Chicken Shawarma

June 28, 2022

Shawarma features high on the list of Israel’s favorite fast foods—and for good reason. This meal-on-the-go features juicy morsels of meat stuffed into a warm pita or flatbread, topped with crispy French fries, salad and sauces to taste, making for the perfect marriage of flavors and textures. You’ll find a stand or a shop selling shawarma on nearly every street in every town or city in Israel, each claiming the renown of serving up the best shawarma in the Promised Land.

If you’re craving a shawarma fix without visiting Israel, our blend of herbs and spices for a distinctive Israeli flavor will fool your taste buds into thinking that you’re right here, sampling the best shawarma in the Promised Land.      

Ingredients 

For the marinade
1 ¾ tsp. paprika
½ tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. coriander
1 Tbsp. cumin
1 ¼ tsp. turmeric
1 tsp. ground ginger
¼ tsp. nutmeg
Salt and pepper to taste
4 cloves garlic, finely minced
⅓ cup olive oil
Juice of 1 lemon

For the shawarma:
3 chicken breasts
Oil for frying
5 pita or flatbreads
1 cup purple cabbage
½ onion, diced
1 cucumber, diced
3 tomatoes, diced
½ cup dill pickles
Prepared French fries
Hummus to taste
Tahini to taste

Directions

For the chicken:
1. Slice the chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces along the grain of the meat.
2. Mix together all the dry spices.
3. Add the garlic, olive oil and lemon juice, and combine well.
4. Pour the marinade over the chicken pieces and mix well until every piece is coated. Set aside for 1–6 hours to marinate and allow the flavors to develop.
5. In a frying pan, fry the marinated chicken over medium heat for 10 minutes or until golden brown.

To Assemble:
1. Stuff your pita or flatbread with a mix of chicken, hummus, cabbage, onion, cucumber, tomato, dill pickles and French fries.
2. Drizzle over tahini.

Serves 5

Photo Credit: Maddie Hunt/bridgesforpeace.com