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Freshly grilled shish tawook in a serving platter.
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5 from 23 votes

Shish Tawook (Authentic Lebanese Recipe)

Try the authentic Lebanese flavor with this shish tawook recipe! Marinated in yogurt and garlic, these grilled chicken skewers are tender, juicy, and bursting with flavor.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Total Time30 minutes
Course: Main
Cuisine: Lebanese
Freezer friendly: 2 Months (prepped)
Shelf life: 3-4 Days
Servings: 10
Author: Samira Kazan

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 2.2 lb boneless skinless chicken breast or thighs
  • 1/2 cup plain yogurt
  • 1/2 cup lemon juice
  • 3 Tbsp vegetable oil
  • 2 Tbsp tomato paste
  • 1.5 Tbsp yellow mustard
  • 1 Tbsp garlic minced (3-4 medium cloves)

Spices

  • 1 Tbsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp white pepper
  • 1/2 Tbsp sumac
  • 1 tsp paprika
  • 1 tsp red chili powder
  • 1 tsp black pepper
  • 1/2 Tbsp salt
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Marinate the chicken

  • In a large bowl, mix the yogurt, lemon juice, vegetable oil, tomato paste, mustard, and minced garlic. Add all the spices and whisk well to remove any lumps.
  • Cut the chicken breasts into cubes – about 1 inch (2.5cm) in size.
  • Add the chicken to the marinade and toss to coat completely. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight.

Grill

  • When you're ready to grill, preheat the grill to 350ºF/175ºC.
  • 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.
  • Place the skewered chicken on the grill and cook it for about 5 minutes per side.
    Check for doneness with a meat thermometer—the internal temperature should be 165ºF/75ºC. Alternatively, look for a golden-brown exterior with clear juices, and the chicken should feel firm yet tender to the touch.
  • Once cooked, place the skewers under tented foil (or an opened pita bread) to rest for 10 minutes before serving.
  • Serve the shish tawook hot with homemade pita bread, Lebanese garlic sauce (toum), pickled cucumbers, tomatoes, and lettuce.

Video

Notes

Soak the skewers: If using wooden skewers, soak them for at least 30 minutes before grilling to prevent them from burning.
To make it ahead, you can marinate the chicken up to 24 hours in advance. Alternatively, freeze the chicken and marinade in a Ziplock bag for two months. Then, leave the chicken to thaw in the refrigerator before cooking.
To store: Any leftovers can be stored in an airtight container (remove the chicken from the skewers) for 3-4 days.
To reheat, heat the chicken in a microwave, on a stovetop, or in the oven wrapped in foil (at 300ºF/150ºC) for 20-30 minutes.
Check the blog post for more tips and serving recommendations!

Nutrition

Serving: 2skewers | Calories: 200kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 73mg | Sodium: 611mg | Potassium: 444mg | Fiber: 0.3g | Sugar: 0.3g | Vitamin A: 388IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 13mg | Iron: 1mg