List of kebabs


This is a list of kebab dishes from around the world. Kebabs are various cooked meat dishes, with their origins in Middle Eastern cuisine and the Muslim world. Although kebabs are often cooked on a skewer, many types of kebab are not.

Armenia

NameImageDescription
Lula kebabCan be served skewered or wrapped in lavash bread.
KhorovatsA traditional Armenian barbecue that can be made with lamb, pork, beef, chicken, fish, or even veal. It is often served with grilled vegetables and lavash. The dish is generally reserved for festive occasions.

Azerbaijan

NameImageDescription
Lülə kabab – served skewered or wrapped in lavash bread
Tikə kababSham kebab
Tava kebab

Bangladesh

China

NameImageDescription
ChuanrUyghur: Kewap, Chinese: 串儿 Chuanr or 羊肉串 Yangrouchuan — The most popular Xinjiang dish in China: chunks of mutton or mutton fat pierced on metal skewers, grilled on a coal-fired barbecue, and served with cumin and chili paste. Across Xinjiang, and neighbouring regions such as Kyrgyzstan, the mutton fat is valued equivalent to or more than the meat itself, as it provides energy during the harsh winter months. It has also become a popular street food all over north and west China, where a wide variety of foods are cooked in such a manner. Chuanr was traditionally made from lamb, which is still the most common, but now, chicken, pork, beef, and seafood are used. It is typically roasted over charcoal or electric heat, but it is sometimes cooked by deep frying in oil.
ShaokaoSimilar to Chuanr, it is predominantly found on busy Chinese streets and night markets as a street food sold in food stalls and is a type of xiaochi. In China and elsewhere, such as in the United States, diners sometimes also order beer as an accompaniment. Shaokao typically consists of heavily spiced, barbecued foods on skewers. It is available in almost all of the cities in China, and is a prominent dish in Beijing, China, where some restaurants set up food stalls outdoors to purvey the product.

Cyprus

NameImageDescription
SheftaliaA traditional Cypriot sausage made of ground pork or lamb and wrapped in caul fat that is served alone or in a pita, usually with tomato, cucumber, parsley, and lemon.
SouvlakiSkewers consisting of pork, chicken or lamb that is barbecued. Pictured is a souvlaki platter.

Ghana

NameImageDescription
KyinkyingaThe northern Ghanaian kebab, synonymous with suya in Nigeria, and prepared by the same Hausa ethnic group

Greece

NameImageDescription
GyrosIntroduced to Athens in the 1950s by immigrants from Turkey and the Middle East. Thin portions are shaved off and often served in a pita bread with onion. tomato, fried potatoes and Greek tzatziki sauce
SouvlakiSkewered pieces of pork meat.
KleftikoKleftiko: literally meaning "in the style of the Klephts", this is lamb slow-baked on the bone, first marinated in garlic and lemon juice, originally cooked in a pit oven. It is said that the Klephts, bandits of the countryside who did not have flocks of their own, would steal lambs or goats and cook the meat in a sealed pit to avoid the smoke being spotted
KontosouvliKontosouvli: big pieces of pork meat spinning around until they are done. Served chopped in wooden plate or on ladokola
Kempap GiaourtlouKempap Giaourtlou: traditional recipe from Asia Minor and Constantinople made from spicy ground lamb kofta kebab, yogurt sauce, tomato sauce.

India

NameImageDescription
Bihari kababSkewered pieces of meat marinated in spice. Originally a dish from the non-vegetarian cuisine, Muslims invented Bihari kabab of the North Indian state of Bihar as it is made out of beef. It has spread to other countries.
Boti kebabA mutton kebab. Boti kebab is pictured at the bottom of the image.
Achari Tikka
Chicken tikkaAnother tandoori kebab, made of cubed chicken marinated with yogurt and spices
Dora kabab
Galawat kababA variant of Shami kebab made without any admixture or binding agents and comprising just the minced beef and the spices. Speciality of Lucknow.
Hariyali kababPunjabi style chicken tikka or kabab made with combination of mint and coriander
Kakori kababMade of minced beef meat with spices, a specialty of Muslims of Lucknow & Delhi
Galauti kebabA smoked patty prepared using leg of lamb that includes onion, garlic, ginger, saffron and spices, which is cooked on a griddle
Hariyali kebabA vegetarian kebab prepared using lentils and spinach
Tangri kebabChicken legs roasted on open fire with hot spices and laced with butter or ghee
Kastoori kebab
Dahi ke kabab
Burra kebab
Kalmi kebabA chicken kebab. Kalmi kebab is pictured on the left in the image.
Paneer kababVegetarian kebab
Reshmi kababA traditional kebab of Mughlai cuisine that is prepared with marinated chicken, lamb or beef
Shami kebabMade of minced beef, with paste of lentils and chopped onion and coriander and green chillies usually added to the mixture, which is kneaded in a disc-like shape and fried. Best results are obtained when fried in animal fat or ghee in a brass utensil over a coal fire. In some places, a binding agent is used to keep the kebab together.
Shikampur kabab
Sutli KebabSutli kabab is made by wrapping a paste of meat & spices around a metal sheekh, tying it with a cotton thread & then heating it in a barbeque pit. Once the kabab is done, the thread is removed & the kabab is served.
Khiri KebabKebab made from marinated udder, known for its distinctively rubbery and chewy texture.

