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Shish Tawook is a very popular skewered chicken dish in the Heart East. Recall of perfectly tender and juicy chicken that's been marinating in earthy spices, yogurt, lemon juice and garlic. That's exactly what y'all get with my shish tawook recipe. And while the recipe is Eye Eastern, you'd be surprised how approachable the ingredients are.

Shish tawook recipe on a platter with garlic sauce

Although my recipe is Lebanese based on how my parents taught me to make information technology, the origin of the name is from Turkey. Shish ways skewers and tawook means chicken. The Ottoman (Turkish) Empire ruled Lebanon for a while, which explains the Turkish influence on Lebanese food!

RECIPE VIDEO TUTORIAL

How to make shish tawook

This recipe is all about the the marinade! I've played around with dissimilar options and this combination is past far my favorite!

Essentially the three most important ingredients in the marinade are yogurt, lemon juice and garlic (6 whole garlic cloves!). But I too add tomato plant paste to give information technology that rich red color, and some other spices including paprika, cinnamon, oregano and ginger. Mix it all together and you'll get this orangey creamy colour ready for y'all to coat the chicken with.

Add the large cubes of chicken chest to the marinade and make sure that everything is well coated. While the yogurt and lemon are crucial parts of the flavour of this dish, they likewise act as a tenderizer for the chicken. That's what makes the chicken come out so juicy and tender. Permit it marinate for at least four hours or overnight.

Process shots for how to make the shish tawook chicken marinade

Skewer the chicken right before you're ready to melt it. I like adding chunks of white onions on each skewer to eat with the sandwich. I honey how onions get sweeter when they're grilled…the perfect vegetable with this shish tawook.

Traditionally, these chicken skewers are meant to be grilled outdoors. You lot tin can besides use an indoor grill pan or regular pan if you don't have a grill pan. Either way, yous'd exist surprised how quickly the shish tawook cooks, all thank you to the yogurt and lemon juice in the base of operations that helped tenderize the chicken!

Process shots showing the chicken on skewers before and after grilling

When information technology's cooked, I love making sandwiches with lettuce, pickles and lots of homemade Lebanese garlic sauce. You'll want to pile on that sauce – it's dairy-free, rich in flavour and totally takes takes any shish tawook sandwich to some other level! In my volume, it's mandatory to consume it with tawook.

Adding garlic sauce on top of the chicken

Tips for making shish tawook

  1. Marinade the chicken for at least 4 hours, but preferably overnight in the fridge to let the chicken to tenderize. Trust me, it'll make the chicken more juicy and flavorful!
  2. Cover the chicken immediately with pita breadstuff subsequently grilling. The pita bread helps trap the vapors and moisture to make the chicken fifty-fifty more juicy! Information technology's often served this way besides.
  3. Use plain full fat yogurt, and non Greek yogurt. Greek yogurt is fine, but information technology'due south best to use regular yogurt because the h2o content from the regular yogurt helps to keep the chicken moist.
  4. Soak the bamboo sticks for 30-45 minutes if you're using. This will forbid them from called-for and maybe getting burnt woodchips inside the shish tawook.

Ofttimes asked questions

How long does grilled chicken keep?

Shish tawook are best served as soon as they are cooked so that they are wonderfully succulent. If yous do accept leftovers go along them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for upward to 4 days. You lot tin reheat the skewers once, if y'all reheat information technology'due south best to cover them with foil and then that they don't dry out. I like having the leftovers cold on top of a salad.

Why exercise you need to marinade the chicken?

Marinating the chicken will not simply add season, simply information technology besides helps to tenderize the chicken and help lock in the wet when you lot grill them. Marinate them for at least four hours and all you lot have to is grill them when you are set up to serve.

What practise yous serve with shish tawook?

I dearest to serve these equally hand held food in a pita with lettuce and garlic sauce, but y'all can easily turn these into a larger sit down downward meal every bit well. Try serving them with Lebanese Rice, Fattoush Salad or even with Cauliflower Rice.

Skewers of the shish tawook on a plat

Information technology's really hard to mess up this Lebanese Shish Tawook recipe. Information technology comes out moist and flavorful, and makes a great add-on to salads, rice, grain bowls or just apparently pita bread with garlic sauce.

For more Lebanese recipes:

  • Beef Shawarma
  • Beef Kafta
  • Falafel
  • Blimp Grape Leaves
  • Batata Harra
  • Mujadara
  • Lebanese Freekeh with Craven

For more craven recipes:

  • Grilled Lemon Chicken
  • Grilled Chicken Kabobs
  • Butter Chicken
  • Harissa Chicken
  • Chicken Piccata
  • Cilantro Chicken

If yous've tried this healthy-ish feel good Shish Tawook recipe or any other recipe on FeelGoodFoodie, then don't forget torate the recipe and get out me a comment beneath! I would love to hear nearly your experience making it. And if you snapped some shots of it, share it with me on Instagram then I can repost on my stories!

This Shish Tawook recipe was originally published on July 10, 2018. I've updating the recipe with more tips, more than step-past-pace photos and a video tutorial. Here's the original photo!

Shish Tawook is a popular Lebanese grilled chicken skewers recipe. It's tender juicy chicken marinated in yogurt, lemon & garlic and served with pita bread

Prep Time x mins

Cook Time 18 mins

Total Time 28 mins

Pyrex 3-Piece Mixing Bowl Set

Anolon Nonstick Square Griddle Pan/Grill

  • 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breast cut into large chunks
  • ½ loving cup plainly whole milk yogurt
  • ¼ cup lemon juice
  • ¼ cup olive oil
  • 6 garlic cloves crushed
  • ane tablespoon lycopersicon esculentum paste
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • ¾ teaspoon cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon oregano
  • ½ teaspoon basis ginger
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon blackness pepper

  • In a large basin, add the ingredients for the marinade (yogurt, lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, tomato paste, all the seasoning and salt/pepper) and whisk to combine.

  • Place the chicken cubes in the same bowl and coat the craven in the marinade. Cover, and let residue/marinate in the fridge for at to the lowest degree 4 hours.

  • Thread the chicken on skewers correct earlier grilling. Add one wedge of onions to each skewer, if desired.

  • Grill on medium heat for v-8 minutes per side.

  • Serve with pita bread, lettuce and garlic sauce, if desired.

Storage: Store whatever leftovers in an airtight container. They will last about 3-four days in the refrigerator.

Equipment: If you want to brand these on grill pan, I highly recommend the Anolon grill pan that I utilize (chapter link)

Make Ahead: You can brand the marinade about iii days in advance and you tin can marinate the chicken in the marinade for up to 24 hours in advance.

Calories: 276 kcal , Carbohydrates: 4 g , Protein: 33 thou , Fat: fourteen g , Saturated Fatty: 3 g , Cholesterol: 99 mg , Sodium: 595 mg , Potassium: 648 mg , Fiber: ane g , Saccharide: 2 yard , Vitamin A: 270 IU , Vitamin C: 7 mg , Calcium: 44 mg , Iron: ane mg

Nutrition data provided is an guess. It volition vary based on cooking method and specific ingredients used.