Easy Shish Tawook Middle Eastern Chicken Skewers

Shish Tawook is an incredibly popular grilled chicken skewer dish from the Middle East. It’s the perfect tender and juicy chicken that’s marinated in a yogurt-based marinade with garlic, lemon, and delicious seasonings, then grilled to perfection!

Although it’s a Middle Eastern recipe, it’s made using pantry-staple ingredients and is super easy to make! The yogurt tenderizes the chicken and imparts flavor, while the lemon juice and garlic take it to the next level!

In my post, you’ll find everything you need to make the best Middle Eastern Chicken Kabob Skewers you’ve ever had! I’ve also mentioned a secret technique that will make sure you get juicy, moist chicken every single time.

What is Shish Tawook?

Shish Tawook is a delicious grilled chicken skewers dish from the Middle East that will give you juicy chicken that has been marinated in yogurt, lemon juice, and garlic among other delicious spices and ingredients.

Even though this is a Middle Eastern recipe, the word Shish Tawook instead has roots from Turkey. Shish or Şiş in Turkish means skewers, while Tawook or Tavuk means chicken.

In short, Shish Tawook literally means chicken skewers, and trust me these will be the tastiest ones you’ve ever had!

Since the origin of the word is Turkish in nature, there are different ways it is spelled. Apart from Shish Tawook, you may also find it being spelled as Shish Taouk, Shish Tawouk, or even Sheesh Tawook.

Regardless of how it’s spelled, it’s the same delicious chicken skewers that you’re going to fall in love with. If there’s any Middle Eastern dish you should start with, I highly recommend this one!

To make this delicious chicken at home, you’ll first marinate the chicken in a yogurt-based marinade and then place them onto skewers to grill them!

Where Did Shish Tawook Originate From?

Although Shish Tawook is primarily considered a Middle Eastern dish, its origin is not entirely based in the Middle East.

In fact, Shish Tawook is originally an Ottoman dish that spread throughout the Middle East during the Ottoman rule that began in 1516 and lasted until 1918.

They ruled parts of the Middle East including Egypt and the Levant region which explains why Shish Tawook has a Turkish name and how the Ottoman cuisine has influenced food from Lebanon and other parts of the Middle East.

This is also why Shish Tawook is incredibly popular in different parts of the Middle East and the Mediterranean. You’ll find slight variations in the recipe across, and it’s even popular in Iran where it’s known as Jujeh Kabab.

Regardless of where you have Shish Tawook, it’s always going to be delicious, juicy chicken skewers that have been marinated in yogurt, lemon juice, and garlic marinade.

What is the Difference Between Sheesh Tawook and Shawarma?

Shish Tawook and Shawarma are popular Middle Eastern chicken dishes that have some similarities and are sometimes confused with one another, but they’re quite different in many ways.

In terms of similarities, they’re both made of boneless skinless chicken and have Middle Eastern flavors, but the marinade and method of cooking both these dishes are very different.

In terms of the marinade, Shish Tawook has a yogurt-based marinade that includes lemon juice, garlic, tomato paste, and some mild seasonings. The tomato paste gives it a beautiful color, and yogurt and lemon juice help tenderize it.

Chicken Shawarma, on the other hand, does not use a yogurt-based marinade and neither has any tomato paste. It’s usually an olive oil-based marinade with some warm and slightly spicier seasonings and warmer spices when compared to Shish Tawook.

Both the dishes are also prepared differently. As the name suggests, Shish Tawook is grilled on skewers, while Shawarma is traditionally slow-roasted on a vertical spit for hours. It makes it a popular street food option, and you’ll see the classic Shawarma vertical spit on street corners across the Middle East.

Both dishes can be grilled on a pan at home, or baked in the case of Shawarma but overall, they differ in flavor significantly but are both incredibly delicious!

Why Does Shish Tawook Use a Yogurt-Based Marinade?

As we discussed above, one of the main characteristics of Shish Tawook is that it has a yogurt-based marinade, and trust me that makes all the difference!

Using a yogurt-based marinade will effectively tenderize the chicken while simultaneously adding flavor. The lactic acid in yogurt will help break down the proteins in the chicken so that it is not only tender but also juicy.

The yogurt itself has a delicious flavor to it, and it’s enhanced even further with the lemon juice. It adds a creamy tang to your chicken and takes it to the next level.

