Il Cucinologo
EN

Hot and Cold Skewers

17/11/2023

Preparing both hot and cold skewers can be a great way to offer an assortment of flavors and textures to your guests. Here I propose one recipe for each type.

Hot Skewers: Shrimp and Vegetable Skewers

Ingredients

  • 400g shrimp, peeled and cleaned
  • 1 zucchini
  • 1 red bell pepper
  • 1 yellow bell pepper
  • 1 onion
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Extra virgin olive oil
  • Lemon juice
  • Aromatic herbs (e.g. parsley or cilantro), chopped
  • Toothpicks or wooden skewers

Preparation

  1. Start by cutting the zucchini, bell peppers and onion into pieces similar in size to the shrimp.
  2. Thread the vegetable pieces and shrimp onto the wooden skewers, alternating them.
  3. In a small bowl, make a marinade by mixing olive oil, lemon juice, aromatic herbs, salt and pepper.
  4. Brush the skewers with the marinade and let them rest for about 10-15 minutes.
  5. Grill the skewers on a hot grill or grill pan until the shrimp are pink and lightly golden, and the vegetables are tender.
  6. Serve immediately, hot.

Cold Skewers: Caprese Skewers

Ingredients

  • 250g cherry mozzarella
  • Cherry tomatoes
  • Fresh basil
  • Extra virgin olive oil
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Balsamic vinegar or balsamic glaze (optional)
  • Toothpicks or wooden skewers

Preparation

  1. Alternate a cherry mozzarella, a basil leaf and a cherry tomato on each skewer.
  2. Arrange the skewers on a serving plate.
  3. Drizzle with a thread of extra virgin olive oil, salt and a pinch of pepper.
  4. If desired, add a touch of balsamic vinegar or balsamic glaze for a sweet-tangy contrast.
  5. The Caprese skewers are ready to be served cold.

Hot and cold skewers offer a variety of flavors that can suit different tastes and preferences, and both types are quite simple to make, as well as very visually appealing.

**### Trivia ** Skewers, also known as “kebab”, have a history that dates back to ancient times. It is believed that the origin of skewers can be traced to the Middle East, where meat was threaded onto swords and cooked over fire. Caprese skewers are a cold variant inspired by the flavors of the famous Caprese salad originating from the island of Capri.