Air-Fryer Kababs: Quick, Easy, And Delicious

Kababs are a delicious meal that can be made with beef, chicken, or kofta, and are a great option for a quick and easy dinner. They can be made in an air fryer in under 20 minutes and are a fantastic way to get that grilled flavour without having to head outside. In this article, we will cover everything you need to know about making juicy and tender kababs in your air fryer, including preparation, cooking times, and serving suggestions. So get ready to fire up your air fryer and enjoy some delicious kababs!

Choosing your meat

For chicken kababs, it is recommended to use boneless, skinless chicken breasts cut into bite-sized pieces, around 1-inch cubes. This ensures the chicken cooks evenly and thoroughly. You can also use chicken thighs, which are a juicier option.

When it comes to beef, sirloin steak is a popular choice as it adds a juicy and delicious flavour to the kababs. However, feel free to experiment with other cuts of steak, keeping in mind that the flavour and texture may vary slightly.

If you're making kofta kababs, which are typically made with ground meat, you can use ground beef, ground chicken, ground lamb, or a combination of beef and lamb. Using a stand mixer to blend the meat with spices and parsley is essential to ensure the meat proteins bind together and become sticky, making it easier to shape the kababs.

Remember to marinate your chosen meat to infuse it with flavour and moisture. Marinades can be as simple as a combination of olive oil, garlic, lemon juice, and spices, or you can get creative and experiment with different ingredients.

Preparing the marinade

Firstly, gather your ingredients. A simple yet flavourful marinade can be made using a combination of olive oil, minced garlic, lemon juice, chili powder, cumin, salt, and pepper. You can also experiment with other spices and herbs like coriander seeds, cumin seeds, black peppercorns, allspice, cardamom seeds, and turmeric to create a unique blend.

Once you have your ingredients, it's time to mix them together. Using a bowl, whisk or blend all the ingredients until they are well combined. You can also use a stand mixer to blend the ingredients, which helps to bind the meat proteins and make the marinade stickier. This step ensures that your kababs will be juicy and tender.

Now that your marinade is ready, it's time to add the meat. For beef kababs, use sirloin steak cut into 1-inch chunks, or you can use ground beef. If you're making chicken kababs, cut boneless skinless chicken breasts into 1-inch cubes. Place the meat in a large bowl and pour the marinade over it, stirring or mixing well to ensure that all the pieces are evenly coated.

After marinating the meat, you can add your choice of vegetables. Bell peppers, red onions, zucchini, and mushrooms are popular options. Cut the vegetables into similar sizes, around 1-inch pieces, so they cook evenly. Place the cut vegetables into the bowl with the meat and marinade, and stir or mix until everything is well coated.

At this point, you can cover the bowl and place it in the refrigerator to let the meat and vegetables soak up all the flavours. You can leave it for as little as 30 minutes or up to 24 hours, depending on how much time you have and how intense you want the flavours to be.

And that's it! Your marinade is now ready to be threaded onto skewers and cooked in the air fryer. Remember to soak wooden skewers in water for at least 10 minutes before using them to prevent burning. Enjoy your delicious and juicy kababs!

Preparing the vegetables

First, select your vegetables. Classic options include bell peppers, zucchini, onions, and mushrooms, but you can also get creative with cherry tomatoes, baby potatoes, or even pineapple chunks. Once you've gathered your chosen veggies, give them a good wash under running water and dry them with a clean cloth or paper towel.

Next, you'll want to cut your vegetables into uniform pieces. Aim for pieces that are around 1-inch in size. This ensures they cook at the same rate as your meat and don't burn. For bell peppers, remove the seeds and stems, then cut them into 1-inch pieces. For zucchini, slice them into ½-inch coins. For onions, carefully separate the layers and cut each layer into similarly-sized pieces. If using mushrooms, cut them into halves or quarters, depending on their size.

Once your veggies are cut, it's time to assemble them onto the skewers. If using wooden skewers, be sure to soak them in water for at least 10 minutes first to prevent burning. Thread the veggies onto the skewers, alternating with meat if you're making mixed kababs. Leave about ½ inch of space at each end of the skewer for easy handling.

If you're not using skewers, you can simply place the veggies directly into the air fryer basket or tray. Just be sure to toss them with the marinade or seasoning first to ensure they're nicely coated.

Now your veggies are ready for the air fryer! Cook them alongside your meat or separately, following the recommended temperature and timing guidelines for your specific vegetable and doneness preferences. Remember to flip the skewers or give the veggies a stir halfway through the cooking process for even cooking.

And that's it! You're well on your way to enjoying delicious and healthy kababs made right in your air fryer.

Assembling the skewers

When assembling the skewers, it's important to ensure that they fit inside your air fryer. For most air fryers, 6-inch and 8-inch skewers are the best fit. If you're using wooden skewers, soak them in water for at least 10 minutes to prevent them from burning.

For a colourful and varied kebab, cut up your chosen vegetables into evenly-sized pieces, around 1-2 inches in length. You can use bell peppers, red onions, zucchini, mushrooms, cherry tomatoes, and baby potatoes. If you're making chicken kebabs, cut the chicken into 1-inch cubes. For beef kebabs, cut the steak into 2-inch pieces.

Thread the meat and vegetables onto the skewers, alternating between the two. Don't overload the skewers, as this may prevent the meat from cooking thoroughly. You can place around 3-4 pieces of meat per skewer.

If you're making chicken kebabs, it's a good idea to marinate the meat before assembling the skewers. You can use a variety of seasonings and sauces for the marinade, such as olive oil, red wine vinegar, garlic, dried herbs, soy sauce, honey, and chilli powder. Leave the chicken to marinate for at least 15 minutes, or even overnight for more flavour.

Once your skewers are assembled, place them in the air fryer basket in a single layer, making sure they don't touch each other. You may need to cook the kebabs in batches to avoid overcrowding.

Cooking the kebabs

The cooking time and temperature for your kebabs will depend on the type of meat you are using. For steak, set your air fryer to 400°F and cook for 6 minutes on each side. Chicken should be cooked at 380°F for 5 minutes on each side. If you are cooking both types of meat together, cook at 380°F and increase the cooking time to 6 minutes on each side.

If you are using a meat thermometer, the internal temperature of your steak should be at least 145°F, while chicken should be 165°F.

Place your skewers in the air fryer basket or tray, leaving space between them to promote even browning. Brush a light coating of BBQ sauce onto each piece of meat and season with salt and pepper, or your preferred seasoning.

Cook for the recommended time, turning the skewers over halfway through.

Tips

• If you are using wooden skewers, soak them in water for at least 10 minutes before assembling your kebabs to prevent them from burning.
• If you are using metal skewers, choose flat skewers for the best results.
• If your skewers are longer than the height of your air fryer, trim them with scissors before assembling your kebabs.
• If you are cooking for a crowd, you may need to cook the kebabs in batches.

Frequently asked questions