Whether you’re craving something sweet, spicy or fruity, we’ve got skewer flavour inspiration and a tantalizing collection of recipes to suit any mood.

Spice is nice

Sometimes the best cure for the summer heat is more heat. Go subtle by dusting ingredients with spice powders like smoked paprika, cumin or jerk seasoning. Prepared sauces and marinades made with chili peppers like habanero or chipotle add punch to meats and vegetables with the shake of a bottle. For more direct heat, add fresh produce to skewers. De-seeded jalapeños, sweet-hot red chilies and garlic cloves all grill up nicely.

Sweet eats

Dessert is served: skewered-style, so no sticky fingers! Choose one sweet fruit to thread or a colourful combo. Bite-sized pieces of brownies, pound cake chunks or marshmallows are great to add another dimension of flavour and texture to fruit kabobs. Drizzle with melted chocolate or honey, or serve with a dipping sauce. To add some extra visual appeal, sprinkle the dessert skewers with nuts, crushed cookies, chocolate chips or toasted coconut.

Tropical twist

It’s all about flavour combinations when you’re talking skewers — and when it comes to mouthwatering meat and seafood, well-paired fruits can really brighten their flavours. Pineapple and mango are two of our favourites. They’re a match made in heaven with almost any poultry, meat or seafood of your choice. Pair the skewers with the bright notes of citrus, fresh herbs and chili for some bite. To ensure the fruit maintains their shape when grilled, pick produce that has some give but is not too soft.

Something salty

For that salty craving, you have a buffet of ingredients to pick from at the deli counter. Everything from cured meats like salami and prosciutto to salty cheeses like Roquefort and feta fill the bill. Alternatively, harness the marinade potential of kitchen staples like soy sauce or Greek dressing with feta cheese and kalamata olives to add a touch of salt to your dinner.

Balanced bites

A hearty supper doesn’t have to be square — add fun with skewers and satisfy everyone’s palates with some flavour harmony. Start by choosing ingredients with different taste profiles (sweet, salty, spicy, umami) and then mix and match textures to your liking. Also, think outside the box: Aside from produce and protein items, ingredients like bread, pizza dough and even pasta can make interesting skewers.

Assembly Line

Whatever you choose, mix and match these ingredients for impressive and original flavour combos, both savoury and sweet. Note: If using bamboo skewers, remember to soak them for at least 30 minutes before using to prevent them from burning on the grill. For more tips and inspiration, read Tips for Killer Kabobs.

Savoury Skewers

Protein

Produce

Sauces/
Seasonings

Garnish

Chicken breasts (boneless, skinless)

Shrimp

Pork

Sirloin steak

Tofu

Bacon

Sausage

Cured meats (like prosciutto, salami, and ham)

Avocado

Red onion

Peppers

Pineapple

Tomatoes

Mushrooms

Zucchini

Greek mammoth stuffed olives

Tequila lime habanero sauce

Sweet onion chipotle barbecue sauce

Ginger/garlic seasoning pastes

Fresh apricot jam

Dijon mustard

Lemon/lime juice

Yogourt

Sesame seeds

Green onions

Fresh herbs

Sweet Skewers

Base

Fruit

Sauces

Garnish

Pound cake pieces

Waffle pieces

Doughnut pieces

Pancake pieces

Brownies

Cookies

Marshmallows

Berries

Banana

Stone fruits (mango, nectarines, plums, peaches, apricots)

Apples

Grapes

Pineapple

Melon

Kiwi

Navel orange

Watermelon

Chocolate

Maple syrup

Honey

Dulce de leche

Fruit preserves/ marmalade

Greek yogourt

Jam

Citrus rind

Cookie crumbs

Chocolate chips

Sprinkles

Shredded coconut

Nuts