Grilled Lebanese Chicken Shish Taouk with Garlic Sauce and Pita

Whisk together the yogurt, lemon juice, garlic, olive oil, cumin, paprika, cinnamon and salt in a large bowl.

Serves 4

Ingredients

• 2 pounds boneless chicken thighs, cut into 1.5-inch pieces
• 1/3 cup plain yogurt
• 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup toum garlic sauce, to serve
• 4 warm pita breads
• Pickles, tomatoes and parsley, to serve

Instructions

1. Whisk together the yogurt, lemon juice, garlic, olive oil, cumin, paprika, cinnamon and salt in a large bowl.
2. Add the chicken and toss to coat, then cover and marinate in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours or overnight.
3. Thread the chicken onto skewers, shaking off excess marinade, and let sit at room temperature for 20 minutes.
4. Heat a grill to medium-high and oil the grates well.
5. Grill the skewers, turning every few minutes, until charred at the edges and cooked through, 10 to 12 minutes.
6. Rest the skewers for 5 minutes so the juices settle.
7. Warm the pita on the grill for the last minute until soft and puffed.
8. Serve the chicken with toum garlic sauce, pickles, sliced tomatoes and parsley, wrapped in warm pita or piled on a platter.
9. Shish taouk is a beloved street food across Lebanon and the wider Levant, where charcoal grills perfume entire neighborhoods on warm evenings. The bright lemon-garlic marinade and creamy toum make it irresistible, a summer cookout classic that turns simple chicken into something worth gathering around.

Nutrition (estimated, per serving)

• Calories: 520 kcal
• Protein: 42g
• Fat: 28g
• Carbohydrates: 24g
• Fiber: 2g
• Sugar: 3g
• Sodium: 780mg