Za'atar Spiced Chicken Skewers with a Blueberry Sumac Compote

I’ve mainly been so silent because I have been suffering from another spell of depression.

Like normal, I tried for months to convince myself that I wasn’t depressed and perhaps just lazy, or unappreciative, or unmotivated, or anything else. But it’s definitely depression. I often forget (or try to forget) the immense amount of pain and suffering I’ve already experienced in my life, and then wonder why I am feeling the way I do. Let’s just say slowly from the end of last year until now,  I’ve been cooking way less, making less content, not doing my normal self care routines, the whole nine-yards. 

& it is not easy at all to motivate myself to pick this hobby back up. “Will people even read my posts?” “Will anything even come of this?” I don’t know but hopefully my honesty about things/life gets at least 1 person to read...

Anyway, thanks for letting me vent. This is one of the first meals I’ve made in months. I have to say, I thought I’d lost my touch, definitely not. Rusty perhaps? Sure, but things will fit like a puzzle piece in no time if I just keep challenging myself I suppose.

 With only a few days left of summer, this is a perfect end-of-summer meal, the char from the grill perfectly compliments the freshness from the vegetables and Za’atar spices. The sweetness from the honey, complimented by blueberry and tart sumac makes it the perfect bite to end summer with. It could be paired with a glass of crisp white wine, or even an everecent mocktail. Balls in your court with that one. 

Ingredients:

• 1 small pack chicken breast

• 1 zucchini

• 1 white onion

• 2 garlic cloves

• Za’atar spice

• Olive oil

• Red wine vinegar

• Fresh/frozen blueberries

• Sumac spice

• Honey

• Kebab skewers 

• 1 lemon

• Salt and pepper

Method:

1. Cut your chicken breast into bite-sized cubes. Place in a bowl and cover. Set to the side and clean/disinfect your space.

2. Soak your skewers in water for as long as possible before you prepare the skewers. 24 hours is preferred.

3. Slice your lemon into wedges. Set to the side.

4. Large chop your onion into petals. Place into the bowl with the chicken. Set to the side.

5. Slice your zucchini in half, then cut each half into pieces about ½ inch thick. Add into the blow with the onion and chicken.

6. Mince or press your 2 cloves of garlic, add to the bowl.

7. To the same bowl, add olive oil, a splash of red wine vinegar, salt, pepper, and za’atar spice. Mix together and set to the side.

   1. If you do not have premade zaatar seasoning, you will need to add small amounts of: oregano, sumac, sesame seeds, marjoram, thyme, cumin, coriander powder, crushed red chili, salt, and pepper.

8. In a small pot over medium heat, add about ½ cup of blueberries, a generous squeeze of honey, ¼ lemon wedge worth of lemon juice, and sumac seasoning. Mash the berries and stir occasionally.

9. Once the compote is thick, turn off the heat and set to the side to cool.

10. Pull the skewers out of the water and pat dry.

11. Begin to add the prepared ingredients onto the skewers in your preferred pattern. I enjoy doing zucchini, onion, chicken, onion, repeat. But you can also just stick to a random pattern so you aren’t left with a lot of one item.

12. Fire up the grill and keep the flames to medium/medium low heat. Allow the grill to come to 450 degrees before putting the skewers down.

13. Arrange the skewers on the grill and close the lid, allow to cook for 2-3 minutes before flipping. Do not touch in those first 2-3 minutes.

14. Flip your skewers and squeeze lemon juice over them from 1 or 2 or your remaining wedges.

15. Lower the heat to low and allow the skewers to cook for another 5 minutes. After this, your chicken should be fully cooked.

16. Remove from the heat and wrap your skewers in foil to allow the residual heat to continue softening the vegetables.

17. Once ready to serve, plate your skewers overtop your preferred starch, I suggest chive and saffron couscous. Put a big swipe of the blueberry sumac compote on your plate. Enjoy <3

18. My perfect bite is chicken with onion and compote. What’s yours?