New York Street Food

Grilled chicken tikka skewers (picture not from recipe)

Once Hurricane Earl passes today, it should be a beautiful weekend for grillin’.  If you want something a little more interesting than burgers and hot dogs, how about some chicken tikka skewers.  For city folk like me, you can also do this one on the broiler.

GRILLED CHICKEN TIKKA SKEWERS

1/2 cup thick plain whole-milk yogurt such as Greek

1 tbsp fresh lime juice

1 tsp grated ginger

1 tsp grated garlic

3/4 tsp garam masala

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp cayenne

1 lb skinless boneless chicken thighs cut into 1-inch cubes

18 6-inch wooden skewers soaked in warm water for 30 minutes

• Stir together all ingredients except chicken in a medium bowl, then add chicken, stirring to coat. Marinate, covered and chilled, 30 minutes to 1 hour.
• Prepare a grill for cooking over medium-hot charcoal.
• Thread 3 or 4 pieces of chicken onto each skewer, leaving a little space between pieces, and transfer to a tray lined with plastic wrap.
• Oil grill rack, then grill chicken, turning occasionally until browned and just cooked through, about 5-7 minutes total.  Close cover if using a gas grill.
• Serve with cilantro-mint chutney (see recipe below) or your favorite chutney.

Note: This can also be broiled on a foil-lined broiler pan.

Cilantro Mint Chutney

2 cups fresh cilantro sprigs

1 cup fresh mint leaves

1/2 cup chopped white onion

1/3 cup water

1 tbsp fresh lime juice

1 tsp chopped green chilies such as serrano

1 tsp suger

1/2 tsp salt, or to taste

Puree all ingredients in a blender, leaving some texture.

Kim's Aunt Kitchen (46th St just east of 6th Ave)

We’re expecting some rain later, but some of the vendors will be around for lunch today and certainly over the long, beautiful weekend.  Several of the trucks will also be at the Electric Zoo music festival on Randall’s Island Sat & Sun.  As always, check the pink Mobile Munchies twitter feed on our homepage for the latest locations.

Best wishes to my sis, who is having surgery today and reads NYSF regularly.

Wishing everyone a great Labor Day holiday weekend.

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banh-xeo

I recently did a couple of radio interviews, one on WOR and one on WNYU.  Both interviewers asked me the same question, as have many other people – Aren’t you worried about getting sick, and how do you prevent it?

Cassandra James, a long-time resident of Thailand, recently published an article with some tips on how to safely eat street food.

Some of her ideas we’ve been telling you about for a while, such as eating at the most popular street vendors with the longest lines, and making sure the food has not been sitting around.  Some of her other ideas are just common sense, like avoiding mayonnaise.  A few ideas were new to us, such as eating more vegetable and less meat dishes.

Click through for the rest of her tips about eating street food safely.  A few minutes reading this could save you a world of sickness.

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I stopped by 43rd St & 6th Ave to talk to Rosa, the Vendy finalist from El Rey Del Sabor.  She wasn’t there, but the trip was still worthwhile.

Right next door, I noticed the Trini-Paki Boys cart had fish, dumplings & sweet potato listed  as one of their Daily Specials.  I really like fish and don’t get it often at home, so I try to get it outside the house whenever possible – and Trini-Paki Boys is one of the fresher, more interesting carts around.

Today’s Lunch is the fish special ($7) from Trini-Paki Boys cart.

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Carnegie John (NE corner of 56th St & 7th Ave)

Back from Boston and it’s another scorcher today.  Enjoy some great New York Street Food from the vendors on the right and below.

As always, check the pink Mobile Munchies twitter feed on our homepage before heading out in case anyone had to move locations at the last minute.

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