Grilled Shish Tawook
The secret to real Tawook is the patience of the marinade. Give the chicken at least four hours, though overnight is where the magic happens.
Balance the acidity and time
Because of the yogurt and lemon, do not exceed 24 hours of marinating or the texture of the chicken will become chalky.
- Large glass mixing bowl
- Wooden skewers (soaked for 1 hour)
- Outdoor grill or heavy cast-iron grill pan
What goes in.
- 2 lbboneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1.5-inch cubes
- 1/2 cupfull-fat plain yogurt
- 1/4 cupextra-virgin olive oil
- 4 clovesgarlic, finely grated or crushed
- 1 tbsptomato paste
- 1 tbspfresh lemon juice
- 1 tspsalt
- 1 tspground white pepper
- 1 tspground coriander
- 1/2 tspground cardamom
The Yogurt Shield
The yogurt acts as a tenderizer while the olive oil carries the aromatics into the meat. Whisk this mixture until it is fully homogeneous before adding the chicken.
The method.
Whisk the marinade
In your bowl, combine yogurt, oil, garlic, tomato paste, lemon juice, salt, pepper, coriander, and cardamom. Whisk until the tomato paste disappears into the yogurt.
Marinate
Toss the chicken cubes in the marinade. Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours.
Skewer
Thread the chicken onto soaked wooden skewers. Leave a small gap between pieces so the heat circulates evenly.
Grill
Place on a high-heat grill. Cook for 4-5 minutes per side. Do not move them until they release naturally from the grate.
Rest
Transfer to a plate and let sit for 5 minutes before serving to ensure the juices redistribute.
Other turns to take.
Classic Garlic Dip
Serve with toum, a whipped garlic paste made of emulsified oil, lemon, and raw garlic.
Vegetable Skewers
Interleave the chicken with chunks of onion and bell pepper for additional charred sweetness.
When it doesn't go to plan.
If using a charcoal grill, wait until the coals are covered in a fine grey ash before cooking.
If the chicken sticks to the grill, it is not ready to be turned; wait another minute and it will release on its own.
Use white pepper instead of black for a cleaner, floral heat that doesn't overwhelm the delicate spice blend.
The ones that keep coming up.
Can I use chicken thighs instead of breasts?
Yes, thighs are more forgiving and remain moist even if slightly overcooked.
Do I need to grease the grill grate?
Brush the grate lightly with a high-smoke-point oil right before placing the skewers down to prevent sticking.
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