🍗 Chicken Shawarma Recipe
Ingredients
For the chicken (serves ~4–6):
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500 g boneless chicken (thighs are juicier, breasts work too)
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1 tbsp yogurt
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1 tbsp lemon juice
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2 tbsp vinegar (optional for tanginess)
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3–4 cloves garlic, crushed
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1 tsp ginger paste
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1 tsp cumin powder
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1 tsp coriander powder
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1 tsp paprika
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½ tsp turmeric
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½ tsp cinnamon or baharat spice
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Salt & pepper to taste
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2 tbsp oil
For the salad/fillings:
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Sliced tomato, cucumber, onion, lettuce
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Pickles (cucumber/tomato pickle)
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Olives (optional)
For sauces:
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Garlic-yogurt sauce: mix yogurt, crushed garlic, lemon juice, salt
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Or use tahini sauce or mayo-chili sauce
Bread:
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Pita, khubz, laffa, or flatbread
Steps
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Marinate: Combine chicken, yogurt, lemon/vinegar, garlic, ginger, spices, and oil. Marinate for ≥1 hour (ideally 4 hrs to overnight)
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Cook:
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On stovetop/grill: Thread marinated chicken onto skewers or cook in a pan/BBQ until golden, about 10–15 min .
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Oven-baked: Spread on a tray, bake ~35 min at 180 °C, then broil to char .
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Prep salad: Slice veggies, toss lightly with lemon or vinegar.
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Make sauces: Garlic-yogurt or tahini-based sauces complement the spices.
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Assemble wraps: Warm the bread, spread sauce, layer veggies, add shredded chicken, extra sauce & pickles. Roll tightly.
🔍 Quick Variations
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Sheet-pan bake: Combine spices, olive oil, garlic, lemon, and thighs. Bake, then broil for char reddit.com+4fauziaskitchenfun.com+4reddit.com+4shanazrafiq.com+3epicurious.com+3allrecipes.com+3
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Chickpea veg wrap: Roasted spiced chickpeas in pita with hummus, zhoug, veggies—great vegetarian option loveandlemons.com
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Spicy Pakistani flair: Use BBQ masala and vinegar for tang, per Pak chef Gulzar Hussain pakistanichefrecipes.com+1masala.tv+1
📝 Tips for Delicious Shawarma
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Use thighs – juicier and flavorful foodandwine.com+15theguardian.com+15loveandlemons.com+15
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Marinate longer – overnight gives best flavor
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Char for texture – finish under broiler or on hot grill