Shish Tawook (Grilled Chicken Skewers)

Shish tawook is the Levant’s answer to barbecue: cubes of chicken marinated for hours in a garlicky yogurt blend, threaded onto skewers, and grilled until charred at the edges and juicy in the middle. It is a restaurant classic across Syria, and it is just as easy to make on a home grill or under the broiler. The long marinade does the heavy lifting, so the cooking itself is quick. Serve it with toum — the addictive garlic sauce — and let everyone swipe their skewers through it.

Charred, garlicky, and impossible to resist

The yogurt marinade does double duty, tenderizing the chicken and carrying the warm notes of paprika, allspice, and a whisper of cinnamon. High heat gives the outside a smoky char while the inside stays moist and juicy. Pull the skewers off the moment they are done, let them rest briefly, and serve with warm flatbread, grilled tomatoes, and a generous bowl of garlic sauce.

Craving more? Explore all Syrian Kitchen recipes.

This dish is built from Middle Eastern pantry staples — explore all 20 in our guide to 20 essential Middle Eastern pantry ingredients.

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