Shish taouk
Tender cubes of chicken marinated in yogurt, lemon and garlic, threaded onto skewers and grilled until charred at the edges. They are served with garlic sauce and flatbread.
Tavuk Şiş: Garrett Ziegler, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Where it comes from
Shish taouk is a favorite in Lebanon and across the Levant, and the name combines Turkish words for skewer and chicken. It is served as part of mezze spreads and in sandwiches.
Explore the cuisine of Lebanon.
Recipe
Make Shish taouk at home
Ingredients
- 2 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs, cut in 1-inch cubes
- 3/4 cup plain yogurt
- 3 tbsp lemon juice
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1/2 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp black pepper
- Garlic sauce (toum), pickles and warm flatbread to serve
How it's made
- Mix the yogurt, lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, tomato paste, spices and salt.
- Toss the chicken in the marinade, cover and refrigerate at least 4 hours.
- Soak wooden skewers in water for 30 minutes if using them.
- Thread the chicken onto skewers, leaving small gaps.
- Grill over medium-high heat for 10 to 12 minutes, turning, until cooked through and lightly charred.
- Rest for 3 minutes.
- Serve with toum, pickles, and warm bread, or wrap in flatbread.
Variations
- Shish taouk sandwich: Wrapped in bread with pickles and fries.
- Spicy shish taouk: With added chili paste.
- Oven shish taouk: Baked on a rack at 450F.
Cook’s tip: Marinate overnight, but not longer than 24 hours, so the yogurt tenderizes the chicken without making it mushy.
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About this page
Description and method written by Intercontinental Chef. Home-style method; quantities are a starting point, so adjust to taste.
Photo credit
- Tavuk Şiş: Garrett Ziegler, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)