Chicken shawarma is a traditional dish with its origins in the bustling streets of the Middle East, where the aroma of spices fills the air as chicken cooks slowly on huge vertical rotisseries. But don't worry, you don't need any special equipment to make homemade shawarma. Just a frying pan.
The ingredients are easy to find and you probably already have many of them in your pantry. You'll need chicken breasts, Greek yogurt, a touch of lemon, garlic, and a spice blend.
The preparation is very simple. You just need to marinate the chicken with the spices, let it rest so it absorbs the flavors well, and then cook it until golden and juicy. It's served in pita bread, accompanied by lettuce, onion, tomato, and yogurt sauce.
Recipe Information
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes (plus 2 hours marinating)
- Servings: 2
- Category: main course
- Cuisine: Middle Eastern
- Calories per serving (kcal): 498
Chicken Shawarma Ingredients
For the marinated chicken:
- 1 chicken breast
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons cumin
- 1 teaspoon sweet paprika
- 1 tablespoon chopped cilantro leaves
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
For the yogurt sauce:
- 1 garlic clove
- 1 Greek yogurt
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- Salt
- Ground black pepper
For assembly:
- 1 tomato
- ½ red onion
- A few lettuce leaves
- 2 pita breads or wheat tortillas
Necessary Utensils
- Knife and cutting board
- Frying pan or wok
- Grater
How to Make Chicken Shawarma
First, cut 1 chicken breast into thin strips.
Next, mix in a large bowl 1 tablespoon of garlic powder, 2 teaspoons of cumin, 1 teaspoon of paprika, 1 tablespoon of chopped cilantro leaves, ½ teaspoon of cayenne, ½ teaspoon of cinnamon, 2 teaspoons of salt, 2 tablespoons of lemon juice, and 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Add the chopped chicken to the bowl, mix well, cover with plastic wrap, and let marinate for a minimum of 2 hours in the refrigerator.
Meanwhile, let's prepare the yogurt sauce. To do this, grate 1 garlic clove and mix it with 1 Greek yogurt, 1 teaspoon of lemon juice, salt, and ground black pepper to taste. Set aside.
Once the chicken is marinated, proceed to brown it in a frying pan over medium-high heat for a few minutes, until completely cooked.
Cut 1 tomato, half a red onion, and a few lettuce leaves into thin strips.
To finish, open 2 pita breads or 2 wheat tortillas, according to preference, and fill them with the chicken. Add the tomato, onion, and lettuce pieces and drizzle with the yogurt sauce. Serve immediately.
Easy Preparation Summary
- Cut the chicken into thin strips
- Mix the spices with the olive oil and lemon juice, add the chicken, and let rest for 2 hours
- Meanwhile, mix the Greek yogurt with the grated garlic, lemon juice, salt, and pepper
- Brown the chicken over medium-high heat
- Cut the onion, tomato, and lettuce into thin strips
- Fill the pita bread with the chicken, vegetables, and sauce, and serve
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