Authentic Upstate Spiedies Recipes

NEW YORK SPIEDIES

Steps:

• In a large resealable bag, combine the canola oil, vinegar, lemon juice, garlic, basil, oregano, thyme, parsley, onion powder, bay leaves, salt, and pepper. Place the beef cubes into the marinade, seal and shake to mix and coat the beef. Marinate in the refrigerator overnight, or for up to 3 days.
• Preheat an outdoor grill for medium heat. Thread the beef cubes onto 8 skewers, dividing evenly. Discard the marinade.
• Cook the meat on the grill for 15 to 20 minutes, or until cooked to your liking (you can make a test skewer if you want). To serve, place a whole skewer of beef on a slice of French bread. Hold onto the meat using the bread, and pull the skewer out.

SPIEDIES

Steps:

• Place the cubed chicken into a large resealable plastic bag or container, add the olive oil, vinegar, lemon juice, salt, garlic, garlic salt, oregano, garlic salt, mint, basil, and black pepper. Seal the container and shake until combined. Refrigerate for 1 to 3 days, shaking the container to turn the meat every 6 to 8 hours.
• Preheat an outdoor grill for medium-high heat and lightly oil grate. When you are ready to cook, remove meat from the marinade and place on skewers.
• Place the skewers on the preheated grill and cook, turning every three minutes until cooked through and the internal temperature of the meat reaches 170 degrees F (75 degrees C). Be careful not to overcook or the meat will be very dry. Serve the grilled meat on Italian bread or hot dog rolls.

AUTHENTIC UPSTATE SPIEDIES.

Steps:

• Dice chicken breasts into 1" cubes.
• Blend the olive oil, lemon juice, vinegar or wine, garlic, parsley, basil, oregano, garlic salt, crushed mint leaf, salt and pepper in a bowl.
• Add chicken to the marinade, stirring. I like to bag it in zip lock bags (I always make a double batch so I can freeze some).
• This needs to marinate at least 24 hrs in the refrigerator. The acid content of the marinade tenderizes the chicken by "cooking" it to a degree.
• Skewer the meat on kabob sticks; grill until firm.
• Serve on sliced Italian bread, and God bless you if you can get Romas from upstate NY or Raliegh NC.

GARLIC SPIEDIES

Steps:

• Trim meat of excess fat. Cut in 1- to 1 1/2-inch cubes so it can be threaded on skewers. Put meat in single layer in glass baking dish.
• Combine vinegar, garlic, oil, sugar, mustard and Worcestershire sauce in a food processor and process until smooth. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Add mixed herbs, chives, 2 tablespoons of the mint and 1 teaspoon of the lemon juice, and process briefly.
• Pour marinade over meat. Turn meat to coat it well, cover and refrigerate 24 hours to 3 days. Stir at least once every day.
• Preheat grill or broiler to hot. Thread meat on skewers, alternating the cubes with pieces of pepper, onions and elephant garlic.
• Puree the chopped garlic, the remaining tablespoon of lemon juice and a half cup of the yogurt together in a food processor. Stir into the remaining yogurt and add the remaining 1/4 cup of mint. Set aside.
• Grill or broil skewers, turning once, until meat is cooked to desired degree of doneness, 10 to 20 minutes.
• Remove meat and vegetables from skewers and serve with yogurt sauce, in pita bread if desired.

SPIEDIES

Steps:

• In a large resealable plastic bag, combine the oil, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, onion and seasonings; add meat. Seal bag and turn to coat; refrigerate for 24 hours, turning occasionally., Drain and discard marinade. Thread meat on metal or soaked wooden skewers. Using long-handled tongs, moisten a paper towel with cooking oil and lightly coat the grill rack. , Grill meat, covered, over medium heat or broil 4 in. from the heat for 10-15 minutes or until meat reaches desired doneness, turning occasionally. Remove meat from skewers and serve on long Italian rolls or hot dog buns.

" LUPO'S " CHICKEN SPIEDIES

Steps:

• Dice chicken breasts into 1" cubes.
• Whisk all other ingredients together to form marinade. Set some aside for basting or sauce if desired (though I don't think this is necessary).
• Add marinade to chicken and refrigerate overnight, stirring occasionally (the acidic nature of the marinade will 'chemically' cook the meat partially).
• Thread 5 or so cubes onto metal or soaked bamboo skewers and grill for a few minutes either side, just until meat is firm (remember, they're already partially cooked by the marinade).
• Place two skewers on a fresh bread roll or Italian bread, grip the meat firmly with the bread and pull out skewers.
• Enjoy!

SPIEDIES

Steps:

• Make the marinade: Whisk together all the ingredients in a large bowl.
• Add the meat to the marinade and cover tightly, or place into large, re-sealable plastic bags and refrigerate for 24 to 36 hours (or 10 to 12 hours for chicken).
• Build a fire in your grill, leaving about 1/3 of grill free of coals, or set a gas grill to high.
• Remove the meat from its marinade and thread onto metal skewers, or wooden ones that you have soaked in water for 30 minutes or so. The chunks can be placed quite close together. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
• When coals are covered with gray ash and fire is still quite high (you can hold your hand 5 inches above coals for only a couple of seconds), place the skewers of meat directly over the flames. Allow the meat to cook, undisturbed, for approximately 3 to 4 minutes, then use kitchen tongs to turn them over and repeat on the other side. Continue turning the skewers every couple of minutes until the meat is deeply crisp at its edges, and cooked entirely through, approximately another 5 to 7 minutes. (Remove them to the cool side of the grill if they begin to burn, and cover the grill to allow them to smoke-roast until finished; this is much less likely to happen on a gas grill.)
• Allow the spiedies to rest on a cutting board for a few minutes, then remove the meat from the skewers onto cut hero rolls or a plate. Serve with hot sauce on the side.

SPEIDIES

Steps:

• 1. Combine the wine, vinegar, and oil in a medium bowl or other nonreactive container. Stir in the shallots, garlic, parsley, bay leaves, thyme, oregano, and salt and white pepper to taste. Cover and allow the flavors to blend for at least 1 hour before using. (The marinade can be covered and refrigerated for up to 1 week.
• 2. If you are using wooden skewers, place them in cold water to cover for at least 1 hour. Remove the skewers from the water just before you are ready to use them.
• 3. One to two hours before you are ready to grill, place the poultry or meat in a shallow nonreactive container. Pour the speidie sauce over the top. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to 2 hours, turning occasionally. If using the vegetables, add them to the marinade with the meat about 15 minutes before you are ready to grill.
• 4. Preheat the grill. Oil the grill rack.
• 5. Thread the poultry or meat cubes (and vegetables, if using) onto skewers, (alternating poultry or meat with the vegetables, if using, and beginning and ending with poultry or meat.) If using wooden skewers, you might want to wrap the tips in aluminum foil to keep them from burning. Place the kabobs on the grill and grill, turning frequently, for about 8 minutes, or until the meat is cooked to the desired degree of doneness (and the vegetables are crisp-tender.) Serve hot off the grill, with toasted pita bread, if desired.