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    Home » Mediterranean recipes

    Shish Tawook Chicken Kabob Recipe

    Published: Apr 6, 2020 · Modified: Jul 27, 2021 by Shadi HasanzadeNemati · This post may contain affiliate links .

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    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Shish Tawook is a Lebanese chicken dish that's simple yet so delicious. Tender chicken marinated in yogurt, lemon and garlic makes it a delicious meal for the whole family.

    Shish Tawook is a Lebanese chicken kebab that's usually served as a sandwich with some salad.

    Middle eastern and Mediterranean chicken recipes are so flavorful. Our sheet pan Mediterranean chicken recipe is super simple and if you're looking for a tasty wrap, you should try our chicken gyro or chicken souvlaki. When it's grilling season, chicken shish kabob is always on the menu with some homemade pita and pickles! Today's recipe is shish tawook, which is a Lebanese chicken recipe with a yogurt marinade, packed with bright flavors!

    Table Of Contents:
    • What is shish tawook?
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • Serving suggestions
    • Frequently asked questions
    • Notes and tips
    • More Mediterranean recipes
    • Step-by-Step Recipe

    What is shish tawook?

    Today's recipe is a favorite of ours: shish tawook, which I guess most of you have seen on the menu of Lebanese and middle eastern restaurants and it might even be a favorite take out option for some of you. Well, time to save money and even time, this is going to be a favorite recipe of yours too!

    Shish Taouk is Tender chicken marinated in yogurt, lemon and garlic which makes one delicious Middle Eastern meal for the family. 

    Shish means skewers and tawook (tavuk) means chicken. Both words are Turkish, however shish tawook is a Lebanese chicken kebab that is sold in fast food restaurants. Shish taouk or, as some may call it, chicken shish, is made with different marinades which all have the same base of lemon, garlic and yogurt.

    Ingredients

    Ingredients to make shish tawook are chicken, spices, tomato paste, olive oil, yogurt and garlic.

    Chicken- You need boneless skinless chicken breast for this recipe. However, you can also use boneless skinless chicken thighs. The chicken is cut into chunks for this recipe. 

    Yogurt- Same as the marinade for chicken gyro, this recipe also calls for yogurt in the marinade. Yogurt tenderizes the meat and also forms and nice crust around the meat which will give it great color when cooked. 

    Olive oil- A few tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil makes the marinade even better. 

    Lemon juice- For some brightness and tang, add some lemon juice to the marinade. Freshly squeezed lemon juice is always preferred but bottled lemon juice would work just fine. 

    Spices and flavoring- To make this delicious chicken recipe, you need spices such as paprika, sumac, thyme and salt. We also use a few cloves of garlic and some tomato paste for more flavor and color. If you don't have thyme, use dried oregano instead. 

    Instructions

    Make the marinade

    Place the chicken in a large bowl. In another bowl, mix yogurt, olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, tomato paste and the spices. Pour this mixture over the chicken and mix well to make sure every piece is covered with the marinade. Cover and marinate for at least two hours. 

    Cook the chicken

    Traditionally, chicken shish should be made on the grill but making them in the pan is sometimes easier depending on where your live or whether you have a grill readily available. The instructions for both is explained here: 

    • Stove Top: Heat some olive oil in a large pan over medium heat. Using a pair of tongs, take the chicken pieces out of the marinade and shake well to make sure you get rid of the excess marinade. Place the marinated chicken pieces in the pan and don't stir. Cook on one side for about three to four minutes, give it a stir and cook for another three to four  minutes until they are fully cooked.
    • Grill: Heat the grill to medium high. Thread the chicken pieces onto skewers and grill on medium for about 12-15 minutes until fully cooked. 

    The marinade used for this chicken shish recipe is yogurt based which helps tenderize the chicken more quickly. Therefore, the chicken cooks faster and it stays very juicy even though it releases some water as it cooks in the pan. 

    Serving suggestions

    This is a simple and delicious chicken dish that is so versatile and you can serve it with different sides, as a plate or sandwich with lavash or pita bread and some pickled turnips. Here are a few suggestions:

    • Salads: fattoush, tabouli, sumac onions and simple Mediterranean salad. 
    • Vegetables: Mediterranean roasted vegetables, grilled vegetables with zesty vinaigrette, roasted brussel sprouts and veggie shish kabob.
    • Dips: Homemade hummus, baba ganoush, ezme, toum and muhammara. 
    • Starchy sides: Instant pot brown rice, instant pot white rice, Greek potatoes and baked fries.  

    Frequently asked questions

    How long does shish tawook keep?

    It's best to have this Lebanese chicken kabob fresh since it's so juicy and tasty right after cooking. However, if you have leftovers, store in a container and refrigerate up to 4 days. To serve, heat them in the oven or serve cold with salad.

    Can you use other cuts of chicken?

    Yes, you can use boneless skinless chicken thighs or a combination of thighs and breast for this recipe.

    Can you make this dish spicy?

    If you like it to be spicy, add ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper to the marinade. Be careful with cayenne pepper as it can get too spicy.

