Simple yet saturated with flavor, roasted skewered meat is a global favorite. Bring the unexpected flavors to your backyard barbecues.

mexico

Mexicana Shrimp

Kabobs

Two Mexican dishes with Middle Eastern influences include tacos al pastor (meat cooked vertically in a spit) and tacos de alambre (skewered, grilled meat). Swap in seafood for a lighter touch and add traditional Mexican spices.

mexico

recipe flavor

spicy, citrusy, peppery

Butter Chicken

Kabobs

Original Indian kabobs were made with ground meat and influenced by flavors of Central Asia. Hallmarks of current Indian fare are rich sauces and complex spice mixes such as garam masala, which often consists of more than 20 spices.

INDIA

fiery, sweet, creamy, aromatic

recipe flavor

Swedish meatballs, like kabobs, surprisingly may have Turkish origins. It is said Swedish King Charles XII returned from exile from the Ottoman Empire in the early 1700s with the recipe for Turkish meatballs (kofte) in hand.

sweden

earthy, warm, buttery

recipe flavor

Mini Swedish Meatball

Kabobs

Tuscan Chicken

Kabobs

Tuscan recipes embrace the Italian essence of country cooking, and often use farm and garden staples such as tomatoes, peppers and zucchini. Tuscan kabobs continue this tradition, and even include crusty bread—an Italian countryside staple.

italy

peppery, aromatic, fresh

recipe flavor

Korean Steak

Kabobs

A kabob-like maekjeok traces to between 37 BC and 668 AD in Korea. To modernize this dish and add depth of flavor, incorporate gochujang, a fermented chili paste made from soybeans.

KOREA

spicy, meaty, umami, tangy

recipe flavor

Traditional African spice mixes are made with cloves, chili powder, coriander, caraway and fennel seeds to robustly season meat. Mild grains, legumes and nuts play a supporting role. These kabobs incorporate harissa, a Tunisian spicy pepper paste.