Shish Tawook

also called shish taouk · shish tawouk · shish taook · tawook · taouk · tavuk sis · chicken skewers · chicken kebab · grilled chicken skewers

The table

1/2 cup(120 g)whole-milk yogurtwhisk the marinade smoothmarinate the chicken 6 hrthread the skewers looselygrill 12 min, turningrest 5 min under foil
1/4 cup(60 mL)lemon juice
6 cloves(crushed to a paste with salt)garlic
1 Tbs(15 g)tomato paste
3 Tbs(45 mL)olive oil
2 tspsweet paprika
1/2 tspground cinnamon
2 tspkosher salt
2 lb(900 g; cut in 1 1/2-in cubes)boneless chicken breast
6metal skewers
1(in wedges)lemon
Tap anything to cross it off.

What to lay out

Everything the recipe asks for, sitting under the step that eats it. Tick each one as you measure it.12 things to get out.

Pans and tools

1whisk the marinade smooth

2marinate the chicken 6 hr

goes in with what step 1 made

3thread the skewers loosely

goes in with what step 2 made

5rest 5 min under foil

goes in with what step 4 made

Cooking it

Tap a step when it is done; the next one lights up.

The clock

Start to finish
at least 6 hr 17 mintwo waits that overlap count once
Needs you
12 minof the steps that give a time

2 of the 5 steps never say how long they take, so both numbers are floors. The recipe itself says 6 hr 30 min.

  1. whisk the marinade smooth

    not timedfrom the start

  2. marinate the chicken 6 hr

    6 hrwalk awayfrom the start

  3. thread the skewers loosely

    not timed6 hr in

  4. grill 12 min, turning

    12 minneeds you6 hr in

  5. rest 5 min under foil

    5 minwalk away6 hr 12 min in

Drawn to scale, so a long wait really does take up the room it takes. The shortest stretches keep a sliver so they stay visible; their times are printed beside them.

You'll need charcoal grill

Goes with

See how it is written
>> title: Shish Tawook
>> category: Smoked & Grilled
>> tags: chicken, lebanese, skewers, yogurt marinade, grill
>> counters: Shawarma Counter
>> aka: shish taouk, shish tawouk, shish taook, tawook, taouk, tavuk sis, chicken skewers, chicken kebab, grilled chicken skewers
>> pairs-with: toum, pita-bread, yellow-rice
>> servings: 4
>> time: 6 hr 30 min
>> step.1: whisk the marinade smooth
>> step.2: marinate the chicken 6 hr
>> step.3: thread the skewers loosely
>> step.4: grill 12 min, turning
>> step.5: rest 5 min under foil

Whisk @whole-milk yogurt{1/2%cup}(120 g), @lemon juice{1/4%cup}(60 mL), @garlic{6%cloves}(crushed to a paste with salt), @tomato paste{1%Tbs}(15 g), @olive oil{3%Tbs}(45 mL), @sweet paprika{2%tsp}, @ground cinnamon{1/2%tsp} and @kosher salt{2%tsp} to a smooth marinade. The yogurt is not there for tang — its acid is mild and its calcium slackens the muscle slowly, so chicken sits in it for six hours and comes out tender rather than mealy, which is exactly what a straight lemon marinade does to it in two.

Turn @boneless chicken breast{2%lb}(900 g; cut in 1 1/2-in cubes) through @&(~1)marinade{} until every cube is covered, then ~marinate{6%hr} in the fridge. This is the one dish on the counter that is breast rather than thigh, and the marinade is why it can be.

Thread @&(~1)marinated chicken{} onto @metal skewers{6} with a gap between the cubes. Packed tight they steam each other and never colour.

Grill @&(~1)skewers{} over a hot #charcoal grill{} ~grill{12%min}, turning a quarter every three minutes, until the edges char and the middle reads 160°F (71°C). The marinade's yogurt and tomato paste burn faster than the chicken cooks, so keep them moving and count on some black.

Rest @&(~1)grilled skewers{} loosely under foil ~rest{5%min} and squeeze @lemon{1}(in wedges) over them at the table.