--- title: "Kebab: what it means in cooking — Tiny Plates" description: "A kebab is grilled or roasted meat, fish or vegetables, often on a skewer, from the Middle East, Turkey and South Asia. See how to grill them evenly." url: "https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/kebab" --- # Kebab A kebab is grilled or roasted meat, fish or vegetables, often on a skewer, from the Middle East, Turkey and South Asia. See how to grill them evenly. Also called Kabob, Kebap, Shish kebab. A kebab is meat, fish or vegetables cooked over or beside fire, often on a skewer. The word covers many dishes from Turkey, Iran, the Middle East, Central Asia and South Asia. _Shish kebab_ is cubes on a skewer. _Köfte_ or _seekh_kebab is spiced ground meat pressed around a skewer. _Döner_ kebab is meat stacked on a turning spit and sliced off as it cooks. ## How to do it 1. Cut meat into even 3 to 4 cm (1¼ to 1½ inch) cubes. Lamb shoulder, chicken thigh and beef sirloin all work. 2. [Marinate](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/marinate) it for 2 to 12 hours. Yogurt, garlic, onion juice, lemon and spices are common. 3. If you use wooden skewers, soak them in water for 30 minutes so they do not burn. 4. Thread the meat snugly but not crushed. Put vegetables on their own skewers, because they cook at a different speed. 5. [Grill](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/grill) over high heat, turning every 2 to 3 minutes, until browned on all sides and cooked through. Cubes usually take 8 to 12 minutes. 6. Rest for a few minutes, then serve with flatbread, rice, salad and yogurt sauce. ## How to tell it is done Check the [internal temperature](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/internal-temperature) of the thickest piece. Chicken should reach 74°C (165°F). Ground meat kebabs should reach 71°C (160°F). Whole cuts of lamb or beef are safe at 63°C (145°F) with a 3 minute rest, though many cooks take them further. ## Common mistakes * Uneven pieces. Small ones dry out while big ones stay raw. * Mixing meat and vegetables on one skewer. One is always over- or undercooked. * Packing the meat too tightly. The middle cooks slowly. * Lean meat. It dries out over high heat. Use cuts with some fat. ## In recipes In the US, "kabob" usually means meat and vegetables on a skewer. In the UK and much of Europe, "kebab" often means a döner wrap from a takeaway shop. In Turkey and Iran, the word is broader and includes stews and dishes baked in a pan. Döner and Greek gyros and Arab shawarma come from the same idea of a vertical [rotisserie](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/rotisserie). Kebabs are often part of a [mezze](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/mezze) spread. ## Kebab recipes 9 recipes from the sites we collect. * [![](https://www.skinnytaste.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/chicken-shawarma-kebabs-1-3.jpg)Chicken Shawarma Kebab Saladwww.skinnytaste.com · 35 min](https://www.skinnytaste.com/chicken-shawarma-salad/) * [![](https://www.skinnytaste.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Mediterranean-Chicken-Kebab-Salad.jpg)Mediterranean Chicken Kebab Saladwww.skinnytaste.com · 150 min](https://www.skinnytaste.com/mediterranean-chicken-kebab-salad/) * [![](https://www.skinnytaste.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/grilled-salmon-skewers.jpg)Grilled Salmon Kebabswww.skinnytaste.com · 25 min](https://www.skinnytaste.com/these-lovely-grilled-salmon-and-lemon/) * [![](https://www.skinnytaste.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/BBQ-Persian-Turkey-Kebabs.jpg)Persian Turkey Kofta Kebabswww.skinnytaste.com · 55 min](https://www.skinnytaste.com/persian-turkey-kofta-kebabs/) * [![](https://www.skinnytaste.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Grilled-Steak-Kebabs-with-Chimichurri-3.jpg)Steak Kebabs with Chimichurriwww.skinnytaste.com · 25 min](https://www.skinnytaste.com/steak-kebabs-with-chimichurri/) * [![](https://www.skinnytaste.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/GrilledScallopsandOrangeKebab.jpg)Grilled Scallop and Orange Kebabs with Honey-Ginger Glazewww.skinnytaste.com · 20 min](https://www.skinnytaste.com/grilled-scallop-and-orange-kebabs-with/) * [![](https://www.skinnytaste.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/GrilledShrimpScampiSkewers.jpg)Grilled Shrimp Scampi Skewerswww.skinnytaste.com · 30 min](https://www.skinnytaste.com/grilled-shrimp-scampi-skewers/) * [![](https://www.skinnytaste.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/blackened-salmon-skewers-3-2.jpg)Blackened Grilled Salmon Skewerswww.skinnytaste.com · 90 min](https://www.skinnytaste.com/blackened-grilled-salmon-skewers/) * [![](https://www.skinnytaste.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/tzatziki-bowls-1.jpg)Chicken Tzatziki Bowlwww.skinnytaste.com · 85 min](https://www.skinnytaste.com/chicken-tzatziki-bowls/) ## Related terms * [GrillGrilling cooks food on a grate over direct, high heat from charcoal, gas or wood. It gives a browned, smoky crust and those dark stripes in minutes.](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/grill) * [MarinateTo marinate is to soak food in a seasoned liquid of acid, oil, salt and aromatics before cooking. Here are safe times and why longer is not always better.](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/marinate) * [RotisserieRotisserie cooking turns meat slowly on a spit beside or above a heat source, so it bastes itself and browns evenly. It is classic for whole chickens.](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/rotisserie) * [Internal temperatureInternal temperature is the heat at the center of food, read with a probe thermometer. It is the surest way to know meat, fish and bread are done and safe.](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/internal-temperature) * [MezzeMezze is a spread of small dishes from the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East, such as hummus, salads and dips, shared at the table. See what to serve.](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/mezze) [More in dishes](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/category/dishes)[Every term from A to Z](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary)