Gluten-Free Shish Taouk (Lebanese Chicken Skewers)

Shish taouk is the smell of a Levantine summer — charred, garlicky chicken off the grill, brightened with lemon. And it is a quiet win for coeliacs, because what makes it so good is a marinade, not a coating: thick yogurt, lemon, garlic and warm spices that tenderise the chicken and leave it juicy right through. No flour, no soy sauce, no breadcrumb anywhere near it. The secret really is just time in the fridge.

Gluten-Free Shish Taouk (Lebanese Chicken Skewers)

Juicy Lebanese chicken skewers in a yogurt-lemon-garlic marinade, grilled until charred. Naturally gluten-free — the only check is a plain gluten-free yogurt. Serve with rice, chopped salad or GF pita.

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Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 12 minutes mins

Total Time 27 minutes mins

Servings: 4 servings

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Lebanese, Middle Eastern

Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients

  

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• 800 g chicken breast cut into 3 cm cubes
• 200 g plain gluten-free yogurt see notes
• 2 lemons juiced
• 3 cloves garlic minced
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp paprika
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 0.5 tsp ground coriander
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Rice, chopped salad, or GF pita to serve

Method

 

1. Make the marinade: Mix the yogurt, lemon juice, garlic, olive oil and spices in a large bowl.
2. Marinate the chicken: Add the chicken cubes and coat well. Cover and marinate 4–24 hours in the fridge — longer means more tender and flavourful.
3. Skewer & preheat: Thread the chicken onto skewers (soak wooden ones 30 min first). Preheat a grill or griddle to medium-high.
4. Grill: Grill the skewers 10–12 minutes, turning occasionally, until charred and cooked through. Serve with rice, salad or GF pita.

Notes

Coeliac notes
• Yogurt is the one to check. Plain natural yogurt is almost always gluten-free, but some flavoured/thickened yogurts use modified starch or additives — use a plain yogurt labelled gluten-free.
• Spices: pure paprika, cumin and coriander are GF; pre-mixed shawarma/BBQ blends can contain wheat filler — check blends.
• Eating out — mind the plate, not just the meat. Shish taouk is usually a safe grilled option but is often served wrapped in wheat pita and grilled alongside breaded items; ask for it without pita, on a clean part of the grill. Toum (garlic sauce) is naturally GF; check commercial versions.
• Naturally gluten-free marinade (no soy sauce or flour). When unclear, treat it as "not for me".

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