    Notes and tips

    • It's also possible to use boneless skinless chicken thighs in this shish tawook recipe. 
    • You can marinade the chicken for up to twelve hours in the fridge. 
    • Lemon and garlic are the main flavors of this dish, make sure to use fresh lemons and not bottled lemon juice.
    • For the marinade, I used full fat yogurt. It's possible to use other kinds of yogurt such as low fat or Greek yogurt. But whole milk yogurt has the best results.
    Serve chicken shish with salad and pita bread.

    More Mediterranean recipes

    • Ful Medames Recipe (Egyptian Fava Beans)
    • Creamy Oatmeal Recipe Middle Eastern Style
    • Classic Eggplant Lasagna Recipe
    • Burrata with Tomatoes and Peach

    Did you make this recipe? I'd love to hear about it! Please comment and leave a 5-star🌟 rating below. You can also follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest or subscribe to our newsletter to get a free e-Cookbook!

    Step-by-Step Recipe

    Shish Tawook Recipe

    Shadi HasanzadeNemati
    Shish Tawook is a Lebanese chicken dish that's simple yet so delicious. Tender chicken marinated in yogurt, lemon and garlic makes one delicious meal for the family. 
    4.79 from 32 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 15 mins
    Cook Time 15 mins
    Marinate 2 hrs
    Total Time 30 mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine Mediterranean
    Servings 6 servings
    Calories 263 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 2 lbs chicken breast Bone and skin off
    • 1 cup whole milk yogurt
    • 3 tablespoon olive oil
    • 2 tablespoon lemon juice
    • 5 cloves garlic minced
    • 1 ½ tablespoon tomato paste
    • 1 teaspoon paprika
    • 1 teaspoon sumac
    • 1 teaspoon thyme
    • 1 teaspoon salt

    Instructions
     

    • Cut the chicken breast into 1 ½ inch pieces and place them in a large bowl. 
    • In another bowl, mix yogurt, olive oil, garlic, lemon juice, tomato paste, paprika, sumac and thyme. 
    • Pour the yogurt mixture over chicken pieces and mix well. Cover with a plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least two hours up to eight hours. 
    • Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large pan over medium heat. Once the oil is shimmery, place the chicken pieces in the pan but don't over crowd the pan. 
    • Sear the chicken pieces on one side for 3-4 minutes, then stir and sear the other side until the chicken is fully cooked. 
    • Serve shish tawook with pita and salad. 

    Notes

     
    1. You can also use boneless skinless chicken thighs in this shish tawook recipe. 
    2. You can marinade the chicken for up to twelve hours in the fridge. 
    3. Lemon and garlic are the main flavors of this dish, make sure to use fresh lemons and not bottled lemon juice.
    4. For the marinade, I used full fat yogurt. It's possible to use other kinds of yogurt such as low fat or Greek yogurt. But whole milk yogurt has the best results.
    5. Don't stir the chicken too much while cooking so you can get a nice sear on all sides. 
    6. Shish tawook is originally grilled. To grill the chicken, thread the marinated pieces onto skewers and grill on medium for about 12-15 minutes, flipping occasionally until fully cooked.
    7. The chicken might start releasing juice while cooking in the pan, stir the chicken a little bit to help it get more flavor. 
    8. Store the leftovers in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 4 days. To heat, place them in a pan and heat over medium low heat. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 263kcalCarbohydrates: 3gProtein: 36gFat: 11gSaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 98mgSodium: 220mgPotassium: 665mgFiber: 1gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 286IUVitamin C: 6mgCalcium: 49mgIron: 1mg
    Did you make this recipe? Let us know how it was by leaving a comment and a 5-star review!
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Joan

      November 06, 2022 at 4:05 am

      5 stars
      Absolutely delicious! Cooked on stove top. Halved the recipe and still had plenty.
      Sumac is not easily found at my grocery stores. and I considered just leaving it out.. I did have a bottle of Za'atar seasoning and sumac was the first named ingredient, followed by unidentified spices, salt, sesame seeds and rice concentrate. What a huge difference in flavor using that! Definitely making this again!
      What else could you marinate in this mixture? Lamb or pork chunks? Time to experiment!

      Reply
      • Shadi HasanzadeNemati

        November 07, 2022 at 7:50 am

        Hi Joan, thank you for your comment! We are happy to know you enjoyed this recipe. Yes, you can use this marinade for lamb, pork or even shrimp!

        Reply
    2. Gina

      July 22, 2021 at 4:00 am

      5 stars
      This dish always reminds me of my MILs Greek chicken with such similar flavors. It's a go to on any restaurant menu for me so I loved trying it out at home - so good!

      Reply
    3. Beth

      July 21, 2021 at 7:24 pm

      5 stars
      This is such a pretty and tasty dish! I love that you have both stovetop and grilling options. I am loving my grill right now but will enjoy cooking indoors soon too! Delish!

      Reply
    4. rebecca

      February 03, 2021 at 9:15 am

      5 stars
      I need to marinate more meat in yogurt! this is delicious!

      Reply
    5. Beth

      February 02, 2021 at 10:18 am

      5 stars
      Oh my goodness this looks so delicious and yummy! My family is going to love this! So excited to give this a try!

      Reply
    6. Claudia Lamascolo

      February 02, 2021 at 10:14 am

      5 stars
      WE love trying new chicken recipes I just need to get sumac to try this thanks for a new twist of chicken

      Reply
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