Lebanese Grilled Chicken Skewers with Toum Sauce
Experience the delightful flavors of Lebanese cuisine with these succulent grilled chicken skewers, perfectly seasoned with a blend of garlic, tomato, and lemon. The highlight of this dish is the creamy Toum sauce, a traditional Lebanese garlic sauce that pairs exquisitely with the savory chicken. This family-friendly recipe uses chicken thighs for added juiciness and suggests marinating overnight for maximum flavor. Serve alongside a fresh salad for a gratifying and well-rounded meal that will be loved by each family member.
4
Servings
N/A
Calories
14
Ingredients
Ingredients
chicken thighs
1 kg (cut into 2 cm pieces)
skewers
as needed (none)
olive oil
1 tablespoon (none)
tomato puree
1 tablespoon (none)
garlic
1 tablespoon (crushed)
Toum sauce
1 tablespoon (prepared)
salt
to taste (none)
pepper
to taste (none)
lemons
2 (juice of)
garlic clove
1 (peeled)
salt
1/2 teaspoon (none)
egg white
1 (none)
vegetable oil
250 ml (none)
lemon
1 (juice of, to taste)
Instructions
1
Cut the chicken breasts or thighs into 2 cm pieces. In a large bowl, combine the olive oil, tomato puree, crushed garlic, 1 tablespoon of the Toum sauce, salt, pepper, and lemon juice. Mix well to ensure the chicken is thoroughly coated.
2
Cover the bowl and marinate in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour, or overnight for best results.
3
Thread the marinated chicken pieces onto skewers.
4
Preheat the grill or barbecue to medium-high heat. Grill the skewers for about 10 minutes, turning occasionally until the chicken is cooked through and slightly charred.
5
For the Toum sauce, in a blender or food processor, puree the garlic clove and 1/2 teaspoon salt until smooth. Add the egg white and blend again until integrated.
6
With the blender running, slowly drizzle in the vegetable oil in a steady stream. Continue blending until the mixture becomes thick and creamy, resembling mayonnaise.
7
Add the juice of one lemon to the blender and blend until smooth. Taste and adjust with more lemon juice or salt if needed.
8
Serve the grilled chicken skewers hot, accompanied by the Toum sauce on the side for dipping.
Nutrition Information
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Lebanese Grilled Chicken Skewers?
These are succulent chicken pieces seasoned with garlic, tomato, and lemon, grilled to perfection and served with a traditional creamy garlic Toum sauce.
What is Toum sauce?
Toum is a traditional Lebanese garlic sauce made by emulsifying garlic, salt, egg whites, vegetable oil, and lemon juice into a thick, mayonnaise-like consistency.
Should I use chicken breasts or thighs?
This recipe suggests using chicken thighs for added juiciness, though chicken breasts can also be used if preferred.
How long should I marinate the chicken?
You should marinate the chicken for at least 1 hour, or overnight for the best flavor results.
How should I cut the chicken?
The chicken should be cut into approximately 2 cm pieces to ensure even cooking on the skewers.
What is in the chicken marinade?
The marinade consists of olive oil, tomato puree, crushed garlic, Toum sauce, salt, pepper, and lemon juice.
How long do I grill the skewers?
Grill the skewers for about 10 minutes, turning them occasionally until the chicken is cooked through and slightly charred.
What heat setting is best for grilling?
A medium-high heat setting is recommended for the grill or barbecue.
Can I make Toum sauce in a blender?
Yes, a blender or food processor is required to puree the garlic and salt before emulsifying with the other ingredients.
How do I get the Toum sauce to be creamy?
With the blender running, slowly drizzle the vegetable oil in a steady stream to allow the mixture to emulsify and become thick.
What kind of oil is used for the Toum sauce?
Vegetable oil is used for its neutral flavor and ability to emulsify into a creamy sauce.
How many servings does this recipe make?
This recipe is designed to provide 4 servings.
Is this a family-friendly recipe?
Yes, it is a flavorful and mild dish that is generally loved by all family members.
What side dishes go well with Lebanese chicken?
It is best served with a fresh salad for a well-rounded and gratifying meal.
Do I need to soak the skewers?
If using wooden skewers, it is advisable to soak them in water to prevent them from burning on the grill.
How much chicken do I need?
The recipe calls for 1 kg of chicken.
What role does the egg white play in Toum?
The egg white acts as an emulsifier, helping the oil and lemon juice combine with the garlic to create a stable, thick sauce.
How many lemons are required?
You will need approximately 3 lemons: two for the chicken marinade and one for the Toum sauce.
Is this recipe part of Mediterranean cuisine?
Yes, these grilled chicken skewers are a staple of Lebanese Mediterranean cooking.
Can I use olive oil for the Toum sauce?
The recipe specifies vegetable oil for the sauce to ensure a neutral flavor; olive oil can sometimes make the sauce too heavy or bitter.
How much garlic is used in the sauce?
The Toum sauce uses one large garlic clove pureed with salt as its base.
Can I cook this on a barbecue?
Absolutely, a barbecue is an excellent way to achieve the charred flavor characteristic of this dish.
What if my Toum sauce is too thin?
Ensure you are drizzling the oil very slowly; if it remains thin, continue blending and adding the lemon juice to help it bind.
How much salt goes into the marinade?
Salt should be added to the marinade to taste.
Is there tomato in this recipe?
Yes, one tablespoon of tomato puree is used in the marinade for color and flavor.
How do I serve the Toum sauce?
The Toum sauce should be served on the side as a dipping sauce for the hot grilled chicken.
Can I use pre-prepared Toum?
Yes, the marinade actually calls for 1 tablespoon of pre-prepared Toum sauce to enhance the garlic flavor.
What is the first step of the recipe?
The first step is to cut the chicken and combine it with the marinade ingredients in a large bowl.
Does the recipe use pepper?
Yes, pepper is added to the marinade to taste.
How much vegetable oil is needed for the Toum?
The Toum sauce requires 250 ml of vegetable oil.