When we were a young and experimental cook, we were unhappy with surface basting. Marinades, sauces and rubs sit on the surface. The crust tasted great, flavors never imbued the roast. But what if those delicious flavors actually got past the skin—so that the garlic or lemongrass was inside, not just on the crust? We experimented with shooting the marinade into the flesh with a doctor’s syringe. It worked, but then we moved from roasts and into other styles of cooking and left injection infusions (which subsequently became popular with chefs) behind.
Twenty years later, we are delighted to see that the folks at Callison’s attacked the problem from the inside out. Their Seasoned Skewers are wooden skewers infused with flavor that pierce through the food (like a kabob or a spear) and transfer the flavors to the interior. And Seasoned Skewers does it better than the injection technique—without the sugar, salt and fat that comes with injections of marinades (or other surface seasonings like rubs and glazes).
Seasoned Skewers are 100 percent natural, made from untreated Maine wood that is flavored with herbal extracts and essential oils. They’re fat-free, sugar-free, sodium-free and calorie-free. The skewers release natural oils and extracts into the food as it cooks, infusing food with flavor. Poultry, beef, pork, fish, seafood, potatoes and other vegetables—even fruit can be skewered and seasoned (we made Thai Coconut Lime baked apples, for example, with two apples to a skewer, and Indian Mango Curry grilled pineapple kabobs).
It couldn’t be simpler:
- Skewer your food. It doesn’t have to be a kabob: as you can see in the photo at the right, you can spear roasts, whole birds, potatoes, anything. You can season a turkey porcupine-fashion (the turkey looks like it has an attractive Mohawk).
- Let the Seasoned Skewers infuse the food with flavor for at least 10 to 15 minutes before cooking. The longer you leave the food on the skewer before cooking, the more intense the flavor will be.
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Whole roast chicken with Citrus Rosemary Seasoned Skewers. |
- You can also pre-soak the skewers, e.g. in wine, beer, sake or marinade, to add to the flavor complexity.
- Then just grill, bake, roast or pan-fry. Your food will continue to soak up flavor during the cooking process.
- You can add external seasonings (and of course, still marinade and glaze). To finish, add salt if you wish.
Flavor, Flavor Everywhere
Seasoned Skewers are inexpensive and come in flat packages: the best approach is to buy one of each flavor and play with them:
- Citrus Rosemary
A delicate blend of rosemary and garlic, sweetened with the essence of orange.
MATCH WITH: Baked potatoes, chicken, fish, lamb, scallops, shrimp, vegetables
- Garlic Herb
A full-bodied mix of garlic, basil, lemon and chives.
MATCH WITH: Beef, chicken, duck, pork, potatoes, scallops, shrimp, vegetables
- Honey Bourbon
The perfect marriage of two classic barbecue flavors.
MATCH WITH: Everything!
- Indian Mango Curry
Sweet mango mingles with the exotic spice of cardamom and curry
MATCH WITH: Beef, chicken, duck, fish, grilled fruit, pork, scallops, shrimp, vegetables
- Mexican Fiesta
A robust mix of smoked chili pepper, coriander, cumin and lime.
MATCH WITH: Baked potato, beef, lamb, pork, shrimp, vegetables
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Above, preparing food with Seasoned Skewers.
Beef kabobs with Honey Bourbon Seasoned Skewers.
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- Thai Coconut Lime
A tropical blend of coconut, ginger, lemongrass, red pepper and kaffir lime.
MATCH WITH: Chicken, duck, fish, grilled fruit, pork, seafood, vegetables
There are quite a few yummy recipes on the company website.
Who Wants Seasoned Skewers?
Everyone! People who love to cook will have fun with these; people who don’t love to cook will be grateful for them.
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Dieters and healthy eaters will love this no-calorie way to add flavor to foods. Seasoned Skewers are perfect for lean meats, poultry or vegetables and add big flavor without the salt for those on a low-sodium diet.
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Busy people and non-cooks will love the no-mess, quick food prep.
- Kids will love the fun of skewered food—and might just offer to help make dinner.
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Grilled scallop and yellow bell peppers with Thai
Coconut Lime Seasoned Skewer. |
How would you use Seasoned Skewers? Do you have a favorite recipe? We’d love to hear from you.
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Above: Salmon with Indian Mango Curry Seasoned Skewer. Below: The Seasoned Skewers family of flavors.
