![Wooden skewers](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/62/Wooden_skewers.jpg)
A skewer is a thin metal or wood stick used to hold pieces of food together.
The word may sometimes be used as a
metonym
Metonymy () is a figure of speech in which a concept is referred to by the name of something closely associated with that thing or concept.
Etymology
The words ''metonymy'' and ''metonym'' come from grc, μετωνυμία, 'a change of name' ...
, to refer to the entire food item served on a skewer, as in "chicken skewers". Skewers are used while
grilling
Grilling is a form of cooking that involves dry heat applied to the surface of food, commonly from above, below or from the side. Grilling usually involves a significant amount of direct, radiant heat, and tends to be used for cooking meat a ...
or
roasting
Roasting is a cooking method that uses dry heat where hot air covers the food, cooking it evenly on all sides with temperatures of at least from an open flame, oven, or other heat source. Roasting can enhance the flavor through caramelization ...
meats and fish, and in other culinary applications.
In English, brochette is a borrowing of the French word for skewer. In
cookery
Cooking, cookery, or culinary arts is the art, science and craft of using heat to prepare food for consumption. Cooking techniques and ingredients vary widely, from grilling food over an open fire to using electric stoves, to baking in vario ...
, ''en brochette'' means 'on a skewer', and describes the form of a
dish or the method of cooking and serving pieces of food, especially grilled meat or seafood, on skewers; for example "lamb cubes en brochette".
Skewers are often used in a variety of
kebab
Kebab (, ; ar, كباب, link=no, Latn, ar, kabāb, ; tr, kebap, link=no, ) or kabob (North American) is a type of cooked meat dish that originates from cuisines of the Middle East. Many variants of the category are popular around the wor ...
dishes.
Utensil
Metal skewers are typically stainless steel rods with a pointed tip on one end and a grip of some kind on the other end for ease of removing the food. Non-metallic skewers are often made from
bamboo
Bamboos are a diverse group of evergreen perennial flowering plants making up the subfamily Bambusoideae of the grass family Poaceae. Giant bamboos are the largest members of the grass family. The origin of the word "bamboo" is uncertain, bu ...
, as well as
hardwood
Hardwood is wood from dicot trees. These are usually found in broad-leaved temperate and tropical forests. In temperate and boreal latitudes they are mostly deciduous, but in tropics and subtropics mostly evergreen. Hardwood (which comes from ...
s such as
birch
A birch is a thin-leaved deciduous hardwood tree of the genus ''Betula'' (), in the family Betulaceae, which also includes alders, hazels, and hornbeams. It is closely related to the beech-oak family Fagaceae. The genus ''Betula'' contains 30 ...
,
beech
Beech (''Fagus'') is a genus of deciduous trees in the family Fagaceae, native to temperate Europe, Asia, and North America. Recent classifications recognize 10 to 13 species in two distinct subgenera, ''Engleriana'' and ''Fagus''. The ''Engle ...
, or other suitable wood. Prior to grilling, wooden skewers may be soaked in water to avoid burning. A related device is the
rotisserie
Rotisserie, also known as spit-roasting, is a style of roasting where meat is skewered on a spit – a long solid rod used to hold food while it is being cooked over a fire in a fireplace or over a campfire, or roasted in an oven. This metho ...
or spit, a large rod that rotates meat while it cooks.
History
![Akrotiri terracotta firedogs with zoomorphic finials](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4d/Akrotiri_terracotta_firedogs_with_zoomorphic_finials.jpg)
Evidence of the
prehistoric
Prehistory, also known as pre-literary history, is the period of human history between the use of the first stone tools by hominins 3.3 million years ago and the beginning of recorded history with the invention of writing systems. The use of ...
use of skewers, as far back as the
Lower Paleolithic
The Lower Paleolithic (or Lower Palaeolithic) is the earliest subdivision of the Paleolithic or Old Stone Age. It spans the time from around 3 million years ago when the first evidence for stone tool production and use by hominins appears in ...
, has been found at a 300,000-year-old site in
Schöningen
Schöningen is a town of about 11,000 inhabitants in the district of Helmstedt, in Lower Saxony, Germany.
Geography
The town is located on the southeastern rim of the Elm hill range, near the border with the state of Saxony-Anhalt. In its curren ...
