A quartet of juicy, char-grilled skewers are at the heart of the dish. They are offset against the ruby red backdrop of the spicy salsa, speckled with snowy queso fresco. Golden ribbons of caramelized onions are draped over the skewers artfully, heightening the allure of the dish.

Mexican Hearth BBQ with Caramelized Onions

Name: Mexican Hearth BBQ with Caramelized Onions
Prep time: 75 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 90 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: Mexican
Ingredients: large onion, 2 thinly sliced; boneless chicken thighs, 1.5 lbs sliced into bite sized pieces; bell peppers, 2 deseeded and chopped into cubes; zucchini, 2 chopped into thick circles; bay leaves, 4; dark agave syrup, 1.5 tablespoons; smoked paprika, 1 teaspoon; cayenne pepper, 1/2 teaspoon; garlic cloves, 4 minced; lime, 2 zested and juiced; cilantro, a handful fine chopped; queso fresco, 1/2 cup crumbled; olive oil, 1/4 cup; salt, to taste; pepper, to taste

Category BBQ

Prep 75 minutes

Cook 15 minutes

Style Mexican

Technique Grilling

Diet Friendly Low-Carb

Daily Recipe: February 05, 2024

Today we are embarking on a culinary journey with an exciting Mexican inspired BBQ recipe contrasting the crispness of winter with the smoky warmth of the Mexican grills. This recipe features the humble yet versatile Onion, which infuses our dish with a delightful sweetness that ties everything together nicely.

Ingredients (for 4)

Large onion - 2 - thinly sliced
Boneless chicken thighs - 1.5 lbs - sliced into bite sized pieces
Bell peppers - 2 - deseeded and chopped into cubes
Zucchini - 2 - chopped into thick circles
Bay leaves - 4
Dark agave syrup - 1.5 tablespoons
Smoked paprika - 1 teaspoon
Cayenne pepper - 1/2 teaspoon
Garlic cloves - 4 - minced
Lime - 2 - zested and juiced
Cilantro - a handful - fine chopped
Queso fresco - 1/2 cup - crumbled
Olive oil - 1/4 cup
Salt - to taste
Pepper - to taste

Preparation

Step 1 - 🍋🌶️🍗

Create a marinade with lime zest, lime juice, minced garlic, smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, olive oil, salt, and pepper. Marinate the chicken for at least 1 hour.
Step 2 - 🔥🔥🔥

Get your BBQ or Gas grill heated up to medium-high.
Step 3 - 🐔🌶️🥒🍢

On skewers, alternate pieces of chicken, bell peppers, and zucchini. Get rid of any leftover marinade.
Step 4 - 🍖🍢🔁

Grill the skewers on the preheated grill. Make sure to rotate them often. Grill until they are nicely browned on all sides and the chicken is no longer pink in the center. This should take about 10-15 minutes.
Step 5 - 👨‍🍳🧅🍃

Meanwhile, in a large pan with olive oil, add the onions and bay leaves. Stir occasionally until onions are brown and caramelized, should take about 10-12 minutes. Remove bay leaves when done.
Step 6 - 🍯👨‍🍳⏱️

Just before the onions are done, stir in the agave syrup and let it cook for another 2 minutes. Then, set the onions aside.
Step 7 - 🍽️🥗🎉

Serve the grilled skewers on a platter, topped with the caramelized onions, a sprinkle of cilantro, queso fresco, and a side of fresh salsa.

Additional

Fun Fact: Agave syrup, often referred to as agave nectar, is a sweetener commercially produced from several species of agave. In this recipe, it helps add an earthy sweetness to the caramelized onions. It's also a great natural substitute for refined sugars. To make the dish vegetarian, replace the chicken thighs with tofu or tempeh.