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Chicken Shawarma (SUPER EASY)

What is Chicken Shawarma?

Chicken Shawarma is a popular Middle Eastern dish consisting of marinated chicken that is slow-cooked on a vertical rotisserie. Thin slices of the chicken are shaved off and typically served in pita bread or flatbreads, accompanied by an array of toppings and sauces. The dish is celebrated for its rich, savory, and aromatic flavor profile, which comes from a combination of spices and the slow-cooking process.

Key Components of an Easy Chicken Shawarma:

Chicken:

  • Boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts are commonly used.
  • The chicken is marinated in a mix of spices, yogurt, lemon juice, and oil to achieve its signature flavor.

Shawarma Marinade:

  • Spices: Cumin, coriander, paprika, turmeric, cinnamon, and sometimes cardamom.
  • Aromatics: Garlic and onion powder.
  • Acid: Lemon juice or vinegar for tenderizing the chicken.
  • Base: Yogurt and olive oil help the spices adhere to the chicken and create a moist texture.

Cooking Style:

  • Traditionally, shawarma is cooked on a rotating vertical spit. However, it can also be grilled, pan-fried, baked, or air-fried at home.

Bread:

  • Served in pita bread, flatbreads, or wraps for a portable and handheld meal.

Toppings:

  • Fresh vegetables like lettuce, tomatoes, onions, and cucumbers.
  • Pickled items such as turnips or cucumbers for a tangy crunch.

Sauces:

  • Garlic Sauce (Toum): A creamy, garlicky sauce that is a classic pairing with shawarma.
  • Tahini Sauce: Made with sesame paste, lemon, and garlic for a nutty flavor.
  • Hummus: Adds a creamy, rich base when spread inside the bread.

Garnishes (Optional):

  • Chopped parsley, sumac, or a sprinkle of paprika for extra flavor.
Jump to Recipe

Lets Make it: Chicken Shawarma!

A Flavorful Journey: Homemade Chicken Pita with Garlic Toum

If you’re a fan of Middle Eastern street food, this chicken pita recipe is going to be your new favorite. It’s packed with bold flavors, juicy chicken, fresh veggies, and that iconic garlicky toum sauce. The best part? You can easily recreate this masterpiece in the comfort of your own kitchen. Let’s dive into this delicious adventure!

The Perfectly Spiced Chicken

Start by prepping your chicken. Cut it into strips that will cook evenly and fit perfectly into your pita. In a bowl, mix the chicken with three tablespoons of olive oil, two tablespoons of tomato paste, the juice of half a lemon, and a medley of spices: garlic powder, onion powder, cumin, red chili powder, turmeric, salt, and black pepper. This blend is the key to infusing every bite with mouthwatering flavors. Let the chicken marinate for 30 minutes if you have the patience—trust me, it’s worth it!

Cooking Made Easy

Once your chicken has absorbed all those delicious spices, heat up two tablespoons of olive oil in a pan. Cook the chicken until it’s golden and juicy, or, if you’re feeling fancy, air fry it at 380°F for 12 minutes. The aroma alone will have you counting down the minutes until it’s done. While the chicken cooks, you can prep the fresh veggies that will bring crunch and balance to your pita.

Fresh Veggie Prep

A great pita is all about the layers, and fresh veggies play a starring role. Slice cucumbers, tomatoes, and pickles (or pickled turnips if you can find them). These ingredients add a refreshing contrast to the richly spiced chicken. You can cut them into rounds, strips, or dice them—it’s entirely up to you. Having these veggies prepped and ready ensures your assembly process is quick and seamless.

The Magic of Garlic Toum

No chicken pita is complete without the creamy, garlicky goodness of toum. If you’re up for a challenge, make your own! Blend garlic in a food processor while slowly adding oil two tablespoons at a time, scraping the sides between additions. Once emulsified, alternate between oil and lemon juice until the toum is thick and creamy. Short on time? No worries—grab a tub of pre-made toum from the grocery store. It’s just as delightful and saves you some effort.

Assembling the Perfect Pita

With all the components ready, it’s time to assemble your masterpiece. Once the chicken is cooked, lay a piece of pita bread over the hot chicken in the pan to warm it up and soak up the flavorful juices. Spread a generous dollop of toum across the pita, then pile on the chicken, followed by your choice of veggies. The beauty of this dish is that you can customize it to your liking—add more toum, double up on the pickles, or keep it simple. The choice is yours!

Enjoy Every Bite

Now comes the best part: taking that first glorious bite. The juicy, spiced chicken, creamy toum, and crisp veggies wrapped in soft pita is a combination that’s impossible to resist. Whether you’re making this for a quick weeknight dinner or sharing it with friends, this chicken pita will leave everyone craving more. Go ahead, dig in, and savor the flavors of the Middle East right at home!

Link to watch the video: https://www.instagram.com/amateurprochef/

To check out my other recipes, click here!

Chicken Shawarma
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Chicken Shawarma

Recipe by AmateurProChefDifficulty: Easy
Servings

2

servings
Prep time

15

minutes
Cooking time

10

minutes
Total time

25

minutes

Ingredients

  • 2 lbs boneless chicken thighs, cut into strips

  • 1 tomato

  • ½ cucumber

  • Pickles

  • Picked turnips

  • 2-4 pitas

  • CHICKEN MARINADE

  • Salt to taste

  • 4 cloves of garlic

  • 1 tsp black pepper

  • 1 tbsp garlic powder

  • 1 tbsp onion powder

  • 1 tsp cumin powder

  • 1 tsp red chili powder

  • 1 tsp turmeric powder

  • 2 tbsp tomato paste

  • 2 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice

  • 3 tbsp olive oil

  • SUMAC ONIONS

  • 1 large red onion, thinly sliced

  • 1/4 cup chopped parsley

  • 2 tbsp lemon juice

  • 1 tbsp sumac

  • TOUM

  • 1 cup garlic cloves peeled

  • 2 teaspoons Kosher salt

  • 3 cups neutral oil such as vegetable or canola

  • ½ cup lemon juice

Directions

  • Prep the chicken by cutting it into strips.
  • Then add it to a bowl and add in 3 tbsp olive oil, 2 tbsp tomato paste, lemon juice from half a lemon, garlic powder, onion powder, cumin powder, red chili powder, turmeric powder, salt, and black pepper according to the measurements above.
  • Let marinate for 30 minutes if you have the patience.
  • Next heat up 2 tbsp olive oil in a pan and cook the chicken (optionally you can air fry it for 12 minutes at 380F).
  • As that is cooking prep the vegetables, cut up cucumbers, tomatoes, pickles into slices (or however you prefer the cut. (Pickled turnips and pickles can be found in store ready to go).
  • Prepare the garlic toum: Add garlic to a food processor and slowly pour in the oil 2 tbsp at a time and scrape the sides each time. After a few tbsp the toum will be emulsified, after that increase the speed and alternate between the remaining oil and lemon juice.
  • (OR YOU CAN JUST BUY THE BRAND TOOM IN THE GROCERY STORE)
  • Once chicken is cooked, add the pita on top to get hot and soak up some of the juices then assemble your pita starting with a big dollop of toum and a hefty portion of chicken. The reset you can assemble to your liking.
  • NOW ITS TIME TO ENJOY!

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