Plus, by using a yogurt-based marinade, you can marinate your chicken for hours in the fridge or even overnight without it becoming tough and rubbery, unlike when you use highly-acidic marinades.

Yogurt is one of the, if not the most, important ingredients when making Shish Tawook and it will give you the tastiest chicken ever!

How Long Should I Marinate the Chicken?

The longer the chicken is marinated, the stronger and better the flavor will be. I recommend marinating the chicken for at least 4 hours or overnight for the best flavor and results!

If you want to make this recipe quickly and only have an hour to marinate it, you definitely can but you might lose out on flavor. But if you have guests coming over and want to quickly prep them, go for it! It will still taste incredible every single time!

How Do I Prep My Skewers Before Grilling?

If you're using metal ones, there's no need to prepare them beforehand apart from giving them a quick wash.

But, if you're using bamboo or wood skewers, soak them in water for at least 30 minutes. It is recommended to soak them overnight if possible!

We do this because bamboo skewers can catch fire or burn during cooking. Allowing them to soak in water allows water to absorb and prevents burning or cracking.

Because it takes time for the water to soak into them, it is better to do it overnight. Although 30 minutes is a good starting point.

So, soak them for 30 minutes to an hour (or overnight) for the best results!

What Type of Chicken Can I Use to Make Sheesh Tawook?

You will need some skinless boneless chicken for this delicious recipe. You can definitely go for chicken breasts, but I recommend chicken thighs if you can easily get your hands on them.

Skinless chicken thighs will give you incredibly juicy flavor and texture that you’ll absolutely love! But don’t worry if you’re using chicken breasts instead, my recipe is designed to give you juicy tender chicken regardless of which one you go for!

Secret Tip for Juicy Chicken Shish Tawook Every Single Time

Here’s a secret tip that will give you an incredibly juicy chicken every single time! Right after you take the chicken off the grill, place it in a container and cover it with aluminum foil for 7 minutes!

This will help trap moisture and vapors inside the container which will give you incredibly juicy and tender chicken. It’s a secret tip you can try with any of your grilled chicken recipes, but it goes especially well with my Shish Tawook recipe and I’m sure you’re going to love the result!  

How is Shish Tawook Usually Served?

Shish Tawook is normally a part of a mixed grill platter in the Middle East, so you’ll see it with some beef skewers, lamb ribs, and other grilled items. So, if you have a BBQ at your place, Shish Tawook will seriously fit right in!

Another way to serve Shish Tawook is in a pita-bread based sandwich! Just remove the chicken from the skewers and pop it into a pita bread pocket. Add some chopped veggies, a drizzle of tahini, and a homemade garlic sauce for an absolutely delicious meal.

You can also serve it with a side of a delicious onion salad to bring out the flavor of Shish Tawook without taking away from it. If you’re wondering how to make this onion salad, don’t worry I’ve included it in this post. It goes perfectly with Shish Tawook and tastes absolutely incredible!

What You Need to Make Shish Tawook at Home

This delicious Middle Eastern Chicken Kabobs recipe is super easy to make and you’ll need really simple ingredients for it.

For the Shish Tawook:

Chicken: You can use either chicken breast or chicken thighs in this recipe. We’ll be cutting them into equal-size pieces so that they cook evenly and at the same time.

Garlic: Garlic adds a delicious flavor to the chicken, and pairs beautifully with the yogurt-based marinade.

Yogurt: This is the base of your Shish Tawook marinade. I recommend using plain yogurt instead of Greek yogurt since it is too thick and the chicken will end up having black patches faster before cooking thoroughly.

Spices and seasonings: You just need a few delicious spices that will make all the difference. We’ll be using some salt and pepper, along with paprika, coriander powder, and red chili powder. That’s all you need!

Tomato paste: This adds a beautiful subtle flavor to the chicken and gives it an appetizing red color. I highly recommend not skipping it!

Lemon juice: Lemon juice will add the perfect level of tang to your chicken taking it to the next level.

Olive oil: Adding some olive oil helps infuse the flavors deep into the chicken and helps coat the chicken in the marinade better as well.

Red and green bell peppers (optional): You can add some red and green bell pepper cubes to the skewers for some added veggies, flavor, and color!

For the Onion Salad:

Onion: All we’ll need is one medium onion chopped into thin slices.

