Easy Lamb Shish Tawook
When you want bold, Mediterranean flavors without the effort of complex prep or long marinating times.
Look, we know it's been a long day and the last thing you want to do is spend an hour prepping a complicated marinade. This Shish Tawook is your secret weapon: it delivers that incredible, charred garlic-lemon punch of authentic Middle Eastern skewers but is streamlined for the home cook who needs dinner on the table fast. The lamb stays incredibly tender thanks to the acidity in the lemon juice, and the spices do all the heavy lifting for you. It feels like a feast, even if you only had 30 minutes to get it going. Just grab some skewers (or just grill the pieces in a pan) and let the flavors do the work.
Ingredients
- 1.5 lb lamb leg or shoulder, cubed into 1-inch pieces
- 4 unit garlic cloves, minced
- 0.25 cup fresh lemon juice
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 1.5 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp ground coriander
- 0.5 tsp smoked paprika
- 0.5 tsp ground ginger
- 1 pinch salt
- 0.5 pinch black pepper
Method
- 1 In a large bowl, combine the cubed lamb, minced garlic, lemon juice, olive oil, cumin, coriander, paprika, ginger, salt, and pepper.
- 2 Toss everything together thoroughly. Let it sit for 10 minutes while you prep your cooking surface (the marinade works fast!).
- 3 Thread the lamb onto skewers or simply spread them in a heavy skillet over medium-high heat.
- 4 Sear the meat until browned on all sides and cooked through (about 8–10 minutes). If using skewers, rotate frequently.
- 5 Serve immediately with a side of pita bread or a simple cucumber salad.
Variations
- Vegetarian Swap — Swap the lamb for thick-cut cauliflower steaks or firm tofu cubes; use the same marinade.
- Faster Prep — Use a pre-mixed Mediterranean seasoning blend to skip measuring out individual spices.
Notes
If you don't have skewers, use a cast iron skillet. The high heat will give the lamb those delicious charred edges that define Shish Tawook.
Equipment that helps
- Large Mixing Bowl — Allows for quick, even coating of the meat with the marinade ingredients.
- Cast Iron Skillet — Provides high-heat searing to get that authentic charred exterior on the lamb.
Find more dinners like this
More like this
