Description
To understand why this dish is beloved around the globe, looking at the actual name helps immensely. The word shish comes from the Turkish word for skewer. Meanwhile, tawook derives from an ancient word for chicken. Put them together, and you have marinated chicken grilled on a skewer over open coals.
Ingredients
Chicken
- 700 g (1½ lb) boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into 3–4 cm cubes
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 3 tbsp plain Greek yogurt
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp ground coriander
- ½ tsp ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp cayenne pepper, optional
For the skewers
- 1 large onion, cut into chunks
- 1 red bell pepper, cut into chunks
- Lemon wedges, for serving
- Fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Make the marinade:
In a large bowl, whisk together yogurt, olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, tomato paste, paprika, cumin, coriander, cinnamon, black pepper, salt, and cayenne. - Marinate the chicken:
Add the chicken and toss until thoroughly coated. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, preferably 6–12 hours. - Prepare the grill:
Heat a charcoal grill until the coals are very hot and covered with a light layer of ash. You want a strong, direct flame/heat.
If using a gas grill, preheat to high. - Thread the skewers:
Thread chicken pieces onto skewers, alternating occasionally with onion and bell pepper. Don’t pack the pieces too tightly—this helps them brown and cook evenly. -
Flame-grill:
Place the skewers over direct high heat. Grill for about 10–14 minutes, turning every 2–3 minutes, until nicely charred on the outside and cooked through.The chicken should reach an internal temperature of 74°C / 165°F at the thickest piece.
- Rest and serve:
Remove from the grill and rest for 3–5 minutes. Garnish with parsley and serve with lemon wedges.
Notes
Use charcoal and allow a few brief flare-ups while grilling, but move the skewers away from sustained flames so the marinade doesn’t burn before the chicken is cooked.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Middle Eastern
- Cuisine: Grilling
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: ~390 kcal
Keywords: Grilled Shish Taouk, Middle Eastern Chicken Skewers, Charred Chicken Kebabs, Lebanese Shish Tawook