, Germany. A stick with a burnt tip was found to have been used to cook meat over a fire. Excavations of the
Minoan
The Minoan civilization was a Bronze Age Aegean civilization on the island of Crete and other Aegean Islands, whose earliest beginnings were from 3500BC, with the complex urban civilization beginning around 2000BC, and then declining from 1450B ...
settlement of
Akrotiri unearthed stone "
fire dog
An andiron or firedog, fire-dog or fire dog is a bracket support, normally found in pairs, on which logs are laid for burning in an open fireplace, so that air may circulate under the firewood, allowing better burning and less smoke. They gene ...
s" used before the 17th century BCE. In these supports there are pairs of indentations that may have been used for holding skewers.
Homer
Homer (; grc, Ὅμηρος , ''Hómēros'') (born ) was a Greek poet who is credited as the author of the ''Iliad'' and the ''Odyssey'', two epic poems that are foundational works of ancient Greek literature. Homer is considered one of the ...
in ''
Iliad
The ''Iliad'' (; grc, Ἰλιάς, Iliás, ; "a poem about Ilium") is one of two major ancient Greek epic poems attributed to Homer. It is one of the oldest extant works of literature still widely read by modern audiences. As with the ''Odysse ...
'' (1.465) mentions pieces of meat roasted on spits (, ). In
Classical Greece
Classical Greece was a period of around 200 years (the 5th and 4th centuries BC) in Ancient Greece,The "Classical Age" is "the modern designation of the period from about 500 B.C. to the death of Alexander the Great in 323 B.C." ( Thomas R. Marti ...
, a small spit or skewer was known as (), and
Aristophanes
Aristophanes (; grc, Ἀριστοφάνης, ; c. 446 – c. 386 BC), son of Philippus, of the deme
In Ancient Greece, a deme or ( grc, δῆμος, plural: demoi, δημοι) was a suburb or a subdivision of Athens and other city-states ...
mentions such skewers being used to roast thrushes. The story is often told of medieval Middle Eastern soldiers - usually Turkish or Persian, depending on the storyteller – who cooked meat skewered on their swords.
One of the most well-known skewered foods around the world is the
shish kebab
Shish kebab is a popular meal of skewered and grilled cubes of meat. It can be found in Mediterranean cuisine and is similar to or synonymous with dishes called shashlik and khorovats, found in the Caucasus region.
It is one of the many types ...
. The earliest literary evidence for the Turkish word (shish) as a food utensil comes from the 11th-century , attributed to
Mahmud of Kashgar. He defines shish as both a skewer and 'tool for arranging noodles' (), though he is unique in this regard as all subsequent known historical references to ''shish'' define it as a skewer.
Examples of skewered foods
Kebab
A large variety of dishes cooked on skewers are
kebab
Kebab (, ; ar, كباب, link=no, Latn, ar, kabāb, ; tr, kebap, link=no, ) or kabob (North American) is a type of cooked meat dish that originates from cuisines of the Middle East. Many variants of the category are popular around the wor ...
s (meat dishes prevalent in
Middle Eastern cuisine
Middle Eastern cuisine or West Asian cuisine includes Arab, Armenian, Assyrian, Azerbaijani, Cypriot, Egyptian, Georgian, Iranian, Iraqi, Israeli, Kurdish, Lebanese, Palestinian and Turkish cuisines. Common ingredients include olives and ol ...
and the
Muslim world
The terms Muslim world and Islamic world commonly refer to the Islamic community, which is also known as the Ummah. This consists of all those who adhere to the religious beliefs and laws of Islam or to societies in which Islam is practiced. I ...
), or derived from them. Examples include Turkish ''
shish kebab
Shish kebab is a popular meal of skewered and grilled cubes of meat. It can be found in Mediterranean cuisine and is similar to or synonymous with dishes called shashlik and khorovats, found in the Caucasus region.
It is one of the many types ...
'', Iranian ''
jujeh kabab
Jujeh kabab ( fa, جوجه کباب, literally "grilled chick") is an Iranian dish that consists of grilled chunks of chicken which are sometimes with bone and other times without bone. It is one of the most common and popular dishes of Iran. I ...
'', Chinese ''
chuan'', and Southeast Asian
satay
Satay ( , in USA also , ), or sate in Indonesian spelling, is a Southeast Asian dish of seasoned, skewered and grilled meat, served with a sauce. The earliest preparations of satay is believed to have originated in Javanese cuisine, but ha ...
. However, ''kebab'' is not synonymous with "skewered food", and many kebab dishes such as
chapli kebab
Chapli Kebab or Chapli Kabab ( ps, چپلي کباب) is a Pashtun-style minced kebab, usually made from ground beef, mutton or chicken with various spices in the shape of a patty. The Chapli Kabab originally comes from the northern areas of Pak ...
are not cooked on skewers. On the other hand, English speakers may sometimes use the word ''kebab'' to refer to any food on a skewer.
