Here is how to make delicious chicken shawarma with a flavorful marinade and yogurt sauce, served with pita bread, vegetables, and optional hot sauce.
Course: dinner
Cuisine: middle eastern
Keyword: chicken, shawarma
Prep Time: 10minutes
Cook Time: 15minutes
Marinating time: 2hours
Servings: 6 people
INGREDIENTS:
Chicken
- 2lbs boneless boneless skinless chicken thighs
Marinade
- 1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1/4 cup lemon juice about 2 lemons
- 6 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 2 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp ground turmeric
- 1 tsp ground coriander
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
- salt and pepper to taste
Assembling:
Topping Ideas: sliced tomatoes cucumber, lettuce, pickles, tahini sauce, or garlic sauce
INSTRUCTIONS:
Marinate:
In a large bowl, combine the Greek yogurt, olive oil, lemon juice, minced garlic, cumin, paprika, turmeric, coriander, cinnamon, cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper. Mix well to create the marinade.
Add the chicken thighs to the marinade, ensuring each piece is well coated. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, preferably overnight for maximum flavor.
Cook:
Remove the chicken from the marinade, allowing any excess to drip off.
Stovetop: Heat a large non-stick skillet or cast-iron pan over medium-high heat. Add 2 tablespoons of olive oil to the pan, and let it heat up. Add the marinated chicken. Sauté the chicken for 6-8 minutes on each side, or until fully cooked and golden brown. If needed, cook the chicken in batches to avoid overcrowding the pan.
Oven method: Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C). Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Arrange the chicken thighs on the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and the edges are slightly charred.
While the chicken is cooking, prepare your desired toppings and warm up your pita or flatbread.
Once the chicken is cooked, remove it from the oven and let it rest for 5 minutes. Chop into bite-size or slice the chicken into thin strips.
Assemble:
To assemble the shawarma, spread a layer of tahini or garlic sauce onto the warm pita or flatbread. Add the sliced chicken and your choice of toppings.
Wrap the filling with the flatbread, and enjoy your delicious homemade chicken shawarma.
Don’t forget napkins—this tasty dish can get a little messy!
Nutritional Info:
Calories: 358.9kcal | Carbohydrates: 3.1g | Protein: 30.1g | Fat: 24.8g | Saturated Fat: 7.8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1.6g | Monounsaturated Fat: 13.3g | Cholesterol: 89.6mg | Sodium: 103.4mg | Potassium: 610.3mg | Fiber: 0.7g | Sugar: 0.7g | Vitamin A: 369IU | Vitamin C: 5.1mg | Calcium: 36.9mg | Iron: 4mg