Iran

Not every dish containing the word "kebab" is listed below. For example, is not listed, because it is a meal consisting of cooked rice and one of the many kebab types listed below. Such is the case of,, . or .
NameImageDescription
Grilled chicken on skewers
Ground beef or lamb, often mixed with parsley and chopped onions. The mixture is formed into a flat stripped and grilled on extra-wide skewers.
Combination of jujeh kabab and kabab barg
Grilled marinated sirloin.
Grilled lamb prepared similar to shish kebab, without the vegetables
Grilled beef marinated in a mixture of pomegranate juice, crushed walnuts, parsley, crushed garlic, and olive oil
A meal that consists of a combination of jujeh kabab and kabab koobideh, prepared in different skewers but served together
A meal that consists of a combination of jujeh kabab and kabab barg, prepared in different skewers but served together
Grilled lamb liver, placed between slices of bread to preserve its juice. Some delicacy variations of the dish include grilled heart or kidney in the same manner. Because of potential health issues, it is often consumed with vegetables, fresh lemon's juice, onion, pepper, or other spice. The name is a variation of جگر.
Tomatoes grilled in varying degrees, depending on the taste of the eater. Almost never eaten alone, but are served alongside other kebab.
Kabab Gerashi
Ground lamb or beef, onions, garlic, and tomatoes
Minced lamb meatballs first fried and the grilled over charcoal fire, eaten with chopped parsley, chopped onions, and sumac. A summer outing favorite.
Includes almond, pistachio, and barberry
Consists of kabab barg on one end of skewer and kabab koobideh on the other
Kabab-e donbalanLamb testicles kabab
Very small amount of lamb tail fat, grilled alongside other kebabs to enhance their taste and richness. Never consumed alone.
Kebab golpayegan
Lamb or beef cooked on skewers with onions, tomatoes and green peppers

Japan

NameImageDescription
KushikatsuJapanese dish of deep-fried skewered meat and vegetables.
KushiyakiSimilar to Yakitori, but instead of using chicken meat, it uses either pork, beef, seafood, vegetables, rice cakes or tofus.
YakitoriJapanese type of skewered chicken. Its preparation involves attaching the meat to a skewer and grilled over charcoal. It's often enjoyed with salt or a tare sauce and is a popular choice in izakayas or street food carts.

Kenya

NameImageDescription
MshikakiA popular meal consisting of diced or sliced meat, which is marinated and tenderized to perfection before slowly grilled on charcoal flame with wooden skewers.

Korea

NameImageDescription
JeokA meat dish served with skewers. Jeok is typically made with a large variety of meats, vegetables and mushrooms and is usually served on special occasions such as birthdays and wedding ceremonies.
KkochiKorean skewers made from chicken, seafood, fishcake, blood sausage or rice cake.

