Beef Shish Kebab

These skewered Beef Shish Kebab’s are one very impressive way to serve both meat and vegetables. Marinated in an abundance of mouth-watering flavors, they are especially perfect for an outdoor BBQ gathering. Everyone will love and appreciate the single serve portions of these colourful skewers.

Beef Shish Kebab

I love beef and this is one of my favorite ways to cook it. It’s so easy and you can use a variety of vegetables to suit your taste. I used colourful bell peppers and red onion but you can easily add some whole earthy mushrooms, zucchini, or sweet cherry tomatoes.

For any BBQ gathering, it’s a great option since everyone will have their own (or more) skewer of food. Simply pair this with some delicious greek rice, baked potatoes, a great side dish like my caesar or greek salad, and a nice dinner roll. There are endless ways to turn this into a full meal deal.

Ingredient Notes

• Beef – Tenderloin is the most tender cut, but top sirloin is also a great choice.
• Sugar – Use plain old white sugar to add a hint of sweetness and help caramelize the beef as it’s grilling.
• Cumin – Ground cumin is rich and hearty, earthy and warm, with an edge of citrus, and adds instant depth to any dish. 
• Paprika – I use sweet paprika. It adds colour and has a mild peppery flavor.
• Allspice – Adds some great taste. The flavor of allspice brings to mind cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and pepper.
• Garlic – Fresh is best, minced. Use as much or as little as you like, the more the better in my opinion.
• Tomato Paste – This will thicken the marinate a bit and adds some tomato flavor.
• Oil – A good olive oil is preferred for the marinade.
• Lemon Juice – Fresh squeezed lemon juice will help to tenderize the meat, and balance out the flavors.
• Peppers – I used yellow, orange and red, but of course use any colour you prefer.
• Onion – I used red onion because it has a stronger taste than yellow or white onion.

How To Make Beef Shish Kebabs

1. Mix Marinade and Add Beef: In a large bowl combine all the marinade ingredients together. Transfer ¼ cup of the marinade to a large bowl and another ¼ cup to another smaller bowl. To the first bowl with remaining marinade add the cubed beef and toss it well, making sure it’s fully covered. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
2. Marinade Vegetables: Add the bell peppers and onions to the large bowl with ¼ cup of reserved marinade and toss well. Set aside until ready to thread on skewers.
3. Preheat Grill: Preheat your grill for 10 minutes on high heat. Lightly oil the grates of the gas grill.
4. Make Skewers: Thread the meat, onions, peppers on skewers, alternating until you run out of ingredients. You should get about 8 skewers.
5. Grill the Kebabs: Place the shish kebabs on the grill and cook for 8 to 10 minutes, turning occasionally making sure to grill on all sides. While the kebabs are grilling brush the skewers a couple times with the reserved ¼ cup of marinade in the small bowl.
6. Serve: Transfer the kebabs to a serving platter and allow 5 minutes to rest before serving.

FAQ’s

Tips

1. If using bamboo or wooden skewers, soak them in water for at least one hour before using. Using flat metal skewers will prevent your meat and vegetables from rotating, and you won’t have to soak them in water like the wooden ones.
2. Don’t skip the marinating step. Allow the meat get friendly with the marinade for at least 30 minutes.
3. Substitute the beef for another protein of your choice for a change such as chicken or pork.
4. Use a thermometer to check doneness for the beef. For rare the internal temperature should read 135°F and for medium rare it should read 145°F.

Leftovers

Leftovers can be kept in an airtight container for 3-4 days in the refrigerator.

More Delicious Recipes To Try

• Mititei (Romanian Street Food)
• Chinese Chicken Skewers
• Beer and Honey BBQ Chicken Skewers
• Beef Teriyaki Skewers
• Chicken Souvlaki
• Stuffed Cabbage Rolls