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Grilled Chicken Skewers with Toum (Shish Taouk)

Kamal Mouzawak (Bon Appetit)

Toum, an intense garlic sauce usually paired with shawarma, is used as both a marinade and a condiment in this chicken dish.

Chicken

  • 3 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice
  • 2 Tbsp. tomato paste
  • 1 Tbsp. ground coriander
  • ¼ cup toum
  • 3 Tbsp. vegetable oil, plus more for grill
  • 1¼ lb. skinless, boneless chicken thighs

For serving

  • 4 pitas, warmed
  • Extra Toum
  • Pickles

Directions

Mix lemon juice, tomato paste, coriander, ¼ cup toum, and 3 Tbsp. oil in a large bowl to combine. Transfer marinade to a large resealable plastic bag. Save remaining toum for serving.

Working one at a time, slice chicken thighs in half lengthwise and season generously with salt. Add to bag with marinade, seal bag, and massage marinade into chicken. Chill at least 3 hours and up to 12 hours.

Let chicken sit at room temperature 1 hour before grilling.

Prepare a grill for medium heat; oil grate. Thread chicken onto skewers, folding pieces back and forth accordion-style so they pile onto themselves (it should be about 3 strips per skewer). Grill, turning occasionally, until browned and beginning to char in spots, 10–12 minutes.

Serve chicken on top of pitas, with pickles and reserved toum alongside.