Oven Chicken Kebabs

Preparation

1. Step 1

   Place chicken, onion, red-pepper flakes, paprika, cumin, sumac and salt into a bowl. Mix well with wet hands, then add olive oil and mix again to blend. The mixture will be sticky. Refrigerate for 20 minutes.

2. Step 2

   With wet hands, divide into 8 (4-ounce) pieces, then form into long sausage shapes, about 1 inch in diameter.

3. Step 3

   Insert a metal or presoaked bamboo skewer, or a disposable chopstick, lengthwise into each shape, flattening and lengthening the meat against the skewer. The mixture will be soft but will firm up when chilled. Lay on a parchment-lined baking sheet and refrigerate until ready to cook, about 30 minutes.

4. Step 4

   As the skewers refrigerate, heat the oven to 450 degrees. Brush the kebabs generously with olive oil and roast for 15 minutes, or until cooked through and lightly browned. For a bit more color, run them under the broiler for 2 more minutes. (Alternatively, heat the broiler or prepare a medium-hot charcoal grill. If grilling, use a fine meshed grate or perforated vegetable grilling pan. Broil or grill kebabs for about 5 minutes per side, until cooked through and lightly charred.)

5. Step 5

   Transfer to a platter and sprinkle with parsley and a pinch of salt.