Spicy Chicken Shawarma Recipes

CHICKEN SHAWARMA (MIDDLE EASTERN)

Steps:

• Marinade chicken - Combine the marinade ingredients in a large ziplock bag. Add the chicken, seal, the massage from the outside with your hands to make sure each piece is coated. Marinate 24 hours (minimum 3 hours).
• Yogurt Sauce - Combine the Yogurt Sauce ingredients in a bowl and mix. Cover and put in the fridge until required (it will last for 3 days in the fridge).
• Preheat stove or BBQ - Heat a large non-stick skillet with 1 tablespoon over medium high heat, or lightly brush a BBQ hotplate/grills with oil and heat to medium high. (See notes for baking)
• Cook chicken - Place chicken in the skillet or on the grill and cook the first side for 4 to 5 minutes until nicely charred. Turn and cook the other side for 3 to 4 minutes (the 2nd side takes less time).
• Rest - Remove chicken from the grill and cover loosely with foil. Set aside to rest for 5 minutes.

CHICKEN SHAWARMA

Steps:

• In a small bowl, mix the cumin, turmeric, coriander, garlic powder, sweet paprika and cloves. Set aside the shawarma spice mix for now.
• Pat the chicken thighs dry and season with salt on both sides, then thinly slice into small bite-sized pieces.
• Place the chicken in a large bowl. Add the shwarma spices and toss to coat. Add the onions, lemon juice and olive oil. Toss everything together again. Cover and refrigerate for 3 hours or overnight (if you don't have time, you can cut or skip marinating time)
• When ready, preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Take the chicken out of the fridge and let it sit in room temperature for a few minutes.
• Spread the marinated chicken with the onions in one layer on a large lightly-oiled baking sheet pan. Roast for 30 minutes in the 425 degrees F heated-oven. For a more browned, crispier chicken, move the pan to the top rack and broil very briefly (watch carefully). Remove from the oven.
• While the chicken is roasting, prepare the pita pockets. Make tahini sauce according to this recipe or Tztaziki sauce according to this recipe. Make 3-ingredient Mediterranean salad according to this recipe. Set aside.
• To serve, open pita pockets up. Spread a little tahini sauce or Tzatziki sauce, add chicken shawarma, arugula, Mediterranean salad and pickles or olives, if you like. Serve immediately!

SPICY CHICKEN SHAWARMA

Steps:

• Combine first 6 ingredients in a large bowl; stir in 1 tablespoon yogurt, 1 tablespoon juice, and 2 garlic cloves. Add chicken; toss to coat. Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken mixture to pan; sauté 6 minutes or until browned and done, stirring frequently.
• While chicken cooks, combine remaining 1/4 cup yogurt, remaining 1 tablespoon lemon juice, remaining 1 garlic clove, and tahini, stirring well. Spread 1 1/2 teaspoons tahini mixture inside each pita half; divide chicken evenly among pita halves. Fill each pita half with 1 tablespoon cucumber, 1 tablespoon tomato, and 1 1/2 teaspoons onion.

CHICKEN SHAWARMA

Steps:

• In a glass baking dish, mix together the malt vinegar, 1/4 cup yogurt, vegetable oil, mixed spice, cardamom, salt and pepper. Place the chicken thighs into the mixture and turn to coat. Cover and marinate in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours or overnight.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). In a small bowl, mix together the tahini, 1/4 cup yogurt, garlic, lemon juice, olive oil, and parsley. Season with salt and pepper, taste, and adjust flavors if desired. Cover and refrigerate.
• Cover the chicken and bake in the marinade for 30 minutes, turning once. Uncover, and cook for an additional 5 to 10 minutes, or until chicken is browned and cooked through. Remove from the dish, and cut into slices.
• Place sliced chicken, tomato, onion, and lettuce onto pita breads. Roll up, and top with the tahini sauce.

GRILLED CHICKEN SHAWARMA

Steps:

• 1. Start by seasoning your boneless, skinless chicken thighs with the seasoning, then add lemon juice and a few tablespoons of plain yogurt.2. Mix and season a bit more. Let the chicken marinade in the fridge for 2-3 hours for maximum flavor. 3. While the chicken is marinating, mix the garlic sauce. Equal parts plain yogurt and mayo, a squeeze of lemon juice and 3-4 cloves minced garlic.4. Grill the chicken over direct, high heat to get it charred up and build up that delicious crust. Pull when cooked through and chop it up.5. Start with a warm pita, add the garlic sauce, shredded lettuce, a few tomato slices, a big pile of chicken and top it all off with more garlic sauce.

LEBANESE CHICKEN SHAWARMA

Steps:

• Mix together the yogurt, lemon juice and all of the ground spices and garlic together in a large mixing bowl
• Add the boneless skinless chicken thighs to the bowl and coat them in the marinade
• Marinate the chicken for minimum of 30 minutes or up to 24 hours
• Roll each piece of chicken up tightly and skewer it with 2 skewers (see video)
• Layer onion pieces between chicken either on the 2 skewers or with a 3rd skewer, whichever is easiest
• Grill on medium to high heat for 30 minutes, turning periodically, until the chicken is cooked through
• Cut the chicken into thin slices and serve on warm pita bread with shawarma sauce and desired toppings.