Arabic recipesMain dishes
Shish Tawook: Levantine yogurt and red pepper chicken skewers
Shish tawook is a classic Syrian and Lebanese grill dish of chicken cubes marinated in yogurt, red pepper paste, garlic, lemon juice, olive oil and seven-spice. Cooked fast over hot charcoal or right under a fierce oven broiler, the skewers char lightly at the edges while staying tender inside.
Also known as:Shish taoukLebanese grilled chicken skewerstawook wraps
Servings4
Prep time20 min
Cook time15 min
Ingredients
Add ingredients to cart- 800 g boneless chicken thighs or breast cut into 3 cm chunks
- 3 tbsp full-fat plain yogurt
- 1 tbsp Syrian red pepper paste (debs fleifleh)
- 1 tbsp tomato paste
- 4 garlic cloves, crushed to a paste
- 3 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 tsp seven-spice, 1/2 tsp sumac, salt and a pinch of white pepper
- Arabic flatbread, sumac onions and pickled cucumbers to serve
Preparation Steps
- 1Whisk the yogurt, red pepper paste, tomato paste, crushed garlic, lemon juice, olive oil, seven-spice and salt in a bowl until smooth.
- 2Toss the chicken chunks through the marinade, cover and chill for at least 4 hours or overnight so the yogurt and lemon tenderise the meat.
- 3Thread the chicken onto flat metal skewers or soaked wooden skewers without packing the pieces too tightly.
- 4Grill over glowing coals or on a high rack directly beneath a preheated oven broiler for 12 to 15 minutes, turning once.
- 5Slide the hot chicken onto warm flatbread smeared with a touch of pepper paste alongside sumac-rubbed onions, garlic whip and pickles.
