Easiest Chicken Shawarma

This chicken shawarma is a healthy take on the classic that is usually loaded with fat. Marinated with easy-to-find spices, then grilled and served with flatbread along with salad and tahini or yogurt sauce. This dish gets ready in just 20 minutes.

Table of Content

• What is shawarma?
• Why make this shawarma?
• Ingredients and substitutes
• Chicken shawarma
• More Middle eastern dishes
• Frequently asked questions
• You may also like
• Printable Recipe
• Join the conversation

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Whether you call it shawarma or shwarma, the dish is the same. A classic Middle Eastern food that has gained international popularity over the years. Different parts of the Middle East prepare it differently, and each claims to be authentic. For example, Armenian chicken shawarma will be different from the Lebanese chicken shawarma recipe. It's just that they adapt to their taste and culture.

Having traveled so much, and now living in the Middle East, I have had the pleasure of eating quite a few variations of the shawarma, as well as falafel and hummus. 

What is shawarma?

Shawarma is heavily spiced meat stacked on a vertical rotisserie (turning) spit surrounded by a grill. The meats can be beef, veal, chicken, lamb, turkey, or a mix of them. This stack of meat is kept moist with animal fat, in between the layers, that melts keeping the meat moist and succulent. Then, thin slices of meat are shaved off from the outside as the stack continues to cook until you make it to the center of the spit.

Why make this shawarma?

• Whether you know it as shawarma, kebab, gyro, or donair, do yourself a favor and try this healthy take on the popular Middle Eastern classic.
• This is the quick and easy version. The traditional recipe takes hours and needs a large quantity of meat on the spite.
• Also, the traditional shawarma needs to be marinated for hours but this one can be made in just 20 minutes.
• And, the traditional shawarma on the spite required a lot fat to keep the meat moist but this one is healthier so you can make it often.
• This recipe still uses shawarma spice for that authentic flavor.
• It's very versatile. Once you marinate the chicken, you can cook it on the stovetop in the skillet, over the open grill, or broil it in the oven.
• And most of the ingredients are pantry staples for middle eastern cooking and these can be easily found in most supermarkets or middle eastern grocery stores.
• Shawarma is typically served with salad as a wrap in a laffa flatbread or in a pita pocket drizzled with tahina sauce. These are also easily available in most supermarkets.

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Chicken shawarma

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Shawarma

• Prep chicken - Keep chicken thighs whole or cut into two. Split chicken breast horizontally into two.
• Marinate chicken - In a large bowl, season the chicken with salt, pepper, and lemon juice. Add the ginger and garlic, then add the spices and combine well. Finally, add the olive oil and combine well.
  Pro tip - This chicken can be marinated for an hour on the counter or up to overnight in the refrigerator.
• Grill - Heat a griddle or cast-iron skillet on high heat. Brush the pan with olive oil. Place the chicken on the grill or skillet and cook. Chicken thighs will take 4 to 5 mins on the first side and 3 to 4 minutes on the next. The chicken breast will cook for 3 to 4 minutes on the first, then 3 minutes on the second side.
  Pro tip - The meat usually cooks for a lesser time on the second side. Make sure to cook for at least 3 minutes on the first without touching. This will ensure some nice chard marks on the chicken.
• Cool - Remove from heat and let rest for minutes. Then, cut and serve on flatbread or pita with tahini or yogurt sauce.

Tahini sauce

• In a mason jar, combine tahini paste, garlic, salt, pepper, and lemon juice. Then, add ¾ cup of water. Close the jar and give it a good shake. Open the jar and adjust the seasoning and consistency. Set aside.
  Pro tip - You want to keep it to a thick pouring consistency. Otherwise, it will drip from the wrap or pocket.

Garlic yogurt sauce

• Combine all the ingredients in a bowl including the chopped fresh parsley. Taste and adjust seasoning. Set aside.

Assemble

• Chicken shawarma wraps - Place the flatbread on a plate. Smear some thick tahini sauce. Add some chopped salad. Layer some sliced shawarma chicken. Drizzle more tahini and fold the bread to make a wrap.
• Chicken shawarma pita - Split the pita in half. Smear the inside of the pita with some tahini sauce. Add a few pieces of sliced shawarma chicken and top with some chopped salad. Drizzle more tahini or yogurt drip.

How do you serve chicken shawarma?

• Shawarma wrap - In the Middle East, shawarma is typically served wrapped in a large flatbread called laffa with tahini and chopped salad made with cucumber, tomatoes, and onion.
• Shawarma pita - But, you can also serve it in pita bread again with tahini or chopped salad.
• Main course - At restaurants, you will often have shawarma served along with fragrant rice, some grilled onions, and chopped salad with tahini or yogurt sauce. Sometimes, it can also be served with tzatziki sauce which is made with Greek yogurt and cucumber.
• Mediterranean salad - For a light lunch, serve the grilled shawarma over a light salad made with some fresh lettuce and chopped veggies.

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Frequently asked questions

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Printable Recipe