Nourish: The 2-step secret to 20-minute chicken on a stick
The accompanying recipe is the antidote to boring grilled chicken. It's nearly as easy to make, but so much more enticing. The key is to toss the chicken with a mix of dried spices - ginger, garlic, turmeric, crushed red pepper flakes, salt and pepper - that turn the blank-canvas protein into something irresistibly flavorful and fragrant. No marinating time required.
The chicken would be delicious grilled just like that, but this preparation goes a step further by threading bite-size chunks onto skewers alternately with plump green grapes. Once grilled, the sugars in those grapes caramelize; the fruit takes on a deep, mellow flavor, and provides a juicy, sweet counterpoint to the savory meat.
It's a dinner you can whip up in less than 20 minutes, or prep up to a day ahead so it is at the ready in the refrigerator when you want to cook it. The skewers are finished with a bright squeeze of lemon juice and a fresh punch of cilantro leaves for a grilled chicken dish that is sure to elicit oohhs and ahhhs, instead of the usual ho-hums.
* Ellie Krieger is a registered dietitian, nutritionist and author who hosts public television's "Ellie's Real Good Food." She blogs and offers a weekly newsletter at www.elliekrieger.com.