Authentic Shish Tawook

It might be a staple at the kebab house, but there’s nothing quite like my fresh chicken shish tawook, boosted with flavor from a Lebanese chicken marinade.

Growing up in Lebanon meant there were plenty of delicious dishes on our family table. So, I’m a little bit biased when I say this shish taouk bests other chicken dishes any day. When it comes to chicken, there’s just something that hits differently about Lebanese chicken recipes.

Drenched in a Middle Eastern chicken marinade, this shish tawook recipe is packed full of moisture and flavor and can be served in myriad ways. You can grill tawook chicken on the barbecue, serve it traditionally alongside mezze, or make a delicious shish tawook sandwich.

You can generally find chicken tawook all over the world – especially thanks to the proliferation of kebab shops in Western culture. But to me, there’s nothing better than the traditional recipe I grew up eating.

What Is Shish Tawook

Originating the Ottoman Empire (now encompassing much of the Middle East), Shish Tawook are grilled chicken skewers marinated in a thick yogurt sauce to give the chicken flavor. Chicken tawook can be found all over the world in kebab houses. But in its homeland, it can be served a number of different ways.

For example, Lebanese shish tawook is usually served with toum garlic sauce and tabbouleh. Whereas in Turkey, it would be served with rice and yogurt. Some even serve it with a side of French fries!

So, shish tawook vs chicken shawarma – what’s the difference? They have the same core ingredients after all. The difference is in the flavor. A shish tawook marinade will use lemon and yogurt, giving it a lighter flavor and making it tender and juicy.

On the other hand, shawarma has a deeper taste with rich spices like cinnamon and ginger in its spice profile. Consider them delicious cousins – not twins.

What Is Shish Tawook Made Of

Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast

The key ingredient of these Middle Eastern chicken skewers is, obviously, chicken – generally the breast, as this holds the most moisture. You can also use thighs if you prefer, as it is similarly moist to the breast. I would avoid using any other cut of chicken as it can be difficult to marinate properly.

Marinade

To make the shish tawook marinade, you’ll need:

• Yogurt: Plain, full-fat – you can use a plant-based alternative if you prefer. Greek yogurt will also work.
• Vegetable oil: You can use any other neutral cooking oil like sunflower oil.
• Apple cider vinegar: White wine vinegar or rice wine vinegar also works here.
• Yellow mustard: Dijon or wholegrain also work. Though I always like to use the basic yellow mustard you can get in the grocery store.
• Spice: Sweet paprika, salt, white pepper.

How To Make Shish Tawook

To make these Lebanese chicken skewers, you’ll need to start by marinating the chicken. Prepare this the day before you plan to serve.

How To Make Shish Tawook Marinade

In a large bowl, mix the yogurt, oil, mustard, paprika, salt, and pepper together. This will be the marinade.

Cut Chicken Breast Into Cubes

Take your shish chicken breast and cut them into cubes – about 1 inch in size (2.5cm).

Marinade The Chicken Cubes

Add the chicken to the marinade and toss to coat completely. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 6 hours or overnight to fully marinate. This will also tenderize the chicken.

Skewer And Grill The Chicken Cubes

Preheat your grill to 350ºF/175ºC – use an outdoor grill or a regular BBQ over coals.

Take your grilling skewers and carefully thread the chicken onto them. Depending on the size of the skewers, you should aim for 5-6 cubes of chicken per skewer. 

Grill the chicken for 8-10 minutes, rotating every 2-3 minutes. To make sure the chicken is safe to eat, make sure the internal temperature reaches 165ºF/75ºC.

What To Serve With Shish Tawook

Traditionally, this shish tawook recipe is served hot with pita bread, Toum, pickled cucumbers, tomatoes, and lettuce. You can also serve it with other popular side dishes, like creamy hummus, tabouli, and other salads.

In other parts of the world, chicken tawook is served with rice. It won’t overwhelm the delicate flavor of the meat but will add another depth to it.

Or, you can serve the chicken kebabs alongside a homemade Tahini, pickled onions or turnips, or fried peppers.

And of course – if you’re looking for an excellent hangover cure, you have to try it with a big serving of my Air Fryer French Fries!

Tips For The Best Shish Tawook

• Cut your chicken into equal pieces. When grilling your chicken tawook, you don’t want different pieces cooking at different speeds. This could change the texture and could leave you with dry chicken.
  Not to mention, too small pieces of chicken might dissolve in the marinade. And too big might not marinade properly at all! A ruler is your best friend if you’re not sure.
• Leave your shish tawook marinade alone! You must let the chicken marinate for at least 4-6 hours or the chicken won’t absorb enough of the flavor. The longer the better.
• If you choose bamboo skewers over traditional metal, you should soak them in water for a minimum of 30 minutes. Make sure the skewers are fully submerged when you do this. This will prevent them from burning on the grill as you cook your tawook.

More Lebanese Recipes

• The Best Authentic Falafel Recipe
• Easy Baba Ganoush
• Lamb Kofta Recipe

If you try this shish tawook recipe, let me know how it goes in the comments below. I’d appreciate a recipe card rating and would love to see your recipe recreations – tag me on Instagram @Alphafoodie!