Welcome!
I grew up in a foodie family in Amman, Jordan. My dad was a true flavor master—grinding his own spices and marinating proteins with care. In the summertime, he loved grilling on our rooftop terrace in Jabal Amman, often telling stories about his adventurous rides to the shore of Aqaba for the freshest ingredients from farmers, butchers, and fishers.
His spice blends were his pride, and my mom transformed them into unforgettable meals.
That love of bold, homegrown flavor inspired me to start Apricot Sun—and today, I’m sharing a twist on one of my favorite dishes: Chicken Kabob. In addition to Baba’s Pepper, this version includes our Spicy Zaatar for a fresh, fiery upgrade.
Let’s cook, taste, and celebrate the season!
-Chef Marlen Wensel
What’s in the Name?
Shish Kabob is Turkish for Grilled Skewers (Meat). Shish means Skewer, and Kabob means Grilled.
Chicken Kabob is short for Chicken Shish Kabob and means Grilled Skewered Chicken. Another common name to the dish in Lebanese food is Shish Tawook. And you are right, Tawook is another word for chicken. p.s. There really is no Kabobs – Plural, haha.
Ingredients
The Marinade
- 2 lbs Chicken Breast- cut into ¾ inch cubes (or thighs, legs with bone in)
- 1 Onion- cut into quarters and hand crushed
- 3 Cloves Garlic- crushed
- 3 tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 2 tbsp White Vinegar
- 2 tbsp Apple Cider Vinegar
- 2 tbsp Lemon Juice
- 3 tbsp Spicy Zaatar seasoning (or Savory Zaatar) https://apricotsunfoodbar.com/shop/
- 1 tsp Salt
- 1 tsp Baba’s Pepper https://apricotsunfoodbar.com/shop/
- 1/2 tsp Nutmeg
- 2 tbsp Water
Preparation
In a bowl, mix all ingredients together minus the chicken.
Add the cubed Chicken. Massage into the marinade and refrigerate for 1-2 hours. (Optional- leave some marinade for basting).
Vegetables: use Summer veggies like Yellow Onion, Red Peppers & Zucchini / Squash. Wash the veggies then cut into cubes of about ¾ x ¾ inches.
Skewer
If using wooden skewers: soak skewers with water to avoid excessive burning of the wood.
If using metal skewers: spray oil to cover the skewers.
Skewer Chicken, Onion, Red Pepper, Zucchini/ Squash, then back to Chicken. Repeat 3 X.
Grill
Warm the grill. Spray oil on skewers. Place skewers directly on the grates. Cook on medium-high for 4-5 minutes each side.
With a basting brush, bast or brush on the saved marinade (optional).
Let it cook for an additional 5 minutes on medium-low temperature or until done. Make sure chicken is fully cooked to an internal temperature of 165F.
The marinade can also be used for whole chicken thighs/ legs, requires double the cooking time about 30 minutes. The marinade can also be used for any protein- Beef, Shrimp, or even Tofu.
If Baking
You may choose to use the oven for baking the chicken instead of the grill.
Warm the oven to 375F. Spray oil on shallow bake sheet/ pan lined with parchment paper or aluminum foil. Bake the chicken for about 30-45 minutes or until the internal temperature is at least 165F.
Sprinkle with Hot Zaatar for added flavor – top that! Serve with pita pockets or flatbread, green salad, and Summer dips like hummus & baba ghanouj.
Sahtein! (to your health!)