Turmeric lime chicken skewers
Turmeric lime chicken skewers are an Asian-inspired main course of marinated chicken thigh fillet blended with fresh turmeric, lemongrass, makrut lime leaves and fish sauce. The Thermomix turns the aromatic marinade into a smooth paste in seconds, coating every skewer evenly before grilling. Fragrant, zesty and lightly spiced, ideal for a summer barbecue.
About this recipe
Turmeric lime chicken skewers Thermomix TM7 bring the fragrant flavours of Southeast Asian street food straight to your kitchen or barbecue. If you have been searching for recipes that make the most of your all-in-one kitchen machine, this one shows off how effortlessly the TM7 handles tough aromatics like fresh turmeric root, lemongrass stalks and makrut lime leaves, turning them into a silky, intensely aromatic marinade without any manual chopping board work. Chicken thigh fillet stays wonderfully juicy under the golden, earthy coating of turmeric, fish sauce and Chinese five spice, while a touch of sugar helps the edges caramelise beautifully on the grill. These skewers are a fantastic quick weeknight dinner when served with rice, yet impressive enough for a summer barbecue with friends. The blended marinade clings to every piece of chicken, delivering consistent flavour in each bite, something hand-chopped pastes rarely achieve.
Preparation tips
- Cut the chicken thigh fillet into even, bite-sized cubes so every skewer grills at the same rate and the turmeric marinade clings to each piece. Soak wooden skewers in water beforehand to stop them scorching under the grill.
- Scrape down the mixing bowl walls halfway through blending the marinade so the lemongrass and turmeric are fully incorporated. Marinate the chicken for at least an hour, or overnight in the fridge, for deeper lime and five-spice flavour.
- Serve the skewers with jasmine rice, a fresh cucumber salad or a simple dipping sauce of fish sauce, lime juice and a little sugar. Turmeric stains easily, so wipe the mixing bowl promptly with a damp cloth.
Recipe variations
- For a milder, kid-friendly version, reduce or omit the fish sauce and replace it with light soy sauce, and skip the ground pepper. The turmeric and lemongrass still give lovely fragrance without any heat, making the skewers popular with younger eaters.
- For a festive variation, alternate the marinated chicken cubes on the skewer with pieces of spring onion and red pepper, and brush with a honey-lime glaze during the final minutes of grilling for a glossy, party-ready finish.
Thermomix TM7 Benefits
- The Thermomix chops the lemongrass, garlic and turmeric into a fine aromatic paste in seconds, saving ten minutes of manual knife work. [Time Savings]
- Grinding the whole spices and makrut lime leaves in the TM7 releases maximum fragrance for a more intense marinade flavour. [Multi-Function]
- The built-in scale of the Thermomix weighs the fish sauce and sugar directly into the bowl, so the marinade balance is always consistent. [Built-in Scale]
- Mixing in the Thermomix blends the five spice and pepper evenly through the paste, coating every chicken cube uniformly. [Multi-Function]
- Heating gently in the Thermomix can warm and infuse the marinade, helping the turmeric oils deepen before the chicken is added. [Multi-Function]
Ingredients
- lemongrass
- piece fresh turmeric
- salt
- white sugar
- garlic cloves
- fish sauce
- ground black pepper
- Chinese five spice powder
- makrut lime leaves
- eschalot