Bourbon Chicken Skewers and Orange-Pistachio Wild Rice Salad

June 29th, 2014

Grilled Chicken Kabobs 1

Grilling season is a great time of year.  It is sometimes a relief to turn the cooking over to my grill maestro.  It frees up my time to concentrate on side dishes. I love the flavor of this Bourbon marinade.  It is a little bit sweet and full flavored.  The recipe came from Paula on her blog Call me PMc.  It couldn’t be easier to mix together the bourbon, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, garlic and ginger.   The chicken skewers cook quickly.

Grilled Chicken Kabobs 2

I was looking for an interesting side dish to serve with the chicken and thought some kind of wild rice salad would be good.  I found a recipe from Ellie Krieger.  I wonder what happened to her show on the Food Network?  This orange and pistachio spiked rice salad is delicious.  It can be served cold or at room temperature.   It is even tasty warm.  It would be good with any barbecued chicken or pork.

Grilled Chicken Kabobs 3VI hope everyone has a wonderful 4th of July.  I will be taking a short break from blogging to spend time with the family.  We will be enjoying fireworks on the lake, swimming, hiking and most especially EATING.  Here is the gang that is coming.

Family on Labor DaySee you back here soon.

BOURBON CHICKEN SKEWERS

For recipe see this link

ORANGE-PISTACHIO WILD RICE SALAD  (From Ellie Krieger )

2/3 cup brown rice
2/3 cup wild rice
3 cups low-sodium chicken broth
1 orange, peel and pith removed, segmented and sliced (about 2/3 cup)
10 large basil leaves, sliced into ribbons (about 1/3 cup)
1/4 cup minced red onion
3 tablespoons chopped pistachios, lightly toasted
1 teaspoon finely grated orange zest
For the dressing:
1/3 cup red wine vinegar
1/4 cup olive oil
1 tablespoon orange juice
1 1/2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon honey
1/4 teaspoon salt

For the dressing:
Combine brown rice, wild rice and chicken broth in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat to a simmer and cook until all water is evaporated and rice is fully cooked, about 45 to 55 minutes. Remove from heat and cool completely.

When rice is cool, add orange slices, basil, red onion, pistachios and orange zest; mix to incorporate.

For the dressing:
Combine the red wine vinegar, olive oil, orange juice, mustard, honey and salt in a metal bowl and whisk to incorporate.

Pour over rice mixture and toss to incorporate.

Printable Recipe

9 responses to “Bourbon Chicken Skewers and Orange-Pistachio Wild Rice Salad”

  1. Oh gosh, it’s only 9am and you’ve got me craving these amazing skewers!

  2. Paula says:

    Thanks so much for linking to my recipe. Your kabobs look great and I love the side you chose. Pinning to try this rice! Have a great week!

  3. Penny @ The Comforts of Home says:

    Both of these recipes sound great Penny! I need to get some of those metal skewers, I only have wood ones. Have a wonderful time with your family!

  4. BabyJune says:

    Looks delicious! Love the flavors. 🙂

  5. Sam Hoffer says:

    Beautiful chicken skewers Penny and bourbon always make everything taste better. I’m always interested in dishes such as this rice that can be served at room temperature because room those dishes, to me, present the most challenge. Happy 4th of July to you and your lovely family. Have fun at the lake.
    Sam

  6. Lemon Tart says:

    I wish I had a grill. Your chicken sounds wonderful and the rice a great accompaniment.

    Food Network is all about competitions and not so much about cooking techniques. I miss Ellie and the old shows that gave you little tips to bump up your skills. I have pretty much given up on them. I try to catch Ina, but other than that I over it. (Sorry, don’t me to sound so opinionated, but…)

    Have a great 4th. You have a lovely family.

    Madonna
    MakeMineLemon

  7. Mary says:

    I’m going to try your recipe soon, it looks delicious. I have a Pinterest board on kabobs (skewers). I use to make them all the time and am looking forward to making more.

    I just saw Ellie on Simply Ming, she was his guest chef! I really enjoy her recipes. She has a new book coming out soon.

    Enjoy your family & the 4th of July!

  8. cheri says:

    I have a grill maestro as well, delicious recipes you have planned. Nice picture of the family. .

  9. Chris says:

    I like that marinade for pork, bourbon always does well with our porcine friends.

© Penny Klett, Lake Lure Cottage Kitchen. All rights reserved.