Shish Taouk is a traditional marinated Chicken Shish Kebab of Middle Eastern cuisine. It is widely eaten in Turkey, Azerbaijan, Lebanon, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Iraq , UAE, Kuwait and the Palestinian Territories.
Shish Tawook can be found in most fast food restaurants. It is usually ordered as a sandwich of grilled chicken rolled in a “pita” bread with some Lebanese Garlic Sauce  and some salty pickles, fries and I’ve even had it once with lettuce/mayo. It can also be served in a plate with a side of rice and grilled veggies. In its most basic form, Shish Tawook is just grilled chicken breast, but the secret is in the marination.
Ingredients
- 2 lbs of skinless boneless chicken breast, cut into cubes/Kabab chunks
- 1 cup of freshly squeezed lemon juice
- a small slice of lemon with the peel (optional, don’t put too much)
- 15 cloves of garlic, crushed
- 6 table spoons of plain yogurt (Greek yogurt)
- 6 table spoons of olive oil
- 2 table spoons of red vinegar (apple cider vinegar)
- 1.5 to 2 teaspoons of ground white pepper
- 1/3 teaspoon of ground ginger spice
- ½ teaspoon of ground thyme, or ground oregano
- 1/3 teaspoon of paprika
- 1+ teaspoon of salt (or to taste)
- ½ to 1 teaspoon of tomato paste
Method
- Mix all ingredients well together while rubbing the chicken
- Place in a container, cover, and let rest/marinate in the fridge for at least 4 hours
- Skewer the chicken right before grilling
- Grill on medium heat for 12-18 minutes maximum
- As soon as you remove them from the grill, place them in a big warm pot, replace the lid tightly, and let rest for 8-10 minutes – this helps the chicken become more moist (this step is optional)
- Spread 1 teaspoon of our garlic paste along the diameter of a pita bread, add some salted cucumber pickles, french fries, grilled tomatoes or peppers (optional), the grilled chicken shish tawook, roll as in a burrito and enjoy. You could also toast the sandwich roll through a panini grill for 2-3 minutes.
