Shashlik: Basic Information
Pronunciation
Alternative Name(s)
Dish Type
Course
Mealtime
Popular Variations
- Lamb Shashlik
- Beef Shashlik
- Chicken Shashlik
- Goat Meat Shashlik
- Pork Shashlik
- Venison Shashlik
Shashlik: Origin and Region
Origin
Continent’s Region
Country’s Region
Associated Region
Shashlik: Ingredients and Preparation
Main Ingredients
Main Cooking Method
Preparation Process
Shashlik: A Deep Dive
Cultural Significance
Taste
Texture
Aroma
Color
Serving Style
Serving Temperature
Accompaniment
Occasions
Seasons
Special Diets
Calories
Popularity
- Central Asia: Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan
- West Asia: Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Iran, Iraq, Turkey
- Eastern and Central Europe: Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Poland
Popular Similar Dishes
- Shish kebab
- Satay
- Chuan
- Anticuchos
- Sosatie
Popular Dining Area
Shashlik, literally “skewerable,” is a popular dish of skewered and grilled meat in the Caucasus, Central Asia, and Eastern Europe.
Shashlik has been a particularly famous dish and street food since the age of the Russian Empire.
Therefore, shashlik is present in many countries formerly belonging to this state, such as Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Belarus, Latvia, Poland, and Ukraine.
In addition, this grilled meat is also well-known in a few Middle Eastern countries, such as Turkey, Iran, and Iraq.
The marinade for shashlik is a mixture of acidic ingredients (vinegar, lemon juice, or dry wine), vegetable oil, and spices (black pepper, cloves, thyme, or bay leaves).
The Russian-style marinade sometimes features sour cream and vodka.
People prepare shashlik by soaking cubes or chunks of meat in the marinade overnight before roasting them over coal or charcoal.
This cooking process gives the crispy, juicy, and savory meat a tempting char flavor. Locals usually use a mangal, a type of open-air grilling apparatus, to grill shashlik.
While shashlik is usually enjoyed on its own, many locals like to pair it with rice, pomegranate juice, grilled vegetables, or simple salads. Those combos are beloved choices for cookout meals.
There are many more interesting facts about shashlik waiting for you to discover, like the most common types of shashlik, the grilled meat’s pros and cons, differences between shashlik and kebabs, and similar dishes to try.
Key Points
Shashlik Images
What Are Popular Types of Shashlik?
Based on the main ingredients, there are 6 main types of shashlik:
Lamb Shashlik
Lamb
The traditional type of shashlik
Beef Shashlik
Beef
Chicken Shashlik
Chicken
Goat Meat Shashlik
Goat meat
Pork Shashlik
Pork
Venison Shashlik
Venison
Besides these types of meat, animal fats or vegetables like onions, tomatoes, mushrooms, and bell peppers are put on skewers alongside the meat.
Despite the differences in the meat choice, those shashlik varieties share the same upsides and downsides as grilled meat.
Pros and Cons of Eating Shashlik
Below is a concise summary of the pros and cons of shashlik.
Pros
Cons
Typically, shashlik has many traits in common with other grilled meat dishes, such as kebabs. But how do those two dishes differ from each other?
Shashlik vs. Kebab: What Are the Differences?
The distinctions between shashlik and kebab concern 4 features: popularity, presentation, marinade ingredients, and sides.
Shashlik
Popularity: The Caucasus, Central Asia, and Eastern Europe
Presentation: Grilled meat on skewers
Marinade ingredients: Acidic ingredients (vinegar, lemon juice, or dry wine), vegetable oil, spices, and optional ingredients like sour cream
Sides: Rice, grilled vegetables, salads
Kebab
Popularity: The Middle East, South Asia, and several Mediterranean countries in Europe
Presentation: Numerous varieties of three main types:
Shish kebab: Grilled meat cubes on skewers.
Kofta kebab: Minced and spiced meat molded onto skewers and grilled.
Doner kebab: Slices of seasoned meat grilled on a vertical rotisserie and stuffed into bread.
Marinade ingredients: Varied based on the region, with yogurt, lemon juice, spices, and herbs as staples
Sides: Flatbreads, dips (such as hummus), rice, grilled vegetables, salads
Now that you know how shashlik stands out from similar dishes, let’s move on to popular queries about the grilled meat specialty.
Adam Sam
Senior Food and Drink Editor
Expertise
Food Writer & Recipe Developer, Recipe Tester, Bartender, Cooking-video Maker, Editor In Chief
Education
Adam Sam, an experienced food writer and recipe developer, is passionate about blending diverse culinary traditions, national dishes, and innovative beverages, showcasing his proficiency in both traditional and modern recipe testing.
As the Editor-in-Chief, he elevates culinary content from street food to fine dining, focusing on Western cuisine and types of drinks at azcuisines.com, and is professional in creating engaging cooking videos that simplify complex dishes and ingredients.
His passion for food is evident in his writing, where he uniquely merges various cultures, traditions, and contemporary trends, skillfully combining classic recipes with modern cooking methods.