Shish Taouk Wrap (Lebanese Grilled Chicken Wrap)

About This Recipe

Shish taouk is one of Lebanon's most popular grilled chicken preparations, marinated in a mixture of yogurt, garlic and lemon that both tenderizes the meat and gives it a distinctive tang before it's grilled hot and fast on skewers. Wrapped into a portable lunch, the grilled chicken is rolled in warm pita with a generous smear of toum, Lebanon's famously intense whipped garlic sauce, along with pickles and crisp lettuce for contrast. The whole thing depends on getting the balance right — enough toum for real garlic punch, but not so much that it overwhelms the smoky, well-marinated chicken at the center of the wrap.

Ingredients

Serves 4

• 600 gboneless chicken thighs
• 1/2 cupplain yogurt(for marinade)
• 3 tbsplemon juice(for marinade)
• 4 clovesgarlic(minced, for marinade)
• 2 tbspolive oil(for marinade)
• 1 tspsalt(for marinade)
• 4large pita breads
• 1/2 cuptoum (Lebanese garlic sauce)
• 1 cupshredded lettuce
• 1tomato(sliced)
• 1/4 cuppickled turnips or cucumbers(sliced)

Instructions

1. 1

   Marinate the chicken

   Combine chicken with yogurt, lemon juice, garlic, olive oil and salt; marinate at least 1 hour, or up to overnight.

2. 2

   Grill

   Grill or sear the chicken over high heat, 6-7 minutes per side, until charred and cooked through; slice into strips.

   Yogurt-based marinades char beautifully but burn easily — watch the heat and move the chicken if it's browning too fast.

3. 3

   Warm the pita

   Warm the pita briefly on a dry skillet or open flame until soft and pliable.

4. 4

   Assemble

   Spread toum generously down the center of each pita, then layer with sliced chicken, lettuce, tomato and pickles.

5. 5

   Roll

   Roll the pita tightly into a wrap.

6. 6

   Serve

   Serve immediately, or press briefly on a hot dry skillet to seal the seam and warm through.

Variations

• •

  Add french fries inside the wrap, a very popular addition at many Lebanese shawarma shops.

• •

  A spicier version adds a drizzle of Lebanese hot sauce or harissa alongside the toum.

• •

  Grilled vegetables like zucchini or eggplant can be added for extra substance.

Storage

Grilled chicken keeps refrigerated up to 3 days; assemble fresh wraps rather than storing pre-rolled ones, since the pita softens quickly once filled.

Frequently Asked Questions