Sides for kabobs: original ideas

Grilled kabobs are my absolute favourite summer dish, they are fresh, light and grilled, they’re easy to make and so so satisfyingly delectable.

Kabobs are a popular method of cooking various meats and vegetables, that are cut into small cubes and threaded onto a skewer and grilled. They can be made from almost all types of meat, such as chicken, beef, lamb and seafood which are more of the popular choices for kabobs.

Vegetables such as onions, bell peppers, and tomatoes are also popular in kabobs. Although they aren’t the most filling, you will always need some good sides to go with them. You can choose from rice, corn on the cob, potatoes, veggies and salads, and many more.

Table of Contents

• What is a Kabob?
• What Is The Best Steak For Kabobs?
• What Sides go Well With Kabobs
  • What to Serve with Shish Kabobs
• What To Serve With Chicken Kabobs
  • Different Types of Rice Dishes
• What To Serve With Kabobs at a Party
  • What are Chicken Skewers?
• What To Serve With Kabobs For Dinner?
• What Pairs Well With Beef Kabobs?
• Can You Wrap Kabobs In Foil?
• Wrapping Up

What is a Kabob?

Kabob or commonly known as kebab, is an Iranian, Afghan, Middle Eastern, Eastern Mediterranean, and South Asian dish of meat (preferably lamb), fish or vegetables cooked on a skewer or spit. A traditional accompaniment to kabobs is pitta bread, hummus, and other salads.

What Is The Best Steak For Kabobs?

It’s important to avoid steaks that have large chunks of fat that cannot be easily trimmed away. Consider the flavor profile as certain steaks hold onto and impart different flavors with ease.

The best type of meat or steak that you use for kabobs should depend on the kind of vegetables you wish to serve with it. The right kind of steak is a thin strip of beef that is tender enough to cut into small cubes. The choosing of steaks for kabobs is vital if you want your kabobs to be flavourful and tender.

What Sides go Well With Kabobs

Steak kabobs pair well with anything and everything, you can choose to serve them with all kinds of grilled veggies, baked or grilled potatoes, sweet potato fries, a side of rice and salad or any of your favorite dishes.

What to Serve with Shish Kabobs

Of the endless varieties of side dishes to serve with shish kabobs, here are some delicious ideas of what you can serve with kabobs.

1. Sweet Potatoes: Whether you choose to fry, bake or boil them, sweet potatoes won’t be unappreciated when served with shish kabobs. With a delicious helping of vegetables and meat that are the building blocks of the kabob, having a starchy side to go with it, helps keep a balanced healthy meal. One of the reasons why sweet potatoes make such a great choice as a serving with kabobs is because they are so healthy no matter how you choose to cook them.
2. Lemon Rice Pilaf: There is nothing more attractive than fragrant rice, the aroma dancing into your nostrils, with good carbohydrates that make it so appetising. Pilaf is cooked by preparing white rice in a rich broth with plenty of onions and added chilli flakes for that spicy delectable taste.
3. Grilled Fruits: When you think fruits you think “weight loss goals” and you’ll be right, you can choose from pineapples, melons, berries, pears, bananas and peaches, skewed fruits lock in nutrients and give a beautiful caramelised plate of deliciousness, you’ll be spoiling yourself.
4. Potato Salad: For a more simple addition to the meal, potato salad can be combined with boiled eggs, mayonnaise, and mustard to make it interesting, or if you’d like to keep it delicate you can make the potato salad with some onion and celery for a lighter addition to the meal.
5. Cucumber Yogurt Dip: Going with the Mediterranean theme, a mix of cucumber yoghurt dip with shish kabob adds a layer of refreshment. Simply dunk your vegetable layered kabob into the cucumber yoghurt and enjoy the creamy, yet satisfying deliciousness.
6. Corn Pudding: Corn pudding is a mixture of creamed corn and cornbread, pair this with juicy grilled kabobs to make a delicious completed meal. With the appreciated chewiness of the meat followed by the crunchy vegetable texture, you will most definitely enjoy the layers of sweetness encased in the corn pudding.
7. Coconut Rice: Rice, especially coconut rice, goes very well with skewed meat and completes the meal with nutrients your body needs. All you need to do is boil some rice, but add coconut milk in place of water, then add some brown sugar towards the end for some extratropical flavours.
8. Green Salad: It is not uncommon for a salad to be a favourite side for most main meals, and it doesn’t skip the wonderful delightful main meal of grilled kabobs. Simply grab your most desired greens, and tomatoes plus any other favoured ingredient to create the perfect side dish. If you wish to add more protein to keep you fuller for longer then add two boiled eggs to your serving.
9. Corn on the Cob: What else would make sense when you’re grilling kabobs in your back garden than a freshly grilled corn on the cob, coated in butter, and generously seasoned with salt and pepper. A wonderful combination of salty meat with the buttery sweetness of the corn.

What To Serve With Chicken Kabobs

Grilled chicken kabobs are packed with flavor, these bite-sized pieces of chicken soak up extra flavors from the marinade so that every bite is insanely deliciously satisfying. Simply place the small cubes of chicken on the skewer, and add thick slices of red onion, along with sliced pepper, and courgette adding a slice of lemon to squeeze over the top for that added zing. Although chicken kabobs are wonderfully appetizing as a stand-alone meal, they can be paired with tasty side dishes such as:

1. Easy grilled sweet potatoes
2. Grilled Parmesan broccoli
3. Tangy carrot slaw
4. Herbed smashed cucumbers
5. Crispy salt and vinegar potatoes.

You can also opt for different sorts of dips such as mint chutney, sweet chilli sauce, garlic mayonnaise.

