Shish kebab (in which “shish” is from Turkish şiş, pronounced /ʃiʃ/, meaning “skewer”) is a dish consisting of meat threaded on a skewer and grilled. Any kind of meat may be used; cubes of fruit or vegetables are often threaded on the skewer as well. Typical vegetables include eggplant, tomato, bell pepper, onions, and mushrooms.
In most dialects of North American English, the word “kebab” usually refers to shish kebab.
Cubes of chicken are skewered and grilled. Common marinades are based upon yogurt or a tomato puree, though there are many variations. Shish kebab is typically eaten with garlic paste toum.
The original Turkish version is served with rice and a garlic paste along with vegetables. The sandwich version comes in a flat bread or pita wrap seasoned with garlic paste, along with lettuce, tomatoes, and pickled turnips. It is widely eaten in Lebanon, Syria, and Israel, either as a sandwich or on a platter with vegetables, sometimes with chips French fries.
You can find authentic Persian Shish Kebab on many Persian Restaurants in Los Angeles.
