Lebanese Chicken Shish Taouk

Step 1

Pat the chicken breasts dry with paper towels, then place them on a cutting board and slice each one lengthwise into 1-inch-wide strips so they cook quickly and evenly on the skewers.

Step 2

In a large bowl, pour in 0.33 cup olive oil, 3 tbsp lemon juice, and the minced garlic; whisk together until combined.

Step 3

Add 1.5 tsp paprika, 1 tsp cumin, 0.75 tsp salt, and 0.25 tsp black pepper to the bowl and stir until the spices are evenly distributed throughout the oil mixture.

Step 4

Add the chicken strips to the bowl and toss with your hands or two spoons until every piece is coated evenly with the marinade.

Step 5

Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and place it in the refrigerator for at least 20 minutes so the chicken absorbs the spices and becomes tender.

Step 6

While the chicken marinates, soak wooden skewers in a bowl of cold water for 10 minutes to prevent them from burning on the grill.

Step 7

Preheat the grill to medium-high heat for 5 minutes; you should see a steady heat wave rising from the grates and feel intense warmth when you hold your hand 4 inches above the surface.

Step 8

Thread each marinated chicken strip onto a soaked wooden skewer by pushing the skewer through the meat lengthwise, weaving it back and forth gently to keep the pieces from falling off.

Step 9

Place the skewers directly on the grill grates and cook without moving them for 3 minutes until the bottom develops golden-brown char marks.

Step 10

Flip each skewer once and cook for another 3 minutes until the other side is golden-brown with slight char and the thickest piece of chicken is no longer pink in the center when you cut into it.

Step 11

Transfer the skewers to a clean plate and let them rest for 2 minutes so the juices stay inside the meat when you remove it from the skewer.

Step 12

Warm the pita bread by laying it face-down on the grill for 20 seconds per side until it has light grill marks and is pliable, then place it on a serving plate.

Step 13

Slide the chicken strips off the skewers onto a serving platter.

Step 14

Arrange the warm pita, grilled chicken, sliced tomato, sliced cucumber, and garlic sauce in separate bowls or on a platter so each person can fill their own pita wrap.