Name: Shish taouk
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 4 portions
Ingredients: 800 g chicken breast; 200 g Greek yogurt; 1 pc lemon; 4 cloves garlic; 3 tablespoons olive oil; 1 teaspoon sweet paprika; 1 teaspoon cumin; 1 pinch cinnamon; salt; black pepper; 4 pcs pita bread; 1 pc salad cucumber; 2 pcs tomatoes; 1 tablespoon olive oil; 250 g Greek yogurt; 2 cloves garlic; 1 pc lemon; 1 handful parsley; salt

Step by step process

Marinating the chicken

1
Shish taouk begins with well-cut meat. Cut the chicken breasts into larger, evenly sized cubes. They will then cook evenly on the skewers and stay juicy.
2
Put the Greek yogurt into a bowl with olive oil and crushed garlic. Add lemon juice and the finely grated zest from half a lemon. Stir in sweet paprika, cumin, cinnamon, salt and pepper. Add the chicken cubes and coat them well. Let them marinate in the fridge for at least an hour.
TIP:
A yogurt marinade tenderizes meat and helps it hold onto seasonings better. Mix thick yogurt with aromatics and spices, let the meat rest in it for a while, then sear it over high heat so it stays juicy.

Garlic dip

3
Put the Greek yogurt and crushed garlic into a small bowl. Add chopped flat-leaf parsley and juice from half a lemon. Season with salt to taste.
4
Stir everything until smooth. Put the dip in the fridge. The flavors will meld and the dip will chill before serving.

Grilling

5
Thread the marinated meat onto skewers. Let the excess marinade drip off lightly so it does not burn while cooking.
6
Heat a grill pan over medium-high heat. Lay the skewers on it and cook for 10 to 12 minutes. Turn them regularly. The meat should be golden outside and juicy within.
7
Take the finished skewers off the pan. Let them rest for 2 minutes so the juices settle evenly in the meat.

Serving

8
Warm the pita briefly in a dry pan or in the oven. It softens and fills more easily.
9
Cut the cucumber and tomato into smaller pieces. Drizzle them with olive oil to taste. They stay fresh that way.
10
Serve the skewers with warm pita, garlic dip and fresh vegetables. Layer the ingredients straight into the bread with the meat. Everyone builds a portion to their own taste.