When I think of shawarma, I envision a large vertical spit slowly rotating and coated with juicy, flavorful meat in a cone-like shape. The meat’s exterior is browned and crispy and shaved off into thin strips for serving. But in recent years, and with the advent of globalization, shawarma has transformed into a myriad of unique dishes, each with its own twist.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
●Igredients
●Instructions
●Serve
Ingredients
For the chicken marinade
●3 tablespoons lemon juice
●1 tablespoon garlic, grated
●2 teaspoons sea salt
●3 tablespoons olive oil
●1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
●1/2 teaspoon sweet smoked paprika
●1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
●1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
●1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
●1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
●1 teaspoon ground allspice
●1 teaspoon ground black pepper
●2 1/2 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs
●1 tablespoon neutral oil, such as canola
For the tahini sauce
●3/4 cup tahini paste
●1 medium clove garlic, grated
●3/4 teaspoon sea salt
●3/4 teaspoon ground cumin
●1/4 cup water
●2 lemons, juiced
To serve
●Pita bread
●Lettuce, chopped
●Tomatoes, chopped
●Lemon wedges
Method
1.Marinate the chicken:
In a large bowl, whisk together the lemon juice, garlic, salt, olive oil, garlic powder, paprika, cumin, coriander, cardamom, cinnamon, allspice, and black pepper. Nestle the chicken thighs in the marinade and use your hands (or tongs) to ensure the chicken is evenly coated. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and place in the fridge for at least 1 hour, up to overnight.
2.Make the tahini sauce:
Meanwhile, prep the tahini sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together the tahini paste, garlic, salt, cumin, and 1/4 cup of lukewarm water. As you begin whisking, you may notice the mixture begin to seize up, but don’t worry it will smooth out over time.
Next, add 3 tablespoons of lemon juice, and whisk until smooth. At this point, you can taste and adjust the mixture as needed. If it’s too thick but tart enough, add a bit more water. If it could use more acidity, add more lemon juice. Once satisfied, cover with plastic wrap and place the tahini sauce in the fridge.
Remove tahini sauce from the fridge and bring to room temperature before serving.
3.Roast the chicken:
Transfer chicken from marinade to baking sheet using tongs, drizzling any leftover marinade on top. Bake for 25 minutes or until a thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the chicken registers 175°F (the higher temperature yields more tender chicken). Rotate the pan 180° halfway through cooking to ensure even roasting. Remove chicken from the oven and set aside to rest for 5 minutes.
4.Warm the pita:
Lower the temperature of your oven to 350°F.
Wrap the stack of pita bread in aluminum foil to form a sealed packet and place in the oven for 5 to 10 minutes until warmed through. Keep the warmed bread wrapped in foil or a dishcloth before serving.
5.Slice the chicken:
While still warm, slice the chicken into thin strips, and transfer to a platter, drizzling some of the pan juices on top.
6.Serve:
Serve chicken alongside lettuce, tomato, lemon wedges, tahini sauce, and warm pita.