Different Types of Rice Dishes

You can never go wrong with a bowl of rice, added to most main meals it just makes sense, which is exactly why I am going to mention the different types of rice you can make to go with your kabobs.

1. Mushroom rice pilaf, is perfect for a light meal. It has mushrooms which are high in protein and low in calories, perfect as a meat substitute.
2. Rice pilaf is perfect if you want something other than plain old boiled white rice as a side.
3. Coconut rice is full of fiber and nutrients, simply substitute the water for coconut milk, and experiment with it, whether you choose to make pilaf, stir fry or even a salad, the taste will not disappoint.
4. Lemon rice, with its tangy sweetness can balance out the smoky flavors of the grilled kabobs.
5. Saffron rice, is aromatic, fragrant and beautiful. It’s commonly perfectly paired with fish and seafood.
6. Yellow rice, this is flavoured with tomato sauce, chicken broth and cumin.
7. Vegetable fried rice, a popular Asian dish packed with all sorts of vegetables tastes amazing with grilled chicken kabobs.

What To Serve With Kabobs at a Party

So you’re the host at a party, and you also happen to be the chef, the one who brings out mouth-watering delectable, flavour-filled bites that leave your guests wondering how did they make that? Well here are a few examples of what you can whip up to impress the guests, and yourself.

1. Coconut rice
2. Cucumber yogurt dip
3. Corn on the cob
4. Green salad
5. Potato salad
6. Corn pudding
7. Sweet potatoes
8. Cucumber tomato salad

What are Chicken Skewers?

Chicken skewers are basically small chunks of chicken threaded through a thin wooden stick, before it is coated in a marinade and added to the grill, you can also add some vegetables to the skewer such as peppers, courgette, and onions.

What To Serve With Kabobs For Dinner?

Whether you opt for chicken, beef, lamb or fish kabobs the choices amongst side dishes are pretty limitless, from sweet to savoury, to tangy and creamy take a look at this incredibly long list of side dishes that go amazingly well with kabobs.

• Fluffy Rice For Kabobs

1. Lemon rice pilaf
2. Coconut rice

• Sweetest Corn For Kabobs

1. Grilled corn on the cob
2. Cheesy creamed corn
3. Corn pudding

• Perfect Potatoes For Kabobs

1. Baked sweet potatoes
2. Salt and vinegar potatoes
3. Potato chips

• Brilliant Veggies and Cool Salads For Kabobs

1. Greek salad
2. Green salad
3. German potato salad
4. Potato salad
5. Tomato, corn and red cabbage salad
6. Barley salad with herbs
7. Caesar salad
8. Grilled watermelon salad
9. Tangy red cabbage slaw
10. Couscous with roasted red peppers and feta

• Other Delectable Side dishes for Kabobs

1. Grilled guacamole
2. Grilled garlic bread
3. Curried tomatoes and chickpeas
4. Garlic roasted mushrooms

What Pairs Well With Beef Kabobs?

Whether it be beef, chicken, lamb or fish kabobs, the list of side dishes are not limited to one type of kabob. With so many ways to create quick and easy deliciousness the sky really is the limit. That being said have you ever tried combining grilled meat with rice?

• Coconut Rice

A typical side dish that works wonderfully with kabobs is coconut rice, simply add coconut milk instead of water to enhance the flavors and enjoy with kabobs right away!

• Lemon Pilaf Rice

Lemon pilaf rice is also called Greek lemon rice. The thing that makes this particular side dish special is that it contains a mixture of lemon juice, chicken broth, veggies and seasonings. Best served piping hot with some skewed kabobs it really is a perfectly completed dish.

Do you like corn? Grilled, boiled, breaded its a delicious gift that can make your kabobs taste even more impeccable.

• Grilled Corn on the Cob

Corn on the cobs are mixed with lime and coriander then coated in butter, these go perfectly with grilled chicken kabobs, beef, fish or even veggies. The seasoning helps them maintain their juiciness, their sweet flavour is absolutely delicious when eaten with grilled kabobs.

• Cheesy Creamed Corn

Enjoy this tasty quick and easy creamy treat, that will be much appreciated with your main dish of kabobs.

• Corn Pudding

Pudding lovers will adore this one! With creamy, smooth, buttery and custard-related ingredients, a perfect side dish to serve at a table.

Potatoes added to your main dish of grilled kabobs will transform your meal from great to outstanding.

• Baked Sweet Potatoes

Baked sweet potatoes are much oved during the winter months, the warmth and aromatic flavours with smooth textures can simply turn you to mush.

• Salt and Vinegar Potatoes

Salty, savoury, crispy with a hint of sweet are the wonderfully combined flavours that will satisfy your cravings whilst you feast on some grilled kabobs. Make sure the potatoes are golden on both sides and retain the sweetness inside the texture.

Now onto the salads, cold, crunchy, satisfyingly fresh salads.

• Greek Salad

Greek salad is super easy to make and delicious! You will need great dressing and a combination of ingredients, such as cucumber, peppers, tomatoes, red onions, mint leaves and more. This wonderful side dish packed with vibrant colours makes so much sense when eaten with kabobs, it is simply and undoubtedly satisfying.

Can You Wrap Kabobs In Foil?

Kabobs can be cooked whilst wrapped in foil, as this allows the locked flavours to stay within its kabob surroundings, providing flavours to the meat and peppers on the skewers. These foil wrapped beef kabobs taste so good because the foil helps keep them juicy and flavourful. All you need to do is place the skewers onto the centre of the foil sheet and bring up the longer sides, so the ends meet over the food.

Wrapping Up

There really is no right or wrong answer when it comes to what to serve with kabobs, whether you choose a warm or cool side, the deliciousness is guaranteed.