United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabian – Shish Tawook Sandwich/Wrap

by Reshaeel Nisar

Introduction

Shish Twook sandwich/wrap is a nonvegetarian dish witch contains stuffed chicken slices in it. Shish Tawook is a traditional dish which is originated from West Asian countries such as United Arab Emirates and it is a street food of marinated chicken shish kebab which is grilled. Shish Twook sandwich/wraphas become the local cuisine of west Asian countries especially the United Arab Emirates. This dish is offering in many street restaurants and is liked by many people all across the country. This is not a time taking dish, you can make it in just 40 minutes. It is a simple and easy dish which can be cooked easily without any hesitance or difficulty. For making this shish tawook sandwich, you simply have to marinate chicken breast in lemon juice, garlic, olive, and salt and you just have to fry it in a frypan. The main component of this dish is chicken and sauce. Chicken makes this dish more delicious and healthier and sauce makes this dish juicy and spicy. So there are many other ways of making this dish, mine is simple and easy. If you want to make this dish at home, you just have to follow the steps which I’ve given below. I’m sure you and your children will like this dish.

Traditional and Historical Explanation of this dish

First of all, I would like to tell you the meaning of shish tawook, Shish means skewer and tawook means chicken. This dish is originated from West Asian countries such as Turkey and the United Arab Emirates. I’ve written this article for UAE cuisine because this dish is the most famous out there. When we talk about the most traditional dishes of these West Asian countries, this dish comes in our mind as it is the most oldest and finely eaten dish among the people. Shish tawook was the cuisine of the famous Ottoman Empire after that it became a part of the Middle East. This cuisine is mostly eaten in countries such as Turkey, Lebanon, Iraq, and the United Arab Emirates. Its similar dish is derived whose name is shawarma which is commonly eaten in Asian countries such as Pakistan. It is fast food and commonly liked by many people.

Healthy Facts

As I’ve discussed above that this dish contains chicken in it so chicken makes this dish healthier, as it contains many nutrition and some are given below:

• 259 calories
• 23 gm protein
• 17 gm fat
• 2 gm carbs

Fast Food

Shish Tawook sandwich/wrap is a kind of fast food and is eaten by many people in United Arab Emirates. As we know that there are many kinds of fast food and it is getting popularity day by day. Fast food is liked by many people all over the world specially children. So this dish is a fast food which is liked by children and other people.

Popularity

This is a delicious as well as a popular dish. This wrap or sandwich is eaten all over the west Asian countries especially Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. This dish lies in the 5 top most popular dishes in the United Arab Emirates. People like it because of its taste and smell. It got much popular due to its delicious taste.

Ingredients

Ingredients for marination

• 1/2 kg Chicken breast strips
• 1/2 cup Yogurt
• 2 tbsp Olive oil
• Salt to taste
• 1/2 tsp Oregano
• 1 tbsp Lemon juice
• 1 tsp Paprika
• 1/2 tsp White pepper
• 1 tbsp finely chopped Green chilies
• 1 tbsp Mint leaves
• 1 tbsp Garlic paste
• 1 tsp Tomato paste

Ingredients for makin toum sauce

• 1 ½ tbsp Lemon juice
• 1/2 cup Yogurt
• Salt to taste
• 1/2 tsp White pepper
• 1 cup Mayonnaise

Ingredients for frying

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 tsp Red chili flakes
• Chilled water as required
• Oil for frying
• 1/2 cup Cornflour
• Salt to taste
• 1/2 tsp Black pepper

Ingredients for wraps

• Tomatoes slices as required
• Oil for toasting
• Tortillas as required
• Onion slices as required
• Ice burg shredded as required

Steps for making

Steps for marination

• First of all, we have to marinate chicken and for that take a bowl and add 1/2 kg chicken, 1 tsp mint leaves, 1 tsp garlic, 1 tsp tomato paste, 1/2 tsp oregano, 1 tsp lemon juice, 1 tsp paprika, 1/2 tsp white pepper, 1 tsp green chilies, 1/2 cup yogurt, 2 tsp olive oil, and salt to taste in it and mix it well, and marinate it for 1 to 2 hours in the refrigerator.

• Now take another bowl and add 2 cups flour, 1/2 cup cornflour, salt, 1/2 tsp black pepper, 1/2 tsp red chili flakes in it and mix it well and then set aside.

• Take chilled water on one side and flour mixture on the other side and then coat chicken strips in the flour mixture, then dip it in chilled water and again coat it in flour and then set it aside.

• After that take a frying pan and deep fry the strips until its color changes to a golden brown and it becomes crispy.

Steps for making toum sauce

• For making the toum sauce take another bowl and add 1/2 cup yogurt, 1 cup mayo, salt to taste, 1/2 tsp white pepper, and 1 ½ lemon juice in it and whisk it with the help of a whisker.

• And your sauce is ready.

Steps for assembling

• Now for assembling the shish tawook first take a tortilla, now put some toum sauce which we have prepared, and put shredded ice burgs as required, onion and tomatoes, fried chicken strips, some more sauce on the top of it and wrap them.

• Now toast the above wraps from both sides for 2 to 3 minutes.

• Your delicious shish tawook is ready to eat, serve it and enjoy it.

Time Required

Cooking Time: 15 minutes

Preparing Time: 30 minutes

Additional Information

Cuisine: West Asian cuisine, UAE

Taste: Spicy

Cooking level: Easy