These mini beef kebabs start with a marinade seasoned with allspice, cloves and thyme that give it a Caribbean vibe, plus chipotle adds smoky heat and agave adds sweetness. Mini bamboo skewers, also called brochettes, make them perfect bite sized appetizers.

Caribbean Beef Skewer Appetizer on a plate

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Why We Love This Recipe For Caribbean Beef Skewer Appetizer

This Caribbean Beef Skewer Appetizer recipe is all about big bold flavor. I developed this recipe as a simplified riff on my all-time favorite marinade, Island Chicken Marinade.

They look fabulous with different colored peppers and a little cilantro and orange zest sprinkled on for garnish. Put them out at a party as an appetizer and they will be devoured in no time.

If you’re a kebab fan like me, check out some of my other favorites like these Rosemary Garlic Shrimp and Tomato Kebabs and Kofta Kebabs.

Recipe Highlights

  • The Caribbean-inspired marinade is so delicious and flavor packed. It’s great on chicken or pork as well.
  • This recipe makes a big batch, 48 kebabs, so it’s great for a party
  • With this recipe you can forget the grill. These steak skewers in the oven are so much easier, no worry about them burning up.
Mini Caribbean Spice Beef Kebabs on a plate

Key Ingredients For These Caribbean Steak Skewers Appetizers

  • Beef Sirloin Steak: Sirloin is lean and relatively tender. You could also use another cut of beef like strip steak, tenderloin or London broil.
  • Peppers: red and yellow bell peppers for color.
  • Onion
  • Garlic
  • Reduced Sodium Soy Sauce: Use tamari for a wheat-free option.
  • Red Wine Vinegar
  • Agave Syrup: You could use brown sugar, honey or maple syrup instead.
  • Ground Chipotle Powder: Made from dried smoked jalapenos, chipotle powder is smoky and spicy. Find it in well stocked supermarkets in the spice aisle. Even McCormick makes it now. If you want to skip the spiciness but just want the smoky flavor substitute smoked paprika.
  • Spices & Herbs: Ground allspice, cloves and dry thyme
  • Avocado Oil or Extra-Virgin Olive Oil
  • Garnish: Cilantro and orange zest(optional)

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Soak bamboo skewers

Place the bamboo skewers (also called brochettes) in a loaf pan, and cover with warm water. This will prevent them from burning while cooking.

Step 2: Make marinade

Combine the garlic, onion, soy sauce, vinegar, agave, oil, chipotle, allspice, thyme and cloves in a large re-sealable plastic bag. Seal the bag and set it aside.

Step 3: Marinate beef

Cut the beef into thin strips, then add to the bag of marinade. Press out any excess air, then seal and agitate the bag until the beef is fully coated. Refrigerate the marinated meat for 1 to 4 hours.

Step 4: Preheat oven

Arrange two oven racks so they are evenly spaced in the oven. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees and line two rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper. Drain the bamboo skewers.

Step 5: Microwave peppers

Place the bell peppers in a medium microwave-safe bowl with ¼ cup water. Cover and microwave until the peppers are crisp-tender, 2 to 3 minutes. Drain the peppers and let cool slightly.

Step 6: Skewer beef and pepper

Drain the steak and discard the marinade. Skewer the beef onto the brochettes, then Aad a piece of red or yellow pepper to the end of each kebab. Arrange the mini beef skewers on the prepared baking sheet.

Step 7: Roast steak skewers in oven

Transfer the baking sheets to the oven and cook for 4 minutes. Rotate the baking sheets and continue to roast until the beef is just barely pink in the center, 2 to 4 minutes longer. (Alternatively, cook in two batches on one baking sheet .)

Step 8: Garnish mini beef skewers and serve

Transfer the beef kebabs to a serving platter, sprinkle with cilantro and zest if desired and serve.

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Mini Caribbean Spice Beef Kebabs on a plate

FAQs and Expert Tips for these Mini Beef Skewers

Which size skewer is best to use?

If you can find them, little baby bamboo skewers are the best for the kebabs. If you can’t find them though, no biggie, just use a full-length one.

Make Ahead Instructions:

Prepare and assemble the skewers the night before. Refrigerate them for up to 12 hours before roasting in the oven.

Storage Instructions:

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave until just warmed through.

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At Healthy Seasonal Recipes, we specialize in cooking with fresh veggies and creating weeknight meals. Sign up HERE to get more produce-forward dinner ideas for FREE! If you make this recipe, please come back and leave a star rating and review. I would love to hear what you thought! Happy Cooking! ~Katie

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Mini Caribbean Spice Beef Kebabs on Healthy Seasonal Recipes

Caribbean Beef Skewer Appetizer

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Description

These mini beef and pepper kebabs start with a marinade seasoned with allspice, cloves and thyme that give it a Caribbean vibe, plus chipotle adds smoky heat and agave adds sweetness. Mini bamboo skewers, also called brochettes, make them perfect bite sized appetizers.

Ingredients

Units Scale

Caribbean Spice Marinade

  • 3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
  • 1 small onion, finely chopped
  • 1/4 cup reduced sodium soy sauce or wheat-free tamari
  • 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
  • 3 tablespoons agave syrup
  • 1 tablespoon avocado oil or extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon ground chipotle pepper (powder)
  • 1 teaspoon ground allspice
  • 1/2 teaspoon dry thyme
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

Beef Kebabs

  • 1 pound beef sirloin steak
  • 1 red bell pepper, cored and cut into 24 3/4-inch squares
  • 1 yellow bell pepper, cored and cut into 24 3/4-inch squares
  • Cilantro and orange zest for garnish, optional

Instructions

  1. Place 48 (3-inch) bamboo skewers (also called brochettes) in a loaf pan, and cover with warm water.
  2. Combine garlic, onion, soy sauce, vinegar, agave, oil, chipotle, allspice, thyme and cloves in a large re-sealable plastic bag. Seal bag and set aside.
  3. Cut beef into 48 thin strips with a sharp carving knife, about 3-inches long. Add to the bag of marinade, press out excess air and seal. Agitate bag to coat the beef with the marinade. Refrigerate 1 to 4 hours.
  4. Arrange two oven racks so they are evenly spaced in the oven. Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Line two rimmed baking sheets with parchment. Drain skewers
  5. Place pepper in a medium microwave safe bowl. Add ¼ cup water. Cover and microwave until crisp tender, 2 to 3 minutes minutes. Drain and let cool slightly.
  6. Drain steak and discard marinade. Skewer beef onto brochettes. Add a piece of red or yellow pepper to the end of each kebab. Arrange on the prepared baking sheet.
  7. Transfer the baking sheets to the oven and cook 4 minutes. Switch pans of beef, rotating the pans around front to back to ensure even cooking. Roast until the beef is just barely pink in the center, 2 to 4 minutes longer. {Alternatively cook in two batches.}
  8. Transfer the beef kebabs to a serving platter, sprinkle with cilantro and zest and serve.

Notes

Make-Ahead: You can prepare and assemble the skewers the night before. Refrigerate them for up to 12 hours before roasting in the over. 

  • Prep Time: 35 minutes
  • Cook Time: 8 minutes
  • Category: Appetizer
  • Method: Oven
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 4 kebabs
  • Calories: 86
  • Sugar: 4 g
  • Sodium: 261 mg
  • Fat: 4 g
  • Saturated Fat: 0.5 g
  • Carbohydrates: 7 g
  • Fiber: 0.5 g
  • Protein: 5 g

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