- Mary Beth Clark - https://marybethclark.com -

Sicilian Skewers of Grilled Sausage, Orange, Onion, and Bread

Summer grills usually feature grilled sausage, meat kebobs, hamburgers, and marinated chicken. Perk-up your usual menu with something different. Sicilian skewers of grilled sausage, oranges, onion, and bread is a refreshing change packed with great flavor.

Select your favorite sausages – pork, chicken, turkey, seafood, vegetarian. Everyone loves sampling grilled sausage, so offer platters with a few combinations. Make sure the bread is stale, at least a day old if not two or three days old, so it holds up during grilling, perfect for that leftover bread! Don't leave the bread as is, boring. Instead, baste the bread cubes with garlicky oregano-infused olive oil spiced with chili peppers to add character. Brightened with juicy oranges and rich-tasting caramelized onions make this grilled skewer combination a winner every time!


Makes 8 skewers. Cooking time is 6 to 8 minutes.

4 fresh Italian pork sausage links or your choice of fresh sausage (4 ounces or 115 g each link)
2 oranges, rind removed
1 large yellow or red onion
Leftover stale loaf of bread or rolls, crust removed
8 bamboo skewers, 10 to 12-inches (25 to 30-cm) long, soaked in water

Basting Oil:
Extra-virgin olive oil
Dried oregano
Chili peppers, fresh or dried, or ground cayenne red pepper
Whole garlic cloves, lightly pressed
Salt to taste
Freshly ground black pepper to taste

Garnish:
Fresh basil sprigs
 

1. Basting Oil: In a bowl, combine the olive oil, oregano, and chili peppers. Chopped or grated garlic burns on the grill, so add whole garlic cloves, lightly pressed open with the blade of a knife making them easier to remove. (Garlic-infused oil must be refrigerated.) Cover the bowl, and store in the refrigerator for 1 to 2 days in advance so flavors blend. About 30 minutes before using, remove from the refrigerator, remove the garlic cloves. Taste and adjust as needed, then season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.

2. Fire up that grill! (Or fire up your grill pan or broiler.) Cut the sausages, oranges, and onion into small sections, about 1-inch long (2.5 cm). Cut the stale bread into cubes, similar in size. Drain the bamboo skewers, and thread the ingredients onto each, leaving a little space between ingredients. Lightly brush with the infused olive oil. Grill or broil, about 3 to 4 minutes on one side, turn over, baste with more infused olive oil and cook for another 3 to 4 minutes or until done to your preference. Buon Appetito!