This dish might sound fancy, but in actuality it is super-easy! I love making kebabs, because they are easy prep and easy cleanup. These kebabs are different than any I have made before, because I included sausage, apple, eggplant and CHEESE! I had not heard of halloumi cheese until recently. It is the only cheese that can be grilled because it doesn't melt! It is made from sheep's milk, and it holds its shape and consistency, even at high temperatures. It tastes a little like mozzarella, and the texture is unique. However, Thing 2 loved it, so I conclude that it is kid-friendly!
This is perfect for a weeknight meal, especially if you cut the sausage and cheese the night before. You can also make the dressing ahead of time. This dressing prep was even more of a snap because I used Gourmet Garden garlic and basil pastes. I received some tubes to try when I attended Big Summer Potluck in July. They have many different varieties, including lemongrass, Italian herb, cilantro, ginger, dill, parsley, and chili pepper.
They are actual herbs that are mashed up and made into a paste, and as such they need to be refrigerated, but they last longer than store-bought bunches of herbs and they taste better than the dried versions, so they are really handy to have around! They make weeknight cooking quick and easy. I loved not having to peel and chop cloves of garlic for this dressing. All I had to do was squeeze a tube and and, voila!, I had fresh garlic in my dressing.
I decided to use eggplant in this recipe, but you could skip it or substitute zucchini if you don't like eggplant. I usually cut produce right before preparing the skewers when possible, so that it is still nice and fresh when it goes on the grill. It only takes a few minutes to cut the eggplant and apple into chunks. One trick you can use is to place the apple chunks in a bowl of cold water with some lemon juice added until you are ready to use them. That will keep the chunks juicy and fresh for grilling and keep them from turning brown.
The apple butter dressing with garlic and basil tasted so good everything! I was glad I reserved some for dipping.
Disclosure: I was provided with Gourmet Garden samples as a function of participating in Big Summer Potluck 2013, and subsequently used them in this recipe which will be entered in a recipe contest sponsored by Gourmet Garden. I was not compensated for writing this post and all opinions are my own.
📋 Recipe Card
Garlic Basil Sausage and Halloumi Kebabs
Ingredients
- ¼ cup olive oil
- ¼ cup balsamic vinegar
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 1 red delicious apple
- 1 eggplant
- 1 red onion
- 10 ounces pre-cooked chicken Italian sausage (1 package)
- 8 ounces Halloumi cheese (1 package)
Instructions
- Whisk together olive oil, balsamic vinegar, garlic, basil, salt, and pepper. Set aside.¼ cup olive oil, ¼ cup balsamic vinegar, 1 tablespoon minced garlic, 1 teaspoon dried basil, ½ teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon pepper
- Cut the apple, eggplant, sausage, onion, and cheese into approximately 1 inch chunks.1 red delicious apple, 1 eggplant, 10 ounces pre-cooked chicken Italian sausage, 8 ounces Halloumi cheese, 1 red onion
- Pour about ¾ of the dressing in the bowl and toss to coat. (Save the rest for drizzling or dipping when serving.)
- Thread the chunks of apple, eggplant, sausage, and cheese on skewers, in any order desired.
- Preheat the grill to medium high. Place on the grill and cook, about 8-10 minutes, turning occasionally, until the vegetables begin to soften and the sausage browns.
Notes
- To cook these without firing up the grill, preheat the oven to 400 degrees F, then place the kebabs on a baking sheet (or skip the skewers altogether and just place all the chunks in a single layer on the baking sheet) and bake for 15-20 minutes until the vegetables are softened.
- For even more flavor, after costing the sausage, cheese, and vegetable chunks with dressing, let them sit in the refrigerator for 30-60 minutes to marinate.
- Serve with a fresh salad, couscous, or grilled vegetables.
- For added variety, offer some additional dipping sauces on the side, such as tzatziki, barbecue sauce, or a spicy chili sauce.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is an estimate. The nutritional values for your final dish may vary based on measuring differences and products used.
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KC Kahn the Kitchen Chopper
Kababs!!!
KC Kahn the Kitchen Chopper
Hi Kristin. These #dabobs are perfect for the up coming holiday. Good to know about #Hallloumi #Cheese. Also good to know about your "herb paste" find. I've tried others and the taste is always a bit off. I'll look for this brand when I'm at the market. Thanks!
Beth @ Good to be the Cook
YUM!! Came to your blog for some dinner inspiration for next week... this is so the winner, can't wait!
Kristin King
Hope you like it! 🙂 Thanks for stopping by, Beth!