While Turkey was spinning, the Arab world was skewering. Shish kebab comes from the Turkish word “şiş” (skewer). But Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan perfected the art of marinating lamb in lemon, garlic, and sumac.
Traditional Turkish Doner Kebab kebab on skewer. Turkish cuisine street
Then there’s shawarma—the vertical tower of spiced chicken or beef. It’s basically a Middle Eastern cousin of the döner. But shawarma has its own swagger. It wraps meat in pita with pickles and garlic sauce. Game over.
