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    Home » Main Dish

    September 7, 2022

    Shish Tawook Recipe – Lebanese Grilled Chicken Skewers

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    Shish Tawook is one of the most popular chicken skewers in the Middle East. They are juicy, tender, and bursting with flavor.

    This recipe introduces chicken cubes marinated in yogurt, lemon juice, and different spices and threaded on wooden skewers.

    This authentic Shish Tawook (Middle Eastern Chicken Skewers) is out-of-this-world tasty. Serve it in pita bread with whipped garlic sauce, or on a plate with a fresh salad and creamy hummus, and enjoy a quick and healthy meal!


    So Delish!

    flavorful shish tawook chicken placed onto skewers paired with sumac onions salad
    Perfect tender juicy grilled tawook skewers for a hearty dinner!

    Shish Tawook, also known as chicken kabobs, can be found in most Lebanese restaurants.

    It’s usually ordered as a sandwich of grilled chicken rolled in Pita bread with some Lebanese garlic sauce, salty pickles, and fries.

    Shish Tawook, in its most basic form, is simply grilled chicken breast. However, the secret lies in the marinade.

    I’ve been eating Shish Tawook at home and in fast food restaurants my entire life! And while the common flavors of garlic and lemon are shared in most Lebanese-style Shish Tawook recipes, spices and flavorings can vary greatly.


    What is Shish Tawook?

    Shish Tawook is a popular flavorful chicken dish in Middle Eastern cuisine. Both the words shish and tawook have Turkish origins.

    SHISH means skewer in Turkish. The word TAWOOK, also spelled taouk, means chicken.

    While each country has its own version of shish tawook, the basic concept is the same: cubed chicken marinated in a spiced yogurt and grilled to perfection on skewers.

    Originally an Ottoman dish, shish tawook became a popular dish in many parts of the Middle East, including Egypt and the Levant, during the Ottoman Empire rule.

    To make this shish tawook chicken recipe at home, you need to start by marinating the chicken in the yogurt-based marinade. Then, lace the marinated chicken pieces onto skewers and bake, sear, or grill to juicy perfection!


    Indulge in Some Juicy Tawook Chicken!

    cooked shish tawook chicken with red and green bell peppers served with Mediterranean salad
    You will totally love these tawook chicken cubes!

    Why You Will Love This Recipe

    You will absolutely love how easy making this recipe is! Simply combine the yogurt and garlic marinade and chicken, then refrigerate.

    Shish tawook skewers are also a crowd favorite, particularly among children. You don’t even have to wait until summer outdoor grill season to enjoy Shish Tawook!

    You can even cook shish tawook skewers on your indoor grill pan.

    Finally, you’ll save money, time, and get the chance to enjoy Middle Eastern food from the comfort of your own home!

    This is surely going to be a favorite recipe of yours too!


    What to Serve with Tawook Tender Chicken?

    Since your Shish Tawook will always be part of a mixed grill platter, the sky is the limit when trying to pair it with something equally delicious!

    I like to serve this Lebanese shish tawook recipe with a couple of fresh salads such as Mediterranean salads like Fattoush and Tabbouli, or a sumac onions salad.

    For dips, I like whipped toum (homemade toum garlic sauce), tzatziki, Muhammara, hummus, or baba ghanoush! Dip your tender juicy chicken and enjoy an oh-so-yummy burst of flavors!

    Chicken shish kabobs can also be served on a plate with rice, grilled vegetables, and pita chips.

    Make sure you check out my wide sections of tasty side dishes. Who knows, maybe you will find something that suits your preferences!


    Oh-So-Yummy!

    tender juicy shish tawook cooked to perfection
    Serve with your favorite side dish and enjoy!

    What You’ll Need to Make Shish Tawook

    Here are what you need to make the best Chicken Shish Tawook recipe:

    Chicken: I usually use boneless skinless chicken breasts and cut them into 1-inch pieces. However, boneless skinless chicken thighs can also work.

    Yogurt: You can use plain natural yogurt or Greek yogurt. Yogurt tenderizes the meat, while also forming a nice crust, giving it a nice color when cooked.

