Sheesh Taouk (Chicken on the Skewers, also known as Chicken Kebabs)

June 29, 2009 in Main Courses, Meat Dishes | Permalink

The term sheesh (means sword or skewer in modern usage) comes up very frequently in Lebanese cooking, in fact, it is originally Turkish. As history tells us, Lebanon was part of the Ottoman Empire for over 400 years, so this explains the usage of some Turkish words in our vocabulary.

Back to the recipe, you could use either deboned skinless chicken breasts or thighs. The basic ingredients of the marinade flavour the chicken with a succulent light taste that goes well with summer evenings. This is often served as part of a Lebanese Mixed Grill (Sheesh Taouk, Sheesh Kebab -lamb cubes- Kafta – see my recipe in Main Courses).

          

           Serves 4

 

Ingredients

 

  • 1 kg / 2 ¼ lb deboned and skinless chicken breasts or thighs.
  • Salt and freshly milled black pepper
  • 2 colourful peppers

 

     For the marinade

 

  • 1 head of garlic, cloves peeled and crushed to a paste.
  • 100 ml / 3 ½ fl oz lemon juice
  • 200 ml / 7fl oz olive oil
  • 1 tbsp tomato paste
  • 1½ tbsp strong mustard, (English mustard works well)

 

To serve:

 

  • Toomeh (See recipe in Sauces)
  • Lebanese or Arabic Bread (alternatively large Pitta bread)

 

Method

 

1.      Rinse the chicken under cold water and pat dry with kitchen paper. Cut the breasts or thighs into the suitable sized pieces for the skewers and place in a glass or Pyrex dish. Season with salt and pepper.

2.      As for the marinade, mix thoroughly all the ingredients until well combined then tip over the chicken, making sure every bit of chicken pieces is smeared with the marinade. Cover and pop in the fridge for several hours or preferably overnight.

3.      When you are ready to cook, fire up the barbecue or pre-heat the grill to a medium setting. Wash and cut the peppers into cubes. Thread the chicken pieces into the skewers, inserting in between the cubed peppers. The chicken pieces should not be too closely compacted together or they will not cook evenly. Barbecue or grill for about 15 minutes turning the skewers to ensure an even cooking, baste if necessary with the remaining marinade. Make sure the chicken pieces are cooked all the way through. You should end up with a nicely browned meat that is cooked through but not dry nor burnt.

4.      If you have to barbecue or grill in batches while keeping at the same time the meat warm, here is the Lebanese way: Open up one or two warmed Lebanese bread (depending on the size and number of skewers) and put inside the barbecued meat, still on skewers. With its double layer, the bread will keep the meat warm, at the same time, it absorbs the excess fatty juices.  

5.      Just before serving the Sheesh Taouk, warm up the remaining bread. Next, open up the warmed bread, put the skewers inside it (roughly 2 skewers per 1 bread), pull out the skewers off the meat and pass round the bread filled with the barbecued or grilled chicken pieces.

6.      The essential accompaniment for this is Toomeh which is a delicious combination. Also, serve with Fattoush (Bread Salad: see recipe in Salads).