03 - Chicken - Marinated Chicken Sosaties x 4

Marinated Chicken Sosaties are a popular South African dish consisting of skewered and grilled chicken pieces that have been marinated in a flavourful mixture. This dish is often served at braais (barbecues) and is beloved for its delicious combination of spices and tender, juicy chicken.

Preparing Marinated Chicken Sosaties:

1. Marinade: The first step is to prepare the marinade. The marinade typically includes a combination of ingredients like oil, vinegar, lemon juice, garlic, ginger, curry powder, turmeric, paprika, cumin, coriander, and other spices. You can adjust the spice level to suit your taste preferences. Mix the marinade ingredients together in a bowl.

2. Chicken Preparation: Cut boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs into bite-sized pieces. The chicken pieces should be uniform in size to ensure even cooking.

3. Marinating the Chicken: Place the chicken pieces in a large resealable plastic bag or a container with a lid. Pour the marinade over the chicken, ensuring all the pieces are coated. Seal the bag or container and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or ideally, overnight. Marinating overnight allows the flavours to infuse into the chicken, resulting in a more delicious and tender dish.

Skewering and Grilling:

1. Soak Skewers: If you are using wooden skewers, soak them in water for about 30 minutes before grilling. This prevents the skewers from burning on the grill.

2. Skewering the Chicken: Remove the chicken pieces from the marinade and thread them onto the soaked skewers, leaving a little space between each piece. You can also intersperse the chicken with pieces of vegetables like onions, bell peppers, and mushrooms for added colour and taste.

3. Grilling: Preheat your braai (barbecue) grill to medium-high heat. Place the skewered chicken sosaties on the grill and cook them, turning occasionally, until they are cooked through and reach an internal temperature of 75°C (165°F). The cooking time will depend on the size of the chicken pieces, but it usually takes about 10 to 15 minutes.

4. Basting: During the grilling process, you can baste the chicken sosaties with any leftover marinade or a fresh basting sauce to keep them moist and add extra flavour.

Serving:

Once the Marinated Chicken Sosaties are cooked and grilled to perfection, serve them hot with side dishes like yellow rice, salads, chutneys, or naan bread.