Homemade Shawarma Spice Mix aka Shawarma Seasoning Spice Blend
A Shawarma spice mix is a classic Middle Eastern seasoning used in many meat dishes. The rich aroma comes from the use of exotic spices such as cinnamon, allspice, cloves, nutmeg, and other warm spices. Making it homemade is simple, easy and effortless adding more zing to your favorite recipes with just a little sprinkle of Homemade Shawarma Spice mix.
Homemade Shawarma Spice Mix aka Shawarma Seasoning Blend
If you have never made a homemade spice mix before? You must try it at least once!! When you freshly ground the whole spice, the results are totally different than those you get when you use ready-made spices that have been sitting in the supermarket for months (with a shelf life of 2 years). Don’t get me wrong I often do have to rely on supermarket spice mixes just because I have no time to make it.
I grew up with my mom making spice mixes all the time. She made this one particular one that had a blend of 32 individual spices. Some I had never seen in my life and some that I could never pronounce the names. But she knew them all like the back of her hand. She made this particular one just once a year and stored it in bottles for sale. Yup, they were popular and people were willing to pay her a little more than get the same at the store. Back then I use to laugh and say, “mom, it’s the same thing, just different bottle”. Over the years I have realized it’s not the same thing at all.
I now often make my own spice mixes even when I can easily buy them at a supermarket. Honestly, it’s so fresh!
Make your own spice mix – Shawarma Spice Mix
The Shawarma Spice Blend / Shawarma Seasoning Recipe
The shawarma spice mix differs slightly from region to region (brand to brand) mostly in the quantity of spices used. I like to try store bought spice mix so I can test different variations. Some usually have extra cinnamon so you get a very distinct flavor of cinnamon, others may have a distinct flavor of cumin or sometimes even cloves.
Over the years I have come to define my own flavor and combination preference. I love when all my spices are in perfect sync with each other. Being Indian in origin, playing with spice and creating spices blends is in my blood. I prefer a smooth blend of spices; not one that will over powder the others. So, I make my own Shawarma Spice Mix recipe. This blend works best for me and is one that will tantalize your taste buds. There is everything and yet in such perfect harmony. Absolute heaven!
Make your own spice mix – Shawarma Spice Mix
Let’s talk ingredients and substitutes (Save/Pin for later)
- Garlic and Ginger – These do come in powder form and are easier to use in spice mixes. Having said that I do love my fresh ginger and garlic so often I will substitute the powders for fresh. If you do not get the powder you can omit them in the spice mix and then add the fresh ginger and garlic directly to the meat. You would need about 1 tbsp minced garlic and 1/2 tbsp of minced ginger for every pound of meat. Makes sense? Free free to ask any questions in the comments below.
- Cayenne or Hot Paprika – It’s always nice to add a bit of spice to dishes but if you don’t like things spicy you can always add sweet paprika; that way you won’t lose out on the gorgeous color. Often I like using the whole paprika and blend it to a powder myself. This gives a more rich color to the blend.
- Turmeric – I highly recommend buying turmeric from a good source. A good turmeric has lots of health benefits to it.
- Cumin – This adds a nice smoky flavor to the meat but if you do not like it (my husband cannot stand too much cumin) I suggest you reduce it but don’t omit it. Cumin is always kind to meat.
- Allspice – these look like large black peppers but are actually completely different. A little goes a long way with them.
This is what All-spice, cinnamon, and cloves look like in their full form
You can use them like this or in powder form as stated in the spice mix ingredients below. A little tip, if you use whole spices – toast them ever so slightly in an open pan. This brings out their aroma and helps grind them better.
Recipe – Homemade Shawarma Spice Mix aka Shawarma Seasoning Blend (Save/Pin)
Ingredients
- Cumin powder – 2 tsp
- Cardamon powder – 1 tsp
- Cinnamon powder- 2 tsp
- Sweet paprika – 2 tsp
- Nutmeg powder – 1 tsp
- Ground cloves – 1/2 tsp
- Cayenne or hot paprika powder – 1 tsp
- Allspice powder – 1 tsp
- Turmeric powder – 1/2 tsp
- Black pepper powder – 2 tsp
- Garlic powder – 2 tsp
- Ginger powder – 1 tsp
Method
- Combine all spices – mix thoroughly.
- Pour in an airtight spice bottle.
- Store in a cool dark place in the pantry and it will last for months.
- If you live in a hot and humid climate keep the spice mix in the fridge and it will stay good for months.
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Homemade Shawarma Spice Mix aka Shawarma Spice Blend
How to use this Shawarma Seasoning Mix aka Shawarma Spice Blend?
The possibilities with this spice mix are endless.
Love kebabs? – Marinate beef, chicken, Turkey, lamb or even fish. A squeeze of lemon and grill it up.. Yum!!
Salads and dressings – Sprinkle a little over your salad or dressing when you need a little spice in life. It’s wonderfully warm and comforting.
Hummus and Tahini Sauce – The next time you eat you enjoy hummus or tahini sauce? Instead of a garnishing it with paprika – try Shawarma Spice Mix!
Try my Quick homemade Shawarma Recipe or Shawarma Pocket recipe for a quick meal in 20 minutes. This quick version of the homemade shawarma chicken is a classic middle eastern fast food. Weather you use my homemade spice blend or store bought spice mix this is a simple, easy and effortless recipe that gets lunch in 20 minutes or less. Served with caramelized onion, simple salad and nutritious tahini sauce this meal is hearty and healthy.
