Excited to make restaurant-style authentic Chicken Shish Tawook recipe for weekend family dinner. It's a popular Middle Eastern grilled chicken locally famous as Shish Taouk. Marinate the boneless chicken, thread on a skewer, and cook on a stovetop grill.
Looking for easy dinner recipe ideas? Check out my Garlic Butter rice, Chicken Tikka Masala, Tandoori Chicken, and Steam Chicken. You will surely love these recipes to add value to your dinner table. Don't forget to watch the famous Falafel recipe in my collection that I prepared with love for a family get-together.
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What is Shish Taouk?
Tender and juicy chicken shish tawook grilled with skewer
Shish tawook (shish taouk) is the most popular middle eastern recipe that people love to eat due to its unique taste and aroma. It's a tender, soft and juicy chicken grilled with skewers that initially belong to Ottoman cuisine and now set as a middle eastern dish.
Why is it called Shish Tawooq?
As the dish is from Ottaman cuisine so the Shish = Skewer,
and Tawooq (Tavuk) = Chicken.
There are 2 ways to make this recipe, Lebanese shish tawook or Turkish taouk. Here I am making a Lebanese version of shish tawook that prepare by marinating chicken with yogurt, fresh lemon juice, tomato puree, and spices. People from the middle eastern region, especially Egypt, Syria, Palestine, Iraq, Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Turkey love to prepare this recipe at home. It's a simple and easy recipe idea that brings flavor to your table.
If you are a true foodie and love to travel then you can find this dish all around the world by exploring kabob section in menu.
If you are making it at home then you don't need to search for ingredients as all are available in a nearby grocery store.
How to Make Shish Tawook
It's a simple and easy recipe that you can prepare with a handful of ingredients that normally people have in the pantry. I personally love to make this recipe as I love the taste, aroma, and tempting look of this recipe that's enough to crave.
Start by making marinating boneless chicken (without skin) by adding yogurt, freshly crushed garlic, lemon juice, and tomato paste. I added mustard as it gives a perfect flavor! Also added extra virgin olive oil to add lubrication in the marinade. In spices, added cinnamon, ginger powder, black pepper, oregano, and paprika. Sprinkle salt and added chicken. Give it a good mix. Leave it for 3 to 4 hours to marinate.
Tip: 7 to 8 hours of marination or overnight can give the best taste!
Longer marination can make the chicken more tender and juicy. Fresh lemon will work as a tenderizer to accelerate the chicken tendering process. If you want extra tenderness then add few drops of vinegar.
Prepare some fresh onion and green bell pepper cubes to make it more tasty and presentable. I used soaked wooden skewer and first added onion and bell pepper cubes then skewed the chicken. Repeat the process until the skewer is packed.
Grilled Options:
1) Barbque
2) Bake in oven
3) Use an electric grill
4) Use grilled pan on stovetop (used the same in this recipe)
To grill on the stovetop, place the griller and heat it up! add oil and evenly brush it up. Place the chicken skewers and cook on medium heat from all sides. Initially cook on high heat and as the chicken starts to cook then turn the heat to medium. In this way, the chicken pores will be seized and it will not release water and give your perfect grilled taste on the stovetop.
Shish Tawook Video
It's easy to prepare 'shish tawook' at home kitchen. Here I captured the recipe step by step that might help you if you are trying first time. If you haven't tried this recipe then give it a try and you will love the taste and grilled scrumptiousness of this recipe. My entire kitchen was full of chicken grilling aroma.
Bon appetit! Let's watch the video!
Quick Tips
- Use chicken breast as it's more tender and juicy. Don't use chicken with skin. I personally prefer fresh chicken rather using frozen.
- Fresh lemon juice will work as a catalyst that will help to accelerate the chicken tendering process.
- Tomato puree/paste will give you the vibrant red color that's a signature of shish tawook.
- Make sure the marinade should not be watery.