    Fresh lemons and cider vinegar: Add some lemon juice and cider vinegar to the marinade for some brightness and tang. Fresh lemon juice is always preferred.

    Olive oil: A few spoons of extra virgin olive oil will make the marinade even better.

    Minced garlic cloves: A necessary component in this recipe is cloves of garlic.

    Ketchup and red pepper paste: They give the taouk a distinctive color and flavor. You can also add a touch of tomato paste for a rich red color!

    Spices: You will need ground cumin, paprika, oregano, coriander, white pepper, garlic powder, and salt. You can also use ready-made tawouk spice mix from any Middle Eastern store. However, I always prefer to mix my own spices.

    Check the recipe card for quantities.


    Tender Juicy Tawook

    a plate of chicken shish tawook served with sumac red onions salad
    Smoky from outside but juicy tender from inside!

    Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

    How long does baked shish tawook keep in the fridge?

    Shish tawook skewers are best served as soon as they are grilled. If you do have leftovers, keep them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.

    How to reheat shish tawook?

    Reheat the chicken shish tawook either in a microwave, on stove top, or in the oven wrapped in foil for 20-30 minutes.

    Can I use other cuts of chicken?

    Sure! You can use boneless skinless chicken thighs or chicken tenders in this recipe. This depends on your personal preferences.

    Can you make this tawook chicken kabob recipe spicy?

    If you like heat, add ½ teaspoon of cayenne pepper, or red chili powder, to the spice marinade. This will make your tawook chicken kebobs more spicy.

    What is the difference between shish tawook and shawarma?

    While both are chicken Middle Eastern dishes, they use different spices and are cut differently.
    Warm spices like cardamom, ginger, and cloves are used in the shawarma marinade. Shish Tawook, on the other hand, has a milder flavor profile.


    Pro Tips

    Adding cubed green bell peppers, and sometimes red onions, adds beauty to the skewers. Plus they taste delicious!

    After baking, immediately cover the chicken with pita bread. The pita bread traps the vapors and moisture, making the chicken even juicier!

    Use plain full-fat yogurt rather than Greek yogurt. Greek yogurt is fine, but regular yogurt is preferable because the water content of regular yogurt helps keep the chicken moist.

    You can use a zip lock bag to marinate the chicken to save space in the fridge. Release any air before closing the zip lock.

    You can freeze the marinated chicken for up to three months.

    Never cook Shish Tawook on extremely high heat. Cook the chicken skewers over medium heat.


    Grilled to Perfection!

    grilled shish tawook skewers with green and red bell peppers served with middle eastern chopped salad
    Such a delicious meal for family gathering!

    Chicken Tawook⁣ Ingredients

    • chicken breasts⁣
    • plain or Greek yogurt⁣
    • olive oil or vegetable oil
    • ketchup ⁣
    • apple cider vinegar⁣
    • lemon juice
    • red pepper paste⁣
    • garlic⁣ powder
    • minced garlic⁣, or add more garlic powder
    • paprika⁣
    • oregano⁣ seasoning
    • white pepper⁣
    • cumin⁣
    • coriander⁣
    • salt (to taste)

    Steps to Prep Shish Tawook

    First, cut the skinless boneless chicken into 1:1 inch cubes/kabob chunks, and place in a large bowl.


    skinless boneless chicken cut in 1:1 inch cubes chicken chunks

    Next, in a small bowl, mix together the plain yogurt, extra virgin olive oil, ketchup, apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, red pepper paste, garlic powder, minced garlic, cumin, paprika, coriander, oregano seasoning, white pepper, and salt.


    tawook marinade made up of yogurt, olive oil, ketchup, apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, red pepper paste, garlic powder, minced garlic, cumin, paprika, coriander, oregano seasoning, white pepper, and salt

    Then, pour the yogurt marinade of garlic over the cubed chicken and mix together until well coated.


    Yogurt marinade of garlic poured over the cubed chicken

    Allow to marinate for at least 3 hours or overnight.


