Dads Shish Kebab

(With Keto Adaptable Recipe)

My Dad was not exactly known in our family for his cooking skills but he diligently stood watch over our outdoor BBQ since time memorial. I can still see him standing vigilant in front of the BBQ with smoke spilling out of the lid. He stood with his standard-issue “cut-off” jeans and a tank top, usually with a fly swatter in his hands or a squirt bottle to extinguish the flames. His two big contributions to my recipe repertoire are “Lemon Chicken” and Shish Kebab. Of course this should not undermine his huge contribution in handing down his Italian heritage to me and all of the love of cooking that came with it.

Dads Shish Kebabs are still my favorite thing on the grill. Each year on my wedding anniversary I get to choose what my family will cook in our honor. I usually choose Dads Shish Kebabs, Moms Baked Beans and my sisters Potato Salad. A perfect family BBQ on a beautiful spring day at the end of April.

The word Shish is Turkish (Sis) for Skewer and Kebab is derived from the Arabic/Turkish Word kepab meaning “roasted meat”. Who doesn’t love roasted meat on a skewer? I don’t know if my Dads Shish Kebabs were delicious because they came from him or because of the marinade he used, but isn’t that the basis of all of the food that fed and nourished us? It’s the love that goes into it and the people who sat around the table with you that makes the memory so fond.

Dads Shish Kebabs

Ingredients for beef kebabs:

2 pounds thinly sliced tri-tip or a other quality meat for grilling
1/2 soy sauce
1/2 sherry (omit if not desired)
3 Tablespoons sugar (use Xylitol for Keto)
1 bunch green onions
1 (1inch section) fresh ginger
1 package wooden skewers

Ingredients for veggie kebab:

1 large red onion
2 large red and yellow bell peppers or use mini colored peppers
1 large zucchini
1 pineapple pealed, cored and sliced into large chunks (omit for Keto)
white button mushrooms
1 Tablespoon olive oil

Instructions:

Soak wooden skewers in water, this will keep them from burning
Thinly slice the beef
Place soy sauce, sugar and sherry in a large bowl for marinating the beef.
Add the minced ginger, garlic and chopped green onions to the marinade
Stir well and add the thinly sliced beef, tossing to cover
allow to marinate for up to 24 hours
thread the meat onto skewers
chop the onion and peppers into large chunks and toss in olive oil
thread the veggies onto separate skewers
grill on hot BBQ until meat and veggies are cooked and slightly charred, just 15-20 minutes.