Levant

NameImageDescription
Kabab Memuleh b'hatzilimA kebab balls made of minced beef, garlic, parsley, baharat, salt, black pepper, onions and cumin which stuffed with a mixture of fried or grilled eggplants and tahini. Originally from Israel.
Kebab halabiA kind of kebab served with a spicy tomato sauce and Aleppo pepper, very common in Syria, Lebanon and the Galilee region in Northern Israel, named after the city of Aleppo. Aleppo is well known for its kebab cuisine, reportedly having at least 26 original dishes.
Kebab hindiRolled meat with tomato paste, onion, capsicum and pomegranate molasses
Kebab kamayehSoft meat with truffle pieces, onion and various nuts
Cherry kebabFor cherry kebab in Arabic – meatballs along with cherries and cherry paste, pine nuts, sugar and pomegranate molasses. It is considered one of Aleppo's main dishes.
Kebab khashkhashRolled lamb or beef with chili pepper paste, parsley, garlic and pine nuts. Pictured is Kebab khashkhash from Aleppo.
Kebab siniyyeFor tray kebab in Arabic – lean minced lamb in a tray added with chili pepper, onion and tomato
Kebab tuhalLamb rounds stuffed with parsley, hot green peppers and pine kernels
ShawarmaSimilar to a doner kebab, traditionally made with chunks of lamb meat, but also with chicken, turkey, beef or veal

Nigeria

NameImageDescription
SuyaA popular spicy meat kebab enjoyed by many across West Africa. A recipe of the Muslim Hausa people in northern Nigeria and southern Niger, this kebab has tastes of peanuts and spicy pepper and is sold by street vendors as a snack or entire meal. The kebabs are enjoyed with onion and bell pepper pieces. It is a traditionally Muslim kebab, prepared according to Halal methods.

Pakistan

NameImageDescription
Chapli kebabA delicacy of Pakistan from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province – marinated beef in spices and deep fried flat. In Pakistan, it is sometimes deep fried in animal tallow, and it is a common kebab.
Lola kabab/Gola kababKabab of Pakistan and Afghanistan – rolled meatballs originating in Peshawar and Kandahar.
Seekh kebabPrepared with minced meat with spices and grilled on skewers. It is cooked in a Tandoor, and is often served with chutneys or mint sauce. A seekh kebab can also be served in a naan bread much like döner kebab.
Shami kebabMade of minced meat, with paste of lentils and chopped onion and coriander and green chillies usually added to the mixture, which is kneaded in a disc-like shape and fried. Best results are obtained when fried in ghee. In some places, a binding agent is used to keep the kabab together.
Malai tikkaChunks or strips of chicken marinated in a white yoghurt and garlic sauce and grilled.
Reshmi kebabMinced chicken adequately seasoned and then barbecued on a charcoal grill.
Khaddi KebabAuthentic baluchistan cuisine..a whole lamb is stuffed with flavored rice, marinated and inserted in a dug hole with wood around to cook it..the hole is filled up and whole lamb is cooked underground for some time.
sheesh tauk kebabpieces of chicken on stick marinated and lightly grilled.
lamb sajji kebabThe lamb is cooked on its own fat and no oil is used. The key ingredients of this appetizing food include lamb meat, rice, vinegar, red chili powder, black pepper, salt, garlic paste, lemon juice, ajwain, fennel seeds, cumin seeds, coriander seeds, lemon juice and oil.
shahi gola kebabaunthetic lahore cuisine
shashlik kebabsquare skewers of beef
lamb or chicken partitioned with tomatoes capsicum and onion
Bihari kebabChunks or strips of lean beef, marinated in a spicy yoghurt/chilli marinade and tenderized to perfection before slowly grilled on a charcoal flame.
chandan kebabmixed meat kebabs
gilafi kebab
kaleji tava kebabliver kebabs.
tawa chicken boti kebab
dawat e ishq kebab
sindhi handi kebab
chicken tikka resa kebab
chicken angara kebab big chicken chunks marinated with a special spice combination and grilled over charcoal
mahi seeks kebabfish seekh kebabs
chicken tandoori kebab
Patta TikkaPatta Tikka is a traditional delicacy from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. It is a unique dish where marinated chunks of meat/ liver, often beef or lamb, are wrapped in fat and grilled over a charcoal flame. Tender chunks of beef or lamb are used, preferably with a good fat-to-meat ratio.

Portugal

NameImageDescription
EspetadasMeat skewer, usually beef

Romania

NameImageDescription
FrigăruiSmall pieces of meat grilled on a skewer, very similar to shashlik, or shish kebab. Often, the pieces of meat alternate with bacon, sausages, or vegetables, such as onions, tomatoes, bell peppers and mushrooms. It is seasoned with spices such as pepper, garlic, savory, rosemary, marjoram and laurel.

South Africa

NameImageDescription
SosatieA dish of the Cape Malay people of South Africa. It is a type of kebab related to satay, which came to Indonesia via Muslim traders from India, and was brought from there to South Africa.

