Chicken, Mushroom, And Bok Choy Kebabs

Chicken’s dark meat is great for grilling because it stays very moist and really soaks up the flavors of a marinade—in this case, an Asian-inspired blend that balances sweet and savory. The addition of meaty mushrooms and bright green baby bok choy makes this a one-dish dinner you can take straight from grill to picnic table.

Yield:

Serves 6

Ingredients

1. 3 large garlic cloves
2. 1/2 cup reduced-sodium soy sauce
3. 1/3 cup dry Sherry
4. 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
5. 1 tablespoon finely grated peeled ginger
6. 2 teaspoons Asian sesame oil
7. 1 1/2 lb skinless boneless chicken thighs, cut into 2-inch pieces
8. 1 lb baby bok choy (5 to 6 heads)
9. 1/2 lb large cremini mushrooms, stems trimmed flush with caps
10. 1/2 cup vegetable oil

Directions

1. Soak 14 (12-inch) wooden skewers in water 30 minutes
2. Mince and mash garlic to a paste with a pinch of salt.
3. Boil soy sauce, Sherry, and brown sugar in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until reduced to about 2/3 cup, 5 to 7 minutes. Stir in garlic paste, ginger, and sesame oil, then cool to room temperature.
4. Pour half of marinade into a large sealable bag and chill remainder for basting. Add chicken to bag and marinate, chilled, turning bag occasionally, at least 3 hours.
5. Prepare grill for direct-heat cooking over medium-hot charcoal (medium-high heat for gas)
6. Meanwhile, halve bok choy lengthwise and blanch in a large pot of boiling salted water (2 Tbsp salt for 5 qt water) until crisp-tender, about 2 minutes. Immediately transfer with tongs to an ice bath to stop cooking. Pat bok choy very dry, then, bending leaves, thread 3 or 4 halves (through bulb and leaves) onto each of 3 or 4 skewers. Put on a tray.
7. Toss mushrooms with vegetable oil. Thread mushrooms (through sides) and chicken (discard marinade) onto remaining skewers, alternating them. Put on another tray.
8. Oil grill rack, then grill chicken-and-mushroom skewers, covered only if using a gas grill, 6 minutes. Turn over and baste with some of remaining marinade, then grill, turning and basting occasionally (but not during last 3 minutes), until chicken is just cooked through and mushrooms are tender, 6 to 8 minutes more.
9. Lightly brush bok choy with oil and grill, covered only if using a gas grill, turning once, until grill marks appear, about 2 minutes total.

Notes

Chicken can be marinated up to 8 hours.Chicken-and-mushroom skewers can be broiled in batches in a lightly oiled broiler pan 4 to 6 inches from heat, turning and basting occasionally, about 12 minutes total. Broil bok choy skewers, cut sides up, without turning, until charred in spots, about 2 minutes.