Homemade Chicken Skewers / Şiş Tavuk
Homemade Turkish Chicken Skewers / Şiş Tavuk, is one of the most popular street foods in Turkey. Juicy, marinated chicken paired with fresh flatbreads and flavorful sides makes for a satisfying meal.
Ingredients
For the Chicken:
- 4 chicken legs deboned, skin optional, cut into large chunks
- 1 medium onion grated, juice extracted
- 2 tbsp thick yogurt
- 1 tbsp tomato paste or ½ tbsp tomato + ½ tbsp pepper paste
- 1 tbsp Juice of lemon
- 2-3 garlic cloves crushed
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp pul biber (chili flakes)
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp thyme
- Salt to taste
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
For the Flatbreads:
- ½ cup warm water
- ½ cup warm milk
- 10 g fresh yeast or 1 tsp dry yeast
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1 tsp salt
- 3 cups or more all-purpose flour
- 1 tbsp olive oil
Garnishes:
- Lettuce chopped
- 2 red sweet peppers grilled
- 2 tomatoes grilled, cut into wedges
- Pickled red cabbage
- Bulgur pilaf optional
Instructions
Preparing the Marinade
- In a large bowl, mix onion juice, yogurt, tomato paste, lemon juice, garlic, spices, and salt.
- Drizzle vegetable oil and stir to combine.
- Add chicken chunks to the marinade, ensuring they are well coated. Cover and marinate for at least 30 minutes (overnight for best results).
Making the Flatbreads
- In a small bowl, dissolve yeast and sugar in the warm water-milk mixture. In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, salt, and olive oil. Gradually add the liquid mixture, stirring to form a dough.
- Knead until soft and elastic, then divide into 10 balls. Let them rest for 10 minutes.
- Roll each ball into a thin circle using a rolling pin.
- Heat a nonstick pan and cook each flatbread for about 1 minute on each side. Cover with a kitchen towel to keep them soft.
Assembling the Chicken Pieces To Skewers
- Thread chicken pieces onto skewers, leaving small gaps for even cooking.
- Optionally, prepare separate skewers for vegetables.
Best Way to Cook The Chicken Shish Kebab
- To cook the chicken skewers I'm using my good old cast iron griddle. It's a perfect choice when you cook inside. It gives harshly a chart flavor. But of course, if you can, the best way is to make a BBQ, grill outside, and get that chard flavor to the chicken shish.
Cooking the Skewers
- Use a barbecue grill or pre heated cast iron griddle for the best flavor. Cook skewers until golden and fully cooked, turning occasionally.
- Serve the chicken skewers hot with flatbreads, bulgur pilaf, pickled red cabbage, lettuce, and grilled vegetables.