Other
Dishes, other than kebabs, prepared with skewers include American
city chicken
City chicken is an American entrée consisting of cubes of meat, which have been placed on a wooden skewer (approximately 4–5 inches long), then fried and/or baked. Depending on the recipe, they may be breaded. Despite the name of the dish ...
and
corn dog
A corn dog (also spelled corndog) is a sausage (usually a hot dog) on a stick that has been coated in a thick layer of cornmeal batter and deep fried. It originated in the United States and is commonly found in American cuisine.
History
Newly ...
, Brazilian ''
churrasco
''Churrasco'' (, ) is the Portuguese and Spanish name for beef or grilled meat more generally. It is a prominent feature in the cuisine of Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina. The related term ''churrascaria'' (or ''churrasquería'') is mostly under ...
'',
indigenous
Indigenous may refer to:
*Indigenous peoples
*Indigenous (ecology), presence in a region as the result of only natural processes, with no human intervention
*Indigenous (band), an American blues-rock band
*Indigenous (horse), a Hong Kong racehorse ...
Peruvian ''
anticucho
''Anticuchos'' (singular ''anticucho'', Quechua 'Anti Kuchu', '' Anti'': 'Eastern region of the Andes' or 'Eastern native ethnicities', ''Kuchu'': 'Cut'; Quechua for 'Anti-style cuts', 'Eastern-style cuts') are popular and inexpensive meat dishes ...
'', Italian ''
arrosticini
Arrosticini are a class of traditional dishes of skewered grilled meat characteristic of Molisana and Abruzzese cuisine (from the Italian region of Abruzzo and Molise).'' Il Devoto-Oli 2014. Vocabolario della lingua Italiana'', edited by Luca ...
'', Greek ''
souvlaki
Souvlaki ( el, σουβλάκι, , ; plural: , ), is a popular Greek fast food consisting of small pieces of meat and sometimes vegetables grilled on a skewer. It is usually eaten straight off the skewer while still hot. It can be served with ...
'', Japanese ''
kushiyaki
is a formal term that encompasses both poultry and non-poultry items, skewered and grilled. At times, restaurants group them as and ''yakimono'' ( 焼き物).
Yakitori and kushiyaki
Muroran '' yakitori'' is actually pork, not chicken
Both y ...
'' and ''
kushikatsu
, also known as , is a Japanese dish of deep-fried skewered meat and vegetables. In Japanese, refers to the skewers used while ''katsu'' means a deep-fried cutlet of meat.
Ingredients
Kushikatsu can be made with chicken, pork, seafood, and ...
'', Korean ''
jeok
''Jeok'' () is a Korean meat dish served with skewers. Jeok is typically made with a large variety of meats, vegetables and mushrooms and is usually served on special occasions such as birthdays (hwangap) and wedding ceremonies. Jeok comes in mul ...
'' and ''
kkochi
''Kkochi'' () is a category of Korean food cooked on skewers. The word ''kkochi'' means "skewer" in Korean.
Varieties
See also
* ''Jeok
''Jeok'' () is a Korean meat dish served with skewers. Jeok is typically made with a large variety of ...
'', Nepali ''
sekuwa
Sekuwa is meat roasted in a natural wood fire in a traditional Nepalese country style. While the meat is still raw, it is mixed with natural herbs and spices and other ingredients. Sekuwa can be made with pork, lamb, goat or chicken, or a mixture. ...
'', Portuguese ''
espetada
Espetada (also known as espetinho, especially in Brazil) is the Portuguese term used for the technique of cooking food on skewers, and for the dishes prepared that way. Espetada is a traditional dish in Portuguese cuisine.
In Portugal, espetada ...
'', Vietnamese ''
nem nướng
(literally "grilled spring rolls") is Vietnamese grilled pork sausage or grilled meatballs, and a popular Vietnamese food item, sometimes served as an individual appetizer or snack, or served with rice noodles or rice as a main course. is a spec ...
'' and ''
chạo tôm
''Chạo tôm'' is a traditional Vietnamese dish that comes from the Huế region of Central Vietnam. It consists of shrimp surimi grilled on a sugar cane stick. It is often presented as a dish during large banquets prepared for weddings, holiday ...
'', and Chinese ''
shaokao
''Shaokao'' (), also romanized as shao kao, is the Chinese translation of "barbecue". Chinese variants of the practice constitute a significant aspect of Chinese cuisine. In China, it is predominantly found on busy Chinese streets and night mark ...
''.