- To avoid watery marination, use thick yogurt.
- Make sure to marinate the chicken for a long time. (8 hrs maxiumum, 3 hrs minimum) to get the best result.
- Carefully add oil to cook the chicken as too much oil can mess the chicken flavor.
- Never cook chicken on extremely high heat. Initially cook on high and as the chicken starts to change color or make the crust then turn the heat to medium.
- Avoid covering the chicken while cooking.
- Soak the wooden skewers for ½ an hour before cooking.
Serving
Normally people eat in a form of a shawarma sandwich using pita bread. If you are serving shish tawook sandwich then also add oven baked fries, coleslaw in a platter.
You can also serve it with Fattoush, tabbouleh, tahini sauce, hummus, Lebanese toum.
Serving with butter garlic rice makes a perfect combo.
How to Store
Yes, you can store leftover shish tawook in the refrigerator for 3 days (after cooking).
If you want to freeze it then freeze the chicken in an airtight container before cooking for one month.
Q & A
What's the difference between shish kebab and Tawook?
Shish kebab is famous as shashlik in the middle eastern region prepare with meat while shish taouk prepare with chicken brochette. Both are skewed to prepare. Seasoning, spices, and methods of preparation are different.
Can I use store-bought Shish Tawook Spice Mix?
Yes, you can use to save time. It comes in powder form. Add in marination along with other ingredients and then grill or bake.
Is it Healthy?
Yes, it is! It's a low-carb recipe and good for weight loss.
Related Chicken Recipes:
Chicken Kabsa | Al Baik Chicken | Oven Baked Chicken | Honey Garlic Chicken Breast | Creamy Chicken Breast | Sofiyani Biryani
More Middle Eastern Dishes
Share this recipe with your family and friends. It would be great if you leave your feedback in the comment box. If you make this recipe at home then share a picture with the hashtag #hinzcooking
Shish Tawook (Middle Eastern Grilled Chicken)
Equipment
- Grilled Pan
Materials
- 200 g Chicken Breast 12 to 15 Pieces (2 inches)
- For Marination:
- ½ cup Yogurt
- 1 teaspoon Garlic crushed
- 1 tablespoon Tomato Paste
- 1 teaspoon Mustard Paste
- 2 teaspoon Fresh Lemon Juice
- 1 tablespoon Olive Oil
- ½ teaspoon Salt
- 1 teaspoon Paprika
- ½ teaspoon Oregano
- ½ teaspoon Black Pepper
- ½ teaspoon Ginger Powder
- ⅓ teaspoon Cinnamon Powder
- 4 Wooden skewer soaked in water
- 1 tablespoon Oil for shallow frying
- Cilantro for garnish
Instructions
- Cut chicken breast into 2" pieces.
- In a bowl, add all the marination ingredients.
- Mix well.
- Add chicken and coat well with marination.
- Cover and marinate for about 4 hours. Overnight is recommended.
- After 4 hours, Thread the chicken in a skewer with bell pepper and onion cubes.
- Shallow fry in a grilled pan on the stovetop.
- Cook chicken for about 15 to 20 minutes until gets evenly brown color from all sides.
- Garnish with freshly chopped cilantro.
Video
Notes
- Chicken breast is recommended to make tender shish tawook.
- Avoid using frozen chicken pieces. Fresh chicken brings the best taste.
- Lemon will work as a tenderizer in this recipe.
- Give it a long marination time to make a soft, juicy and tender chicken.
- Tomato paste and paprika will give a signature red color.
- Make sure the yogurt is not watery.
- Manage cooking temperature to fully cook the chicken on a grilled pan.
- Initially cook chicken on a high temperature then turn the heat to medium to properly cook the chicken from inside.
- Don't cover the chicken otherwise, it will release water.
Ayesha
Perfect recipe of Shish Tawooq ❤️
Amaso
Best food recipes and tasty
Ayesha
Thank you so much! Stay in touch...