Mango Chutney Marinated Shrimp or Chicken Kebabs

Plus, honoring life's cycles.

Today we’re making mango chutney marinated kebabs, which have a bold sweet-and-savory flavor with a kick from ginger and garlic (and best of all, they come together using just a few ingredients). You can use chicken or shrimp, or a mix of both. It’s a quick and easy weeknight dinner that’s also fabulous for spring and summer parties (they’re coming!). 

Happy Friday, friends!

The theme of my life right now seems to be: STREAMLINE. We’re cyclical creatures, us humans. Some periods of our lives will be full of action and production (in February, for instance, I was in full action mode as I finished up several big work projects). Other periods of our lives will call for rest and replenishment (last spring I was in a chrysalis phase—a time of deep internal transformation that required a ton of rest). And other periods will be somewhere in the middle, flowing like a gently moving stream.

I’m in a stream phase, which just made me laugh, seeing as though my theme right now is to streamline. Out of curiosity I looked up the etymology of streamline, which comes from hydrodynamics: “stream + line, as in line of flow.” The word eventually took on the meaning “to free from turbulence” (from aeronautics) then to its more current sense of “simplify and organize.”

I’ve found it helpful to know what stage of life I’m in so that I can best nourish myself accordingly. When we honor where we’re at, we can better feed ourselves, not just on a physical level, but also on an emotional and spiritual level. As Vaness Henry explained in this podcast episode, dynamic nourishment is not only about the foods we consume, but also about our environment, our practices, the clothes we wear, and the movements we do. Back in February I craved hearty meals, dance parties, and my boldest jewelry (give me all the turquoise). Last spring, when I was in a time of rest, I wanted lots of gentle stretching, simple flavors, and my softest black pants.

Beyond Just Food: Whole Life Nourishment with Vaness Henry

Right now, in the stream phase, I’ve been in a consistent, gentle state of movement. This isn’t a time for high throttle output for me, but rather a time of steady action balanced by rest. I’ve been honing my rituals, refining my routines, and clearing out the clutter in my life, streamlining my days and my work flow in order to move more easily with the current. Over the past couple of weeks I’ve been all about long walks, shift dresses in bright colors, and bold but easy meals, like today’s.

The Power of Rituals (in the kitchen and out)

In the kitchen

A few weeks ago I decided to develop a recipe for crispy pan-fried coconut shrimp. As I tested it, however, dipping each shrimp in flour, then eggs, then coconut and breadcrumbs, splattering flour and oil all over my countertop and stove, my whole body said no. 

“Simplify,” she whispered. Streamline.

This all happened the same week I was writing a newsletter about the value of giving up in order to move on and grow. (Which is no surprise, as anytime I write about anything here I’m instantly tested in the subject in real life—maybe I should just write about great wine and sex??). As my family sat to eat the *not great* shrimp, I knew I needed to let it go. Move on. Give up. So I did. 

But literally two bites later, today’s recipe came flooding in, the ingredients lining up like dominos in my head. Mango chutney and a touch of brown sugar for sweetness. A strong kick of garlic and ginger with tamari for balance. Ditch the stovetop and use the grill. Kebabs!

And here we are. 

Mango chutney marinated kebabs

The result is a hundred times better than those coconut shrimp and a hundred times easier. Using store-bought mango chutney streamlines the marinade, providing sweet-spiced depth with a single ingredient (see my other favorite shortcut ingredients below). The kebabs are brushed with more of the marinade as they grill, giving them a lacquered glaze. They were an instant hit with the whole family, and you can either use shrimp or chicken, or go for a mix of both (I can’t decide on a favorite).

The kebabs are delicious on their own, but they’re also also the perfect companion to this Miso Mango Chopped Salad, which I shared on Tuesday. The salad features a riot of bright herbs, salty cashews, whole grains, and fresh mango, which complements the mango chutney in the marinade. It’s a dynamic main course salad that I’ll be making on repeat all season long. 

What stage of life are you in right now? Are you in a cycle of action? Are you resting or in a chrysalis phase, internally morphing? Or are you in between, flowing like a stream?

If you’re in need of recipe or menu inspiration to help support this cycle of your life, I’m here for you. Let me know in the comments—I’d love to help. 

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