LINK - Hearty Hylian Skewers with Wild Rice and Mushrooms

Complexity: ★★☆☆☆

The Hero of Time got a makeover in the latest installment of Super Smash Bros. – Link now sports the Champion’s Tunic (and packs some ancient remote-detonated Sheikah bombs, too) from Breath of the Wild. It seemed fitting to base this recipe on the wild dishes that Link could cook up in this open-world adventure. These hearty meat skewers are the perfect nourishing meal for the most courageous of heroes. Served with delicious wild rice pilaf and roasted mushrooms - ingredients that Link frequently finds while foraging - this rustic meal is straight out of the world of Hyrule. It may not boost your strength or give you fire-immunity, but this dish is no less legendary.

These skewers can be made with any meat of your choice, but I thought it was fitting to use the most notorious of poultry – the Cucco. (if Cucco aren't available at your local supermarket, use regular chicken)

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INGREDIENTS

Skewers:

• ⅓ cup olive oil

• ¼ cup honey

• ¼ cup lemon juice, plus 1 tbsp lemon zest

• 1 tbsp Dijon mustard

• 1 tbsp soy sauce

• 3 garlic cloves, minced

• 8 chicken thighs

• 1-2 yellow onions

• Salt and pepper

Rice:

• 3 tbsp butter

• 2 cups wild rice

• 2 shallots, chopped

• 2 garlic cloves, minced

• Few sprigs of rosemary

• Salt and pepper

• 4 cups low sodium chicken broth

• 1 tbsp truffle oil (optional)

Mushrooms:

• 16 ounces mixed mushrooms

• 3 tbsp olive oil

• 2 tsp thyme

• 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar

• Salt and pepper

PREPARATION

1. Preheat oven to 400°. Soak wooden skewers in a bowl of water so that they don't burn on the grill.

2. Brine chicken thighs by soaking in a simple salt water solution in the refrigerator for at least two hours.

3. Combine olive oil, honey, lemon juice and zest, mustard, soy sauce, garlic, salt, and pepper in a large bowl. Whisk to combine.

4. Rinse and dry chicken thighs, cut into cubes, and add to the sauce and marinate for at least one hour.

5. Meanwhile, melt butter in a medium saucepan. Add rice, shallots, garlic, and rosemary. Cook for 5 minutes over medium heat until shallots are translucent. Season with salt and pepper.

6. Add chicken broth and simmer for 15 minutes until rice is cooked through. Fluff with a fork.

7. While the rice is cooking, slice mushrooms and toss with olive oil, thyme, salt, and pepper. Spread out on a tray and roast in the oven for ten minutes. Drizzle with balsamic vinegar.

8. Chop onions into 1 inch pieces. Alternate marinated chicken pieces and onion pieces on the skewers. Cook on a hot grill until lightly charred and the chicken is cooked through to an internal temperature of 165°.

9. Serve with the rice and mushrooms on the side.

This dish takes inspiration from the many rustic meals Link could cook up to recover health in Breath of the Wild. (image credit: polygon.com)