Appetizers and
hors d'oeuvres may often be skewered together with small sticks or toothpicks; the Spanish
pincho
A pincho (; literally "thorn" or "spike"), pintxo () or pinchu () is a small snack, typically eaten in bars, traditional in northern Spain and especially popular in the Basque country, Navarre, La Rioja, Cantabria, and Asturias. They are usually ...
is named after such a skewer.
Small, often decorative, skewers of glass, metal, wood or bamboo known as olive picks or
cocktail sticks are used for
garnishes on
cocktail
A cocktail is an alcoholic mixed drink. Most commonly, cocktails are either a combination of spirits, or one or more spirits mixed with other ingredients such as tonic water, fruit juice, flavored syrup, or cream. Cocktails vary widely across ...
s and other
alcoholic beverage
An alcoholic beverage (also called an alcoholic drink, adult beverage, or a drink) is a drink that contains ethanol, a type of alcohol that acts as a drug and is produced by fermentation of grains, fruits, or other sources of sugar. The c ...
s. Many types of snack food, such as
candy apple
Candy apples (or toffee apples in Commonwealth English) are whole apples covered in a sugar candy coating, with a stick inserted as a handle. These are a common treat at fall festivals in Western culture in the Northern Hemisphere, such as ...
s,
bananacue, ''
ginanggang
''Ginanggang'', ''guinanggang'', or ''ginang-gang'' () is a snack food of grilled skewered bananas brushed with margarine and sprinkled with sugar. It originates from the island of Mindanao in the Philippines. It literally means "grilled" in Cebu ...
'', ''
elote
Corn on the cob is a culinary term for a cooked ear of sweet corn (maize) eaten directly off the cob. The ear is picked while the endosperm is in the "milk stage" so that the kernels are still tender. Ears of corn are steamed, boiled, or gr ...
'', and ''
tanghulu
Tanghulu () or ''Tang hulu'' (), also called ''bingtang hulu'' (), is a traditional Northern Chinese snack consisting of several rock sugar-coated fruits of Chinese hawthorn ('' Crataegus pinnatifida'') on a bamboo skewer. It is named for its ...
'', are sold and served "on a stick" or skewer, especially at outdoor markets, fairs, and sidewalk or roadside stands around the world.
File:Chenjeh1.jpg, Chenjeh kebab in Iran
Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, and also called Persia, is a country located in Western Asia. It is bordered by Iraq and Turkey to the west, by Azerbaijan and Armenia to the northwest, by the Caspian Sea and Turkmeni ...
File:Seafood skewers.jpg, Seafood skewers sold in South Korea: ''mun-kkochi'' (giant octopus
''Enteroctopus'' is an octopus genus whose members are sometimes known as giant octopus.
Etymology
The generic name ''Enteroctopus'' was created by Alphonse Tremeau de Rochebrune and Jules François Mabille in 1887 and published in 1889, join ...
), ''sora-kkochi'' ( horned turban), and ''jju-kkochi'' ( webfoot octopus).
File:Skewered food at Shida Night Market in Taipei.jpg, Fish ball
Fish balls are rounded meat balls made from fish paste which are then boiled or deep fried. Similar in composition to fishcake, fish balls are often made from fish mince or surimi, salt, and a culinary binder such as tapioca flour, corn, or p ...
skewers at Shida Night Market
The Shida Night Market () is a night market in Da'an District, Taipei, Taiwan. It is located near National Taiwan Normal University, whose name in Chinese is pronounced phonetically as Shida.
Shida night market was a very popular night marke ...
in Taipei
Taipei (), officially Taipei City, is the capital and a special municipality of the Republic of China (Taiwan). Located in Northern Taiwan, Taipei City is an enclave of the municipality of New Taipei City that sits about southwest of the n ...
, Taiwan
Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is a country in East Asia, at the junction of the East and South China Seas in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, with the People's Republic of China (PRC) to the northwest, Japan to the nort ...
.
File:Brochette de dinde sur une assiette pres de Jijel 1.JPG, Khebab from Algeria
See also
*
Barbecue
Barbecue or barbeque (informally BBQ in the UK, US, and Canada, barbie in Australia and braai in South Africa) is a term used with significant regional and national variations to describe various cooking methods that use live fire and smoke t ...
*
Mixed grill
Many regional cuisines feature a mixed grill, a meal consisting of a traditional assortment of grilled meats.
List of mixed grill dishes
Mixed grill dishes include:
* ''Churrasco'' – typically featuring various cuts of chicken and beef, esp ...
References
External links
{{Street food
Food preparation utensils
Eating utensils