Tavuk Şiş — Turkish Chicken Shish Kebab

Ingredients

• 800g boneless chicken thighs, cut into 3cm chunks
• 150g thick plain yogurt
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tbsp Turkish tomato paste (domates salçası) or tomato purée
• 1 tbsp Turkish red pepper paste (biber salçası)
• 3 cloves garlic, crushed
• 1 tsp paprika
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• Juice of 1/2 lemon
• 2 red peppers and 1 red onion, cut into chunks for skewering
• 8 skewers (soak wooden ones in water for 30 minutes)

Method

1. Mix the yogurt, olive oil, tomato paste, pepper paste, garlic, paprika, thyme, salt, pepper and lemon juice in a large bowl. Add the chicken, coat well, cover and marinate in the fridge for at least 2 hours, or overnight.

2. Thread the chicken onto skewers, alternating with pieces of pepper and onion.

3. Heat a barbecue or grill to high. Cook for 12 to 15 minutes, turning regularly, until golden and charred at the edges and cooked through with no pink inside.

4. Rest for 3 minutes and serve with rice, flatbread, salad and yogurt.