Aaron Himrod – Florida Orange Juice Chicken Kebabs

After a long day at the Himrod Family Nursery, I like to relax and enjoy one of my favorite grilling recipes made with a delicious Florida Orange Juice kick. I enjoy adding the flavor and nutritional benefits of Florida Citrus to our family kebab recipe, and hope you enjoy it as much as we do.

Want to learn more about our Florida Citrus Growers? Meet Aaron Himrod, a third generation grower.

Ingredients

1 large Florida Orange, zest only
1 lime, zest only
1/2 teaspoon ground thyme
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1/4 teaspoon granulated garlic
1 teaspoon salt
white pepper, to taste
1 cup Florida Orange Juice
1 cup lemon-lime soda
2 pounds chicken tenders
8 wooden skewers

Instructions

Marinade

In medium mixing bowl, combine orange zest; lime zest; thyme; oil; garlic; salt; white pepper, to taste; orange juice; and soda.
Add chicken and completely coat with marinade. Cover the bowl and place in the refrigerator for at least an hour.
If you are using wood skewers, soak skewers for 20-30 minutes. Make sure the entire stick is completely covered in water. Once the skewers have soaked, remove and start to assemble the skewers.

Kebabs

Remove the chicken from the fridge and lace through each skewer using a weave motion. Repeat for all chicken tenders and set aside.
When the skewers are prepared, drizzle extra marinade over the chicken.
Heat grill and place chicken on grill over medium heat. Cover and cook 3 minutes per side, or until center of meat reaches a temperature of 170° F.
Remove from grill and serve immediately, or cover with foil and serve later.

Helpful Tips: Cover the kebabs with foil for at least 20 minutes after cooking to trap in the flavor and juices of the chicken. Add other vegetables to your kebab to increase the flavor.