Ani's Kitchen Stories

These grilled Chicken Skewers with Sweet Cherry Tomatoes are a quick, easy and tasty way to prepare the boneless chicken along with delicious Pesto Sauce. It’s super colourful, healthy and a flavourful dish that goes well with any meal or serve it as an appetiser is one of my family’s favourite and will never fail to impress your guest.

The classic combination of chicken, basil, tomatoes and cheese never disappoints and the extra flavours of the pesto sauce makes it even better. Here I’ve served the Pesto Chicken Skewers along with Eggplant & Roasted tomatoes & Red bell pepper sauce Spaghetti

I would always say that if you’ve added time, it’s best to make your own basil pesto with fresh basil. It’s a game-changer which you can make it prior and store it for a week in the refrigerator or freeze it for months. The flavourful pesto sauce makes the cooking fast and easy, and of course, delicious. Top it on your sandwiches, toss it on salad, cook it with pasta or marinade it on chicken dishes it will definitely taste way more delicious.

First of all, pesto sauce is simple enough to make. All you need is fresh basil leaves, nuts of your choice, EVOO, garlic, lime, Parmesan, peppercorns & salt to taste. Process it to a course to smooth paste and your freshly made Pesto sauce will be ready in few minutes.

Lets start with Basil Pesto recipe which can be prepared in minutes if the ingredients are already in stock.

Basil Pesto (Ingredients)

2 cups of Fresh basil leaves

70 gms walnut

1 tbsp lime juice

3 tbsp grated Parmesan

8-10 garlic cloves

5 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

Pinch of salt to taste

Crushed peppercorns

Method:

▪️ Add the walnuts to a heated pan over medium heat and toast until golden brown, approximately 2-3 minutes. Keep aside.

▪️In the food processor or grinder, add toasted walnuts, basil, garlic cloves, Parmesan cheese and lime juice. Process the ingredients for few seconds or until the ingredients are finely chopped. 

▪️ Now slowly drizzle 4 tbsp olive oil and continue processing until a smooth to course paste begins to form. While doing so, scrape the sides of the bowl.

▪️Now transfer the pesto sauce to a bowl and add the remaining olive oil and season with salt and pepper.

▪️Use it instantly or store it for upto a week in the refrigerator for later use. Alternatively freeze it for months.

Pesto Chicken Skewers (Ingredients)

2 Chicken breast (cut into cubes)

2 tbsp pesto sauce

1/2 tsp garlic powder

1 tsp crushed peppercorns

1/4 tsp paprika

1/4 tsp chilli flakes

Salt to taste

2 tbsp olive oil

1 tbsp lime juice

Handful of cherry tomatoes (optional)

Method:

▪️Marinate the chicken cubes with pesto, 1 tsp of olive oil and rest of the ingredients. Cover and let it rest for overnight or minimum one hour.

▪️Soak the bamboo skewers for 10 minutes before threading the marinated chicken onto them.

▪️Gently squeeze and thread the chicken onto the skewer and then the cherry tomato and chicken and continue.

▪️Heat the grill pan and add 1 tbsp of olive oil and start grilling the skewered chicken and tomatoes for 15 to 20 minutes in low flame or until the chicken becomes soft and tender.

▪️Remove from the pan, and place it on the plate. Add a squeeze of lime and serve hot. Enjoy!