Pinchos Morunos

Pinchos Morunos are Chicken Skewers, Spanish style! Marinated in smoked paprika and Fino sherry, these juicy morsels are a triumph of flavour. They’re quick and easy to make at home, and packed full of Spanish flair.

These Spanish Pinchos Morunos (or Pinchotos) are packed with amazing Spanish/Moorish flavours. Pinxtos, typically a Northern Spanish variation of Tapas feature the spikes (the pinxtos) to hold the small bites in place, to make it easier for the customer to cleanly navigate its way into their mouth.

Explore more vibrant dishes in my Mediterranean and Mediterranean Mezze & Small Plates collections.

The Pinchos Morunos are skewers of meat, like a kebab/kabob - the meat, often pork or chicken is marinated in Spanish ingredients to infuse every bite with authentic flavours. My recipe "pinchos morunos de pollo" features chicken, which is left to create magic in some quintessentially Spanish ingredients.

What's Ahead?

Why it works.

Food on a stick! - who doesn't love skewers! From satay to kebabs, the World loves meat on a stick, grilled over a BBQ grill. Smoky, sweet and juicy meat with just the right amount of char - this is just my cup of tea. What about you?

What are pinxtos?

Pintxos are small, flavorful Basque snacks, typically served on bread with a skewer holding them together. They're a culinary delight, showcasing regional ingredients like seafood, meats, and vegetables. Pintxos culture revolves around socializing, enjoying a variety of these tasty bites, often paired with wine or cider, especially in bars across Northern Spain.

"Pintxos" is derived from the Spanish word "pincho," which means "spike" or "skewer." It refers to the practice of securing the toppings to the bread with a toothpick or skewer, a characteristic feature of these Basque-style snacks.

Stuff You'll Need

Here's what you'll need to create your own Pinchos at home. One thing I will add is that I prefer to use metal skewers for grilling meat - but if you must use wooden skewers, be sure to soak them in water for an hour before you want to use them - that way they'll be protected a little and won't disintegrate over the heat.

• Chicken - I use either thigh meat or breast meat (you decide which is your favourite).
• Shallots - or onion, when blended into a puree brings flavour and helps tenderise the chicken too.
• Garlic - because Spain! Garlic is essential to create that Spanish flair.
• Smoked Paprika - Spanish paprika is unique, so hunt out a good sweet or spicy Spanish paprika for the most authentic flavour.
• Fino Sherry - Another uniquely Spanish flavour in all its deep and complex sweetness. Delicious!
• Other - Olive oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper round off the flavours.

Pro Tips

You can serve this as a main course or tapas, just adjust the serving size. As for meat, pork is a great substitute, as is beef. This marinade also works quite well with shrimp or a firm fish like monkfish or tuna (just marinate for 1 hour max) and grill on skewers. You can also change up the alcohol you use too - I've made mine using a dry white wine and also with a dry alcoholic cider with amazing results.

Serving & Storage Suggestions

Serve alongside salads or vegetables or a flatbread to wrap the meat. I love to serve with with a delicious smokey mayonnaise (alioli) made with smoked paprika. See my recipe for smoked alioli here.

The skewers are best eaten hot, but you can reheat later (they may dry out a little). Refrigerate wrapped in foil or plastiuc wrap for 1-2 days and reheat in the oven or microwave until just hot. I wouldn't recommend freezing once cooked, but you could freeze them in their marinade for 3+ months. Be sure to naturally defrost thoroughly before cooking - by that, I mean in the fridge not in a microwave.

Ready to get cooking?

As you can see, these super simple chicken skewers only rely on one thing from you - a little patience. The meat becomes tastier the longer it marinates, so this set-and-forget recipe does benefit from a little time to develop the flavour. But that's not a bad thing. A little organisation now, pays off big style later. Hope you enjoy this delicious classic Spanish recipe!

More Spanish recipes

If you liked this pinchos recipe then be sure to try some my other delicious Spanish recipes.

• Spanish Chicken
• Spanish Bean & Chorizo Stew
• Chorizo Tapas with Fino Sherry
• Pisto Manchego
• Spanish Roasted Red Pepper Salad
• Spanish Eggplant Salad
• Chorizo & Prawns in Fino Sherry
• Spanish Jamón Croquetas
• Asparagus tapas with smoked alioli
• Pork Ribs with Sherry & Garlic

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