    A bowl of marinated cubed chicken covered with plastic wrap and left to rest for at least 3 hours or over night

    Finally, grill, sear, or bake right away for best results.


    Marinated chicken pieces laced onto skewers with green bell peppers.
    juicy tender shish tawook pieces cooked to perfection

    OTHER POPULAR MIDDLE EASTERN RECIPES YOU HAVE TO TRY

    • Ground Meat Rice and Chicken (Roz w Jeij)
    • Middle Eastern Chicken Kafta Burgers
    • Ultimate Beef Shawarma Sandwich
    • Best Chicken Gallaba
    • Boiled Eggs and Potatoes (Batata w Beid)
    • Vegetarian Bulgar and Tomato Pilaf (Burghul w Banadoura)
    • Spinach Pie Pockets
    • Turkish Labne
    • Baked Cumin Chicken and Potatoes
    • Mujadara Hamra (Reddened Lentils and Bulgur)

    grilled shish tawook skewers

    Shish Tawook Recipe – Lebanese Grilled Chicken Skewers

    Lama
    A simple authentic Middle Eastern Shish Tawook recipe for a tasty weeknight dinner.
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Recipe Comment Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 25 mins
    Cook Time 20 mins
    Total Time 43 mins
    Course dinner, lunch
    Cuisine Middle Eastern
    Servings 8 servings
    Calories 462 kcal

    Equipment

    skewers

    Ingredients
      

    • 4 pounds chicken breasts
    • 4 tbsp. plain or Greek yogurt
    • ¼ cup olive oil or vegetable oil
    • ¼ cup ketchup
    • ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
    • ¾ cup lemon juice
    • 2 tbsp. red pepper paste
    • 1 tbsp. garlic powder
    • 8-10 minced garlic cloves or add more garlic powder
    • 1 tbsp. paprika
    • 2 tbsp. oregano seasoning
    • 1 tsp. white pepper
    • ½ tsp. cumin
    • 1 tsp. coriander
    • ½ tsp. salt to taste

    Instructions
     

    • Cut the skinless boneless chicken into 1:1 inch cubes/kabob chunks, and place in a bowl.
    • In a bowl, mix together the plain yogurt, extra virgin olive oil, ketchup, apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, red pepper paste, garlic powder, minced garlic, cumin, paprika, coriander, oregano seasoning, white pepper, and salt.
    • Pour the marinade over the cubed chicken and mix together until well coated.
    • Allow to marinate for 3 hours, or overnight.
    • Grill, sear or bake right away for best results.

    Notes

    Tip 1: Adding cubed green bell peppers, and sometimes red onions, adds beauty to the skewers. Plus they taste delicious.
    Tip 2: After baking, immediately cover the chicken with pita bread. The pita bread traps the vapors and moisture, making the chicken even juicier! 
    Tip 3: Use plain full-fat yogurt rather than Greek yogurt. Greek yogurt is fine, but regular yogurt is preferable because the water content of regular yogurt helps keep the chicken moist.
    Tip 4: You can use a zip lock back to marinate the chicken to save space in the fridge. Release any air before closing the zip lock.
    Tip 5: You can also freeze the marinated chicken for up to three months.
    Tip 6: Never cook Shish Tawook on extremely high heat. Cook the chicken skewers over medium heat.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 462kcalCarbohydrates: 6gProtein: 72gFat: 15gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 193mgSodium: 677mgPotassium: 673mgFiber: 0.3gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 135IUVitamin C: 11mgCalcium: 49mgIron: 3mg
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
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      Recipe Rating




    1. Amy says

      September 09, 2022 at 8:54 pm

      5 stars
      This was so good. The spices were lovely and the prep was easy with things I already had on hand. Thank you!

      Reply

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    I'm Lama, welcome to my blog where you will find simple and diverse recipes your entire family will enjoy. My passion for cooking began after I got married when I challenged myself to prepare Thanksgiving dinner. With the help of my mom over the phone, I was so proud it turned out successful! Today, I share my passion across many social platforms like Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest! I am honored to connect with you through the recipes I prepare! about me!

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