Or make a full meal and try my Sheet pan Shawarma Chicken Recipe. This sheet pan makes an easy lunch or dinner. The chicken gets a beautiful color from the spices, the onions caramelize until soft and sweet. The potatoes are perfectly roasted tender on the inside and crisp on the outside. That’s a perfect lunch for me. Can you see those roasted garlic and lemon slices? That is heaven on a plate.
Sheet Pan Shawarma Chicken with Potatoes and Onios
Homemade Shawarma Spice Mix
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Equipment /Tools
Ingredients
- 2 tsp (2 tsp) Cumin powder - 2 tsp
- 1 tsp (1 tsp) Cardamon powder - 1 tsp
- 2 tsp (2 tsp) Cinnamon powder- 2 tsp
- 2 tsp (2 tsp) Sweet paprika - 2 tsp
- 1 tsp (1 tsp) Nutmeg powder - 1 tsp
- 1/2 tsp (0.5 tsp) Ground cloves - 1/2 tsp
- 1 tsp (1 tsp) Cayenne or hot paprika powder - 1 tsp
- 1 tsp (1 tsp) Allspice powder - 1 tsp
- 1/2 tsp (0.5 tsp) Turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp
- 2 tsp (2 tsp) Black pepper powder - 2 tsp
- 2 tsp (2 tsp) Garlic powder - 2 tsp
- 1 tsp (1 tsp) Ginger powder - 1 tsp
Instructions
- Combine all spices - mix thoroughly.
- Pour in an airtight spice bottle.
- Store in a cool dark place in the pantry and it will last for months.
- If you live in a hot and humid climate keep the spice mix in the fridge and it will stay good for months.
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Do you like Middle Eastern Food? Israeli Food?
I have some amazing recipes like quick Sheet Pan Shawarma Chicken and Shawarma Pita Pockets to Heart Healthy Classic Hummus and Tahini Sauce as well as indulgent falafel and Passover favorite Chocolate Pecan Cake to summer classics Kebabs and festive latkes. You can find them all here Middle Eastern Recipes. Alternatively, you can find a whole list all all my recipes here on this Recipe Index
Middle Eastern Recipes or Israeli Recipe Collections
Ney
How much of the spice mix do you recommend I use per lb of ground meat?
Veena Azmanov
Hey Neh. 1 tbsp per pound of chicken, beef or lamb is recommended but you can use 1/2 tbsp less or more accordingly. For example
1 lb beef or chicken with
1 cup yogurt or 1 tbsp vinegar,
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp garlic,
1 tsp ginger,
1 tbsp shawarma spice
Marinate an hour or up to overnight.
I hope this helps.
alexandra storm
Thank you thank you thank you!!!!!
Your blend was exactly what i was looking for: flavor and complex. I was a bit worried about the amount of cinnamon but it worked out so well. I did add some coriander, since i like it. Otherwise, thank you so much.
Veena Azmanov
Thank you, Alexandra. So happy you find my spice blend meets your taste buds. That’s the best thing about homemade you can make it your own. I love coriander too (and less cumin so I usually use less cumin for the family)
Charlene
Best recipe ever. I love shawarma but don’t like the spice mix I get. This was perfect. I love all your recipes Veena.
Veena Azmanov
Thank you, Charlene. So happy you had success with this recipe and like my recipes. Thank you so much for coming back to write this feedback. Have a wonderful day.
Vincent
I could not find Shawarma spice when I live and I really wanted to try this dish which I ate when we traveled Europe last year. The spice is really perfect and the chicken I made was the best ever. We really enjoyed it very much. Thank you so much
Veena Azmanov
Thank you, Vincent. So happy to hear you had success with this recipe and enjoyed it too. Thanks for coming back to write this feedback. Have a lovely day.
Meagan
I do not get Shawarma Spice so I made my own a couple of weeks back with your recipe. Used it for a BBQ and it was such a winner. Everyone loved it. Now I’m making more for me and a few of my friends. Thank you for your recipes. Love this one and also your Indian chicken recipe.
Veena Azmanov
Thank you so much, Meagan. You just made my day. I am so proud of my spice mixes so this makes me happy. So happy to hear you had success with this recipe and everyone loved it so much. Thanks so much for coming back to write this feedback. Have a wonderful week.
Cathleen @ A Taste of Madness
I am always buying my spice mixes. I really need to make them myself one of these days!
Veena Azmanov
Thank you Cathleen. I love making my own spice mixes and love paying with the ingredients too!
Ashley @ Big Flavors from a Tiny Kitchen
What a lovely, fragrant spice blend! I love making my own blends at home. The color of this one is so gorgeous, too!
Veena Azmanov
Thank you Ashley. I love making my own spices very much. I hope you try this.
shalu
Thank you so much for this recipe Veena. I love shawarma chicken but never made it at home. It’s really expensive here to eat Shawarma out. And the spice mix is expensive at the store because it’s imported. I could not make it home because of the ginger garlic powder which again I don’t get. But stupid me did not think of using fresh. I love your blog. I am learning so much from you. Both here on this food blog as well as the cake blog.
The knowledge you have truly shows in the way you write your post. So detailed in so valuable. Thank you so much for always sharing your best recipes with us. I love both your blogs.
Veena Azmanov
Thank you so much Shalu for your kind words. I am so happy to hear that you find both my blogs useful. I do believe is giving not just the recipe teaching the right technique and know how too. Thank you for your kind words and support.
Diana
Veena!! I love this!! I love shawarma but made the spice mix for the first time. I did not know it was so easy. Thank you for all the tips and how to use it.
Veena Azmanov
Thank you so much Diana. So happy that you loved the spice mix. It sure is so easy to make and use. Have fun experimenting with it.
Thanks so much for coming back to write this feedback. Truly appreciate it.