Sumac: Sumac will add the perfect level of tang to your salad that pairs beautifully with Shish Tawook.

Salt and pepper: A little salt and pepper will season the salad to the right level and bring out the flavor of the sumac and onions.

Chopped herbs: You can also add some chopped fresh herbs to your salad. I recommend some chopped parsley or mint leaves for it.

How to Make Shish Tawook Step by Step

Making these delicious grilled chicken skewers is so incredibly easy, you’d be surprised! Here’s what you need to do step by step:

How To Make Shish Tawook Marinade

Let’s make the marinade for our Shish Tawook first. Start by taking a large bowl, and adding the garlic, the yogurt, the spices, lemon juice, and the tomato paste to it. Mix well until it’s all well combined.

Next, add the olive oil and whisk until combined as well.

Now pat the chicken dry and then add it to the marinade. Mix the ingredients well for a minute and then cover properly and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, although it is best to leave it overnight.

How To Make Shish Tawook

Time to place the chicken into the skewers and grill it! If you are using wooden skewers, soak them in warm water for an hour before using them, which will prevent them from burning.

Thread two bell pepper cubes first and then thread the chicken cubes onto the skewers, lastly thread two more bell peppers as shown in the video.

You can grill the Shish Tawook outdoors on a grill or as shown in the video, heat a flat grill pan and then place the Shish Tawook on the pan.

Keep the heat high to seal the juices in the chicken. Flip the skewers every two minutes depending on how high the temperature of your stove is.

When done, cover the Shish Tawook for 7 minutes with aluminum foil, this will allow the chicken to rest and continue cooking from the inside.

Your Shish Tawook is ready to be served!

How to Make Onion Salad for Shish Tawook

Making the onion salad is incredibly easy. Just mix all the ingredients together with your hand trying to separate the onion layers and you’re done!

How to Tell That the Shish Tawook is Ready?

The easiest and most accurate way to know if your Shish Tawook is ready is to use an internal thermometer. Your chicken is ready when it reaches a temperature of 165F or 74C. Alternatively, you can try one piece of chicken and check if it’s done.

Tips for Making the Best Shish Tawook Every Time

Here are a few tips that will make sure you have delicious Shish Tawook every single time you make it!

• It’s best to use chicken thighs for Shish Tawook but if marinated properly even the breast pieces will be juicy.
• If you want to use the oven, place the skewers under the broiler and flip them every few minutes.
• Cover the Shish Tawook with aluminum foil for 7 minutes to keep it juicy and enhance its flavor.
• You cannot store the onion salad since the flavor will change, so make the salad only when you are about to serve the Shish Tawook.
• The chicken is ready when the internal temperature reaches 165F. Or you can try one cube of chicken and check if it’s done.
• Use plain yogurt for this recipe, and better not to use Greek yogurt since it is too thick and chicken will have black patches faster before cooking thoroughly.
• If you want to make your Shish Tawook slightly spicier, you can add ½ teaspoon of cayenne pepper to the marinade. But do note that this is not part of the authentic recipe and that cayenne pepper can get really spicy so add it with caution!
• Soak your bamboo skewers for at least 30 minutes to an hour or preferably overnight to prevent them from burning while you grill your chicken.

How to Store Shish Tawook

Shish Tawook is best served fresh off the grill after resting it for 7 minutes. But in case you have some leftovers, you can place them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Just reheat the skewers before serving and they’ll taste incredible.

On the other hand, the onion salad should be made fresh and served right away since the flavor will start changing if stored for longer than a few hours.

Other Recipes You’ll Love

Chicken Skewers: Looking for another Chicken Skewers recipe? This one has delicious Middle Eastern flavors, but with onion, vinegar, and olive oil-based marinade. It tastes absolutely incredible, and if like me you love grilled chicken, this is a great one to try!

Pita Bread: A great way to have this Shish Tawook is as a sandwich in pita bread pockets! My Pita Bread recipe will give you incredible flavor and the perfect pockets that you can stuff with Shish Tawook, chopped veggies, and your favorite sauce! I’m sure you’re going to love this recipe!

Falafel: Want to try another delicious Middle Eastern dish? Then Falafel is an incredible choice! It’s the most delicious chickpea-based dish that is fried or baked to perfection. Have it on its own, or in a sandwich!

📖 Recipe