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These chicken skewers are very easy to prepare, and they taste equally delicious whether served warm or at room temperature. For that reason, they make a great appetizer when entertaining, a fabulous dish to serve as a casual pool -side snack, or a great take-along for an outdoor picnic. They do need to marinate for about an hour, but they cook in less than 8 minutes – so you can easily prepare a large quantity of them at once.

1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into strips

1/2 cup reduced fat,low sodium chicken broth

1/2 cup light coconut milk

2 tablespoons low sodium soy sauce

1 shallot, thinly sliced

1 garlic clove, minced or pressed

1 1/2 teaspoons fish sauce (or you could just use 2 additional teaspoons low sodium soy sauce or tamari)

1 tablespoon brown sugar (light or dark)

1/2 teaspoon lime zest

1 tablespoon fresh ginger, minced

8 bamboo skewers, soaked in water for 15-20 minutes

peanut sauce (recipe follows)

2 tablespoons fresh basil or cilantro, minced

1/4 cup roasted peanuts, chopped

Whisk the chicken stock, coconut milk, soy sauce, shallot, garlic, fish sauce, brown sugar, lime zest, and ginger together in a bowl. Place the chicken strips in the bowl, cover and refrigerate for 30-60 minutes.

Remove the chicken from the marinade (you can throw the marinade away), and “thread” the chicken strips onto the skewers.

Spray a nonstick grill pan with cooking spray and place it over medium-high heat. Place the skewers on the grill and cook for 2 to 3 minutes per side (or until the chicken if fully cooked).

Place the skewers on a platter and garnish with the basil or cilantro and the chopped peanuts. Serve alongside the dipping sauce.

To Make the Dipping Sauce:
1/2 cup natural creamy peanut butter
1/4 cup reduced fat low sodium chicken broth

3 tablespoons low sodium soy sauce

1 1/2 tablespoons brown sugar

1 1/2 tablespoons fresh ginger, minced

2 tablespoons lime juice

1 teaspoon minced garlic

1/2 teaspoon chili flakes

1 teaspoon red curry paste

1 shallot, peeled and roughly chopped

Place all of the ingredients in a food processor or blender and blend until smooth.

Makes 4 servings. Per Serving: 263 calories, 7 g total fat, 2 g saturated fat, 0 g trans fat, 12 g carbohydrates, 3 g fiber, 6 g added sugar, 32 g protein, 317 mg sodium, 119 mg cholesterol