowl of chicken. Use your hands to toss the chicken to coat with the bacon paste mixture.  Place the meat onto skewers.

Place the skewers on the grill and cook covered, turning every 2 minutes or so, until all 4 sides are cooked through and chicken has browned and slightly charred. This should take 8 to 10 minutes total. Remove from grill and allow chicken to rest 5 minutes. Serve with barbeque sauce on the side.

bacon recipe courtesy of: Kelly Salemi, Live Love Pasta, June 27, 2012