Kabobs refer to a mixture of meat and vegetables arranged on a metal or wooden skewer. Traditionally, kabobs are associated with summer and prepared on the grill. However, if you are craving kabobs in the off-season, you have multiple cooking techniques available. Serve your finished dish over white rice or fried rice for a delicious and simple meal.

Arrange your kabobs ahead of time before cooking. Choose your meat and vegetables along with any seasoning you plan to use. Meat options include steak, chicken and pork. Your protein option will need to be cut into 1-inch cubes before arranging on the skewers. Green peppers and sweet red peppers are typically found on kabobs. Additional vegetable choices include onions, mushrooms and pineapple. Push each ingredient through the center of the skewer and top with seasonings such as garlic, ginger, honey, lemon juice, pepper, oregano and mustard.

Broil the kabobs as an alternative to grilling. Arrange the kabobs in a pan approximately 3 inches from the heat source. Every couple of minutes, turn the kabobs to allow them to cook evenly. Cook until the meat reaches the appropriate internal temperature and the vegetables are tender. Total cooking time should be less than 15 minutes.

Instead of broiling kabobs, you may decide to bake the dish in your oven. Preheat the oven to 450 degree Fahrenheit. Place the kabobs on a baking sheet lined with aluminum foil. Place the baking sheet in the top position of your oven. Total cooking time can range between 10 and 20 minutes depending on your protein choice. Beef kabobs will take about 10 minutes to reach medium doneness.

If you use a marinade to keep the kabobs moist, you can use the microwave as a fast cooking alternative to grilling. Baste the kabobs with a wet marinade and leave in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before microwaving. If you have a small microwave, arrange kabobs on a toothpick instead of a skewer. Arrange on a microwave-safe plate and cook on the high setting. Turn the kabobs several times while cooking. Chicken kabobs will take approximately three to four minutes to cook in the microwave.