Authentic Syrian Shish Tawook Recipe: How to Season and Grill Chicken Skewers

Shish Tawook is a popular Middle Eastern dish, particularly in Syria, Lebanon, and Turkey. It's essentially marinated grilled chicken skewers that are bursting with flavor. To season Shish Tawook the Syrian way, you can follow these steps: ### Ingredients: - 1.5 to 2 pounds of boneless, skinless chicken breast or thighs, cut into cubes - 1/4 cup plain yogurt - 3 tablespoons olive oil - 4 cloves garlic, minced - 1 tablespoon tomato paste - Juice of 1 lemon - 1 teaspoon paprika - 1 teaspoon ground cumin - 1 teaspoon ground coriander - 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon - 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (adjust to taste) - Salt and black pepper to taste - Chopped fresh parsley or cilantro for garnish (optional) ### Instructions: 1. **Prepare the Marinade:** - In a bowl, combine the plain yogurt, olive oil, minced garlic, tomato paste, lemon juice, paprika, cumin, coriander, cinnamon, cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper. Mix well until everything is thoroughly combined. 2. **Marinate the Chicken:** - Place the chicken cubes in a large resealable plastic bag or a shallow dish. - Pour the marinade over the chicken, ensuring all pieces are coated evenly. Massage the marinade into the chicken to ensure it's well coated. - Seal the bag or cover the dish with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or ideally overnight. Marinating overnight allows the flavors to penetrate the chicken deeply. 3. **Skewer the Chicken:** - If using wooden skewers, soak them in water for about 30 minutes to prevent them from burning on the grill. - Thread the marinated chicken cubes onto the skewers, leaving a little space between each piece for even cooking. 4. **Grill the Shish Tawook:** - Preheat your grill to medium-high heat. - Place the chicken skewers on the grill and cook for about 6-8 minutes per side, or until the chicken is fully cooked and has nice grill marks. The cooking time may vary depending on the thickness of your chicken cubes. 5. **Serve:** - Once cooked, remove the skewers from the grill and let them rest for a few minutes. - Garnish with chopped fresh parsley or cilantro if desired. - Serve the Shish Tawook with rice, salad, pita bread, or your favorite side dishes. You can also squeeze a bit of fresh lemon juice over the skewers before serving for an extra burst of flavor. Enjoy your delicious Syrian-style Shish Tawook!