Shish Kebab

Fact: In Turkey, the standing records for the most consumed shish kebab are 301 skewers for males (in 44 minutes) and 255 skewers for females (in 23 minutes).

Shish Kebab: Basic Information

Pronunciation

/Sheesh Keh-bob/

Alternative Name(s)

Shish Kebap

Dish Type

Grilled and barbecued dishes

Course

Main course

Mealtime

Lunch, dinner

Shish Kebab: Origin and Region

Origin

Turkey

Continent’s Region

Southern Europe and West Asia

Country’s Region

Nationwide Origin

Associated Region

Unspecified

Popular Shish Kebab Variations

Shashlik

Shashlik is a famous grilled meat dish in the Caucasus, Central Asia, and Eastern Europe.

Khorovats

• Feature chunks of marinated for grilling
• Similar to the cooking method of shish kebab

Orman Kebabi

The name translated to “forest kebab”

Çoban Kebabi

• Translated to “shepherd’s kebab”
• Made using the meat shepherds had available

Hacci Osman Kebabi

Roasted on a revolving spit

Süt Kebabi

• Translated to “milk kebab”
• The meat is parboiled or marinated in milk before grilling

Koyun Kebabi

The roasted meat is wrapped in bread

Kabarma Kebabi

The meat is grilled whole and flattened with a mallet

Kefenli Kebabi

The roasted meat is wrapped in bread

Reshmi Kebab

• A type of tender skewered kebabs
• “Reshmi” refers to the silky texture

Galouti Kebab

• Translated to “soft kebab”
• Known for its melt-in-the-mouth texture

Hariyali Kebab

• Translated to “green kebab”
• Named for its vibrant green color

Shami Kebab

• Round patties version of kebab
• Shallow-fried until crispy

Adana Kebab

Grilled over an open flame for a spicy and smoky flavor

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Shish Kebab: Ingredients and Preparation

Main Ingredients

Lamb, beef, poultry, or fish

Main Cooking Method

Grilling

Preparation Process

Meat is cubed, marinated, and skewered, then grilled. Vegetables are grilled separately.

Shish Kebab: A Deep Dive

Cultural Significance

Essential to Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cultures

Taste

Savory

Texture

Tender, charred

Aroma

Fragrant, smoky

Color

Browned with char marks

Serving Style

On a plate

Serving Temperature

Hot

Accompaniment

Rice, flatbreads, salad, or vegetables

Occasions

On any occasions

Seasons

Year-round

Special Diets

Non diet-specific

Calories

182 calories, according to data of Nutritionix for 1 serving of shish kabob

Popularity

Iran, Levant, Turkey, Israel, Jordan, Iraq, Palestine, Syria, Leban

Popular Similar Dishes

1. Souvlaki
2. Satay
3. Yakitori
4. Arrosticini

Popular Dining Area

Restaurants, street food vendors, households in the Middle East and Mediterranean

Shish kebab is a grilled dish of skewered meat cubes from the Middle East that is found all over the Mediterranean and Caucasus regions.

As a part of the kebab family, shish kebab dates back to the start of the 20th century and often employs a wide range of meat, with lamb being the traditional option, along with other choices like fish, poultry, or beef.

In Turkish, the word shish refers to skewer, with şiş referring to sword or skewer, while kebap denotes the roasted meat dish. Most often, shish kebab also comes with vegetables, and the people will grill them separately.

Also, the meat is marinated in a mix of spices and oil before being threaded through wooden or metal skewers for grilling over charcoal.

For serving, locals will pair the grilled meat and vegetables with rice, bread, salad, or sauce. Furthermore, shish kebab is a favorite choice for communal events and gatherings.

After getting to know about shish kebab, discover all the types of grilled meat, cuts of meat used, and accompaniments that are ideally employed for the dish.

Then, explore the interesting features that led to the adaptation of shish kebab into Central Asian cuisine. Also, there are still pros and cons of the dish along with the distinguishable features of shish and kofte kebab.

Shish Kebab Images

What Are The Types of Shish Kebab?

When shish kebab is the topic of the conversation, you simply don’t want to miss below variations of this Middle Eastern grilled meat:

Besides these tasty kebab varieties, it’s important for you to know which part of the animal is great for making shish kebab that directly influences the texture of the specialty.

What Cuts of Meat Are Used for Shish Kebab?

It’s clear that lamb, beef, chicken, pork, or venison are often used for making shish kebab. Therefore, let me show you which cuts of meat from each variety are ideal for making shish kebabs.

• Lamb: Traditionally, lamb is the primary choice for shish kebab. Specific cuts of lamb that are tender and well-suited for skewering and grilling, such as the leg or shoulder, are often used.
• Chicken: Chicken, often boneless thighs or breasts, is marinated and used for shish kebab.
• Pork: While not traditional in many Middle Eastern countries due to religious dietary restrictions, lean cuts of pork (like shoulder, tenderloin, loin, belly) are used in some regions, especially in non-Muslim-majority areas.
• Beef: Certain cuts of beef that are lean and tender, like sirloin or tenderloin, are often used for shish kebab.
• Venison: While not as common as other meats, venison (deer meat) is also used for making shish kebab in some regions where deer hunting is prevalent.

After knowing about the cuts of meat that you should use, there are still more accompaniments to consider when you want to have shish kebab.

What Do You Eat with Shish Kebabs?

To fully bring out the flavors of shish kebabs, accompaniments are needed to support the profile. For that, allow me to give you 7 common options to enjoy with shish kebab:

Pairing these sides with shish kebab is undoubtedly tasty, but there is more to the grilled meat specialty, as this grilled meat also made its way to countries in Central Asia.

How Central Asian Countries Adopted Shish Kebab?

It’s easy to understand how the popularity of shish kebab easily spread to other nations. In Central Asia, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan are two prime examples of adapting this grilled meat dish:

To know more about shish kebab, make sure to find out some features that determine whether this dish will fit your appetite.

Pros And Cons of Eating Shish Kebab

Before throwing your next shish kebab party, here are a few benefits and drawbacks when you’re having this grilled meat dish.

Of course, knowing about the good and bad of shish kebab is important, but there are more interesting things to uncover, like how to distinguish between shish and kofte kebab.

What Are The Differences Between Shish Kebab And Kofte Kebab?

To make it simple, here are the features that differentiate shish kebab and kofte kebab, all presented in a neat table:

Once you’ve got the differences between shish and kofte kebab, there’s more to uncover when comparing it with doner kebab

What Makes Shish Kebab and Doner Kebab Different?

To be able to differentiate shish and doner kebab, there are a few features that you should notice:

After knowing about the features setting shish and doner kebab apart, here are some more concerns that many often consider when having this grilled meat of the Middle East.

Shish Kebab FAQs