Shish Tawook (Turkish Chicken Kebab)

Shish Tawook (Turkish Chicken Kebab) is a popular Turkish dish made of chicken pieces marinated in olive oil, milk, tomato & pepper paste, and aromatic spices. Although these tender and juicy Chicken Shish Kebabs are originally from Turkey, they are also quite common in Middle Eastern or Balkan countries.

Jump to:

• Why This Recipe Works?
• Ingredients and Substitutes
• How to Make Shish Tawook (Turkish Chicken Kebab)?
• Related Recipes
• Top Tip From the Chef
• Shish Tawook (Turkish Chicken Shish Kebab)

This authentic Shish Tawook/Turkish Chicken Shish Kebab (or Kabob) dish is almost on every restaurant's menu in Turkey. It is also popular in Western countries as takeaway food and is usually wrapped in a flatbread with some garlicky yoghurt sauce. I promise they taste just as good, if not much better! 

Why This Recipe Works?

• They are absolutely delicious and very easy to make at home with my simple recipe.

• Perfect for entertaining your dinner guests, you can prep them a few days ahead and cook them on the day.

• It's a healthy and delicious dish with a minimum of prep time.

• They are freezer-friendly, you can keep them in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Ingredients and Substitutes

• Chicken - I prefer using skinless & boneless chicken thighs for kebabs but chicken breast works perfectly too. You can also use frozen chicken if that's what you have in hand. Make sure you defrost them overnight before marinating them.

• Olive oil - I use cooking olive oil instead of extra virgin olive oil for the marinade. It adds flavour to the meat and keeps it moist.

• Tomato paste - It is the staple of Turkish cooking. It adds an umami flavour to the dishes as well as a bright red colour. You can find it in Turkish or Middle Eastern shops or buy online from Amazon .

• Red pepper paste - Turkish red pepper paste is a rich, delicious paste made with juicy, spicy red peppers and I use it quite often with my Turkish recipes. You can buy it from Turkish or Middle Eastern shops or online from Amazon.

• Milk - I use semi-skimmed or full-fat milk. Milk helps the chicken get tender&melt in the mouth. Many recipes include yoghurt for the marinade. I prefer milk instead as yoghurt tends to burn quickly.

• Spices - Adjust the amount to your taste.

• Vegetables - Onions, peppers and tomatoes are typically used for kebabs but you can use any other vegetables you fancy, such as chillies, mushrooms or aubergines.

How to Make Shish Tawook (Turkish Chicken Kebab)?

Making Chicken Shish Kebabs at home is surprisingly easy. However, there are a few simple steps to follow for you to achieve the best results:

Marinate the Chicken

There are many recipes for chicken shish kebab marinade and most of them use yoghurt. I prefer using milk instead as it gives a softer texture and better taste to the meat. To prepare the marinade, mix milk, tomato paste, olive oil, salt and spices in a bowl.

and then add the chicken. Nicely combine until all chicken pieces are covered with marinade then cover the bowl. Let the chicken marinate overnight or for a minimum of 2 hours. Don't let them marinate for more than 24 hours as the acid in the marinade will destroy the texture of the meat.

Thread the Chicken Pieces and Veggies Onto Skewers 

When the chicken is marinated and you are ready to cook, start preparing the vegetables. Firstly, peel the onion and then cut it into chunky cubes similar size of the chicken. Secondly, wash the tomatoes and cut them into wedges, or use whole cherry tomatoes.

And then cut the Turkish chilli peppers into 4 pieces. If you are using bell peppers, cut them into chunky cubes similar size to chicken. Thread the chicken and vegetables onto metal kebab skewers. If you want to use bamboo skewers, soak them in the water beforehand for 30 minutes so that they don't burn.

Cook the Chicken Kebabs

The best way to cook shish tawook is by grilling them on the BBQ. Alternatively, you can use your oven grill to cook them. When cooking on the BBQ, make sure the grill is properly hot before you place the chicken shish kebabs on them. Cook for 12-14 minutes or the core temperature reaches 74 °C.

If you want to use the oven, preheat the oven grill to 210 °C. Place them on a tin foil-lined tray and then cook for 15 minutes or the core temperature reaches 74 °C. The cooking time may vary on the size of the chicken cubes and the heat of your BBQ/oven. Make sure you keep a good eye on them to prevent burning.

Related Recipes

For more delicious chicken recipes why not try:

• Chicken and Chorizo Pasta

• Dutch Oven Roast Chicken

• Spicy Chicken Wings

• Rice Stuffed Chicken

• Chicken Stir Fry Noodles

• Easy Chicken Stock (Bone Broth)

• Salt and Pepper Chicken

• Chicken Liver Pâté

• Perde Pilavi

• Tavuk Sote (Turkish Chicken Sauté)

• Bamya - Turkish Okra Stew

Top Tip From the Chef

Use the same marinade for marinating chicken wings or whole chicken. This marinade is perfect for any part of the chicken!

I hope you enjoy the process of making these delicious and healthy Turkish Chicken Shish Kebabs as much as you enjoy eating them! 🙂

Bon appétit! / Afiyet Olsun!

FOOD SAFETY

• Cook to a minimum temperature of 165 °F (74 °C)
• Don’t leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
• Never leave cooking food unattended
• Use oils with high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds
• Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove

See more guidelines at USDA.gov.

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Did you make this recipe?

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