An aromatic and flavorful Middle Eastern dish featuring thinly sliced, marinated chicken, often served in pita bread with fresh vegetables and creamy sauces. It’s a popular street food known for its rich spices and satisfying taste.
Taste Shawarma for Just $5!
An aromatic and flavorful Middle Eastern dish featuring thinly sliced, marinated chicken, often served in pita bread with fresh vegetables and creamy sauces. It's a popular street food known for its rich spices and satisfying taste.
Ingredients
- 1.5 lb boneless skinless chicken thighs
- 0.5 cup plain yogurt
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp ground coriander
- 1 tsp paprika
- 0.5 tsp turmeric
- 0.25 tsp cardamom
- 0.25 tsp cayenne pepper optional
- 1 tsp salt
- 0.5 tsp black pepper
- 4 ea pita breads warmed
- 0.5 cup garlic sauce or toum
- 0.25 cup tahini sauce optional
- 1 ea tomato diced
- 0.5 ea cucumber diced
- 0.5 cup pickled turnips or pickles
- 1 cup shredded lettuce
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine yogurt, lemon juice, olive oil, minced garlic, cumin, coriander, paprika, turmeric, cardamom, cayenne pepper (if using), salt, and black pepper.
- Add the chicken strips to the marinade, ensuring all pieces are well coated. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, or preferably overnight.
- Heat a large skillet or cast-iron pan over medium-high heat. Add a tablespoon of olive oil if needed, though the chicken marinade has oil.
- Add the marinated chicken in a single layer, working in batches if necessary to avoid overcrowding the pan. Cook for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the chicken is cooked through and lightly browned and caramelized.
- Once cooked, remove the chicken from the pan and set aside. Thinly slice the chicken if the strips are too large.
- Warm the pita breads according to package instructions.
- To assemble the shawarma, spread a generous amount of garlic sauce and a drizzle of tahini (if using) onto a warm pita.
- Fill the pita with the cooked chicken, diced tomato, diced cucumber, pickled turnips or pickles, and shredded lettuce.
- Roll up the pita tightly and serve immediately. Enjoy your homemade Chicken Shawarma!
Notes
For best results, marinate the chicken for at least 4 hours, or preferably overnight. If you don't have all the spices, a good quality pre-made shawarma spice blend can be used. Serve with extra garlic sauce, tahini, pickled turnips, and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice. You can also bake the chicken at 400°F (200°C) for 20-25 minutes, or grill it until cooked through.