Spain

NameImageDescription
Pincho morunoMeat skewer, usually made of chicken or pork, sliced in cubes, marinated in paprika and other spices.

Turkey

NameImageDescription
Adana kebabıAlso known as kıyma kebabı – kebab with hand-minced meat mixed with chili on a flat wide metal skewer ; associated with Adana region although very popular all over Turkey.
Ali Paşa kebabı Cubed lamb with tomato, onion and parsley wrapped in filo
Alinazik kebabGround meat kebab sautéed in a saucepan, with garlic, yogurt and eggplants added
Bahçıvan kebabıBoneless lamb shoulder mixed with chopped onions and tomato paste
Beykoz kebabıTomato and onion flavoured lamb, wrapped in aubergine slices and garnished with lamb brains
Beyti kebabGround lamb or beef, seasoned and grilled on a skewer, often served wrapped in lavash and topped with tomato sauce and yogurt, traced back to the famous kebab house Beyti in Istanbul and particularly popular in Turkey's larger cities.
Bostan kebabıLamb and aubergine casserole.
Cağ kebabı Cubes of lamb roasted first on a cağ and then on a skewer, a specialty of Erzurum region with recently rising popularity
Çardak kebabıStuffed lamb meat wrapped in a crepe or filo.
Ciğer kebabı Lamb liver kebab on a skewer
Çökertme kebabıSirloin veal kebap stuffed with yogurt and potatoes
Çöp şiş A specialty of Selçuk and Germencik near Ephesus, pounded boneless meat with tomatoes and garlic marinated with black pepper, thyme and oil on wooden skewers
Doner kebab-
İskender kebapDöner kebap served with yogurt, tomato sauce and butter, originated in Bursa. The kebab was invented by İskender Efendi in 1867. He was inspired from Cağ kebab and turned it from horizontal to vertical.
İslim kebabı Another version of the aubergine kebab without its skin, marinated in sunflower oil
Kağıt kebabıLamb cooked in a paper wrapping
Kılıç şişBrochette of swordfish
Şiş köfteAlso known as Shish köfte – minced lamb meatballs with herbs, often including parsley and mint, on a stick, grilled
Kuyu kebabı Prepared from the goat it is special for Aydın region, similar to tandır kebabı
Kuzu şişShish kebap prepared with marinated milk-fed lamb meat
Manisa kebabıThis Manisa region version of the kebab is smaller and flat size shish meat on the sliced pide bread, flavored with butter, and stuffed with tomato, garlic and green pepper.
Orman kebabı Lamb meat on the bone and cut in large pieces mixed with carrots, potatoes and peas
Patates kebabıBeef or chicken mixed with potatoes, onions, tomato sauce and bay leaves
Patlıcan kebabı A unique kebap meat marinated in spices and served with aubergines, hot pide bread and a yogurt sauce
Şiş kebabıPrepared with fish, lamb or chicken meat on thin metal or reed rods, grilled
Şiş tavukAlso known as Tavuk şiş or – Yogurt-marinated chicken grilled on a stick
Sivas kebabıAssociated with the Sivas region, similar to Tokat kebab but especially lamb ribs are preferred and it also differs from Tokat kebabı on the point that there are no potatoes inside
Lamb tandooriLamb pieces baked in an oven called a tandır, which requires a special way of cooking for hours. Served with bread and raw onions.
TantuniTantuni is a spicy dürüm consisting of julienne cut beef or sometimes lamb stir-fried on a sac with a hint of cotton oil. It is a specialty of the city of Mersin, Turkey.
Tas kebap Stewed meat in a bowl, beginning with the cooking of the vegetables in butter employing a method called yağa vurmak,, before the meat itself is cooked in the same grease
Testi kebabı Ingredients are similar to çömlek kebabı, prepared in a testi instead of a güveç, generally found in Central Anatolia and the Mid-Western Black Sea region
Tire kebabıMinced meat cooked on sheesh and served with maydanoz and sauce, on top of special tire bread
Tokat KebabAssociated with the Tokat region, it is made with marinated lamb, grilled inside an oven, together with aubergines, tomatoes, potatoes, entire onions and garlics and served over a special flatbread called lavaş and softened with the juice of the meat and tomatoes.
Urfa kebabıFrom Urfa, similar to Adana kebab, but not spicy
Vali Kebabı
Essentially a mix of kebabs.