Chipotle Chicken Skewers With Creamy Cilantro Dipping Sauce

Melissa and Her Pants's Note:

This is from Cook's Illustrated (America's Test Kitchen) The Best Light Recipe. It's shockingly good. The sauce is also fantastic on fish tacos. EDIT: THIS RECIPE IS AN APPETIZER. It will not magically turn 2lbs of chicken into a full meal for 10 people. You may serve it as a main course, but please adjust your expectations or multiply the measurements. You will need thirty 6- or 8-inch bamboo (or wooden) skewers for this recipe. The cooking time will depend on the strength and type of your broiler. Under-the-oven drawer-style broilers tend to take a few minutes longer than in-oven-style broilers. A small clove of minced garlic (about 1/2 teaspoon) can be substituted for the garlic powder in the sauce, if desired.

• Total Time: 55 mins
• Prep Time: 45 mins
• Cook Time: 10 mins

Ingredients:

Serves: 10

Yield: 30.0 Skewers

chicken skewer ingredients

• 2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 5 medium breasts)
• 1/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
• 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro leaves, minced
• 1 chipotle chile in adobo, minced
• 2 teaspoons adobo sauce
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• nonstick cooking spray

dipping sauce ingredients

• 3/4 cup low-fat sour cream
• 1/4 cup reduced-fat mayonnaise
• 1/4 cup lime juice, from 2 to 3 limes
• 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
• 2 tablespoons cilantro leaves, minced
• 2 scallions, minced
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper

Directions:

1. FOR THE CHICKEN: Slice the chicken breasts across the grain into 1/2-inch-thick strips (you should have about 30 strips). In a large bowl, toss the chicken with the brown sugar, cilantro, chipotle, adobo sauce, salt, chili powder, garlic powder, and pepper. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate until the flavors meld, about 30 minutes. (The chicken, covered, can be refrigerated for up to 1 day before cooking.).
2. FOR THE DIPPING SAUCE: In a bowl, stir all the ingredients together. Cover with plastic wrap and let stand at room temperature until the flavors meld, about 30 minutes. (The dipping sauce can be covered and refrigerated for up to 2 days. Season with additional lime juice, salt, and pepper to taste before serving.).
3. Meanwhile, adjust an oven rack to the top position and heat the broiler. Line a broiler pan bottom with foil and top with a slotted broiler pan top; spray the broiler pan top with nonstick cooking spray. Weave each piece of chicken onto individual bamboo skewers; lay half of the skewers on the broiler pan top and cover the skewer ends with foil, making sure not to cover the chicken. Broil until the meat is lightly browned and cooked through, 5 to 8 minutes, flipping the skewers over halfway through. Transfer the skewers to a serving platter and serve immediately with half the dipping sauce. Repeat, broiling the remaining skewers and serving with the remaining dipping sauce.

Reviews

[alaskajamaica]

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I was so skeptical at first even with all fo the great reviews. This is going in my regular recipe binder and on rotation. I attempted to broil, only to remember I forgot to soak the bamboo skewers, so I took them off and simply placed them in the oven on 425 for about 15 mins- it was great. I know it would be extra special grilled or broiled, but I made a boo-boo. Next time I am going to back off a little on the lime juice. I used fresh garlic where it says garlic powder. I am also thinking of using yogurt the next time instead of mayo or even sour cream possibly. There is no need for the mayo. I will eliminate it totally. THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Julie F]

This is absolutely fabulous! It has a sweet, spicy, smoky thing going that is soooo yummy! And the dipping sauce adds a cool twist. I broiled mine, but cooking them on the grill would beat having to clean the broiler pan. I will be making these again soon! I might double the marinade recipe. I only used two chicken breast halves, but didn't feel like I had any too much of the marinade. Thanks for an outstanding recipe!

[hepcat1]

AWESOME! Every once in a while, a recipe comes along that just makes you say, WOW! This was one of those for me. DH and I both agreed this was an easy five stars. Easy to make, spicy without overpowering flavor, healthy and you can even make the day before! Leftovers were just as tasty as the first night. I chose not to use skewers since this wasn't for company and I'll will likely do it that way again since it eliminated that cumbersome step. I also plan to try the sauce using plain yogurt in place of the sour cream to make it a bit healthier. This was served with another keeper - Corn Muffins in Poblano Cups; the two combined made for an exceptional meal!