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Make rooster shawarma at house with daring Center Jap flavors utilizing this simple recipe! It options the most effective shawarma marinade and the proper mix of spices. I serve it wrapped in pita bread with hummus, tzatziki sauce, and a easy veggie salad.


What’s Shawarma?
Shawarma is a Center Jap dish consisting of thinly sliced meat—usually lamb, beef, or rooster—that’s seasoned with spices, stacked on a vertical rotisserie, and slow-cooked because it turns. The outer layers are shaved off for serving. Originating from the Ottoman Empire (modern-day Turkey), shawarma advanced from the standard Turkish döner kebab. At this time, shawarma is a preferred road meals throughout the Center East and North Africa, particularly in international locations like Lebanon, Israel, Egypt, Jordan, and Turkey, and has grow to be extensively common in Europe and North America as effectively. It’s generally served in pita or flatbread with toppings like tahini, garlic sauce, pickles, and greens.
Making Rooster Shawarma at Residence
However don’t fear—I’m not about to make you stack meat on a vertical rotisserie and slow-turn it like a road meals professional. We’re holding it easy (and weeknight-friendly) with a deliciously simple model cooked proper on the grill—or a grill pan on the stovetop (if you do not have an out of doors grill). We’ll be serving it the preferred method—as a wrap, tucked inside heat pita bread.




Elements & Substitutions
- Rooster: I want utilizing rooster thighs for shawarma as a result of they keep juicier and extra flavorful than breasts. Thighs can deal with the excessive warmth and longer cooking time with out drying out, supplying you with that tender texture that’s key to nice shawarma.
- Different proteins: You’re greater than welcome to change out the rooster thigh with different proteins like lamb or steak. Use the identical marinade and cooking strategies to arrange it. For a seafood model, substitute the rooster with the identical quantity of shrimp. You’ll solely have to marinate it for half-hour.
- Forms of bread: I like making shawarma with pita bread. Do not sweat it if you do not have it! Lavash, tortillas, flatbreads, naan, and even giant items of lettuce are nice substitutes for the pita bread!
- Greek yogurt substitutes: Utilizing common yogurt or bitter cream are good swaps for Greek yogurt for my selfmade tzatziki sauce.
- Spices: I used paprika (smoked or candy), cumin, coriander, turmeric powder, cardamom, cinnamon, cayenne pepper (or crushed purple pepper flakes), salt, floor black pepper. You too can embrace turmeric (I didn’t use it but it surely works effectively right here!)
- Tip: the beneath photograph depicts each single ingredient you want. Take a screenshot on your purchasing listing!


Make Rooster Shawarma – Step-by-Step Images
Notice: This can be a fast rundown of the recipe, full with useful step-by-step pictures! For the total recipe & directions please scroll right down to the recipe card beneath.
- Begin by getting ready the marinade. In a big bowl, combine garlic, paprika, cumin, coriander, turmeric, cardamom, cinnamon, cayenne, salt, pepper, lemon juice, lemon zest, and olive oil.
- Add the rooster and toss till absolutely coated. Cowl tightly with plastic wrap pressed immediately onto the floor of the rooster. Let it marinate at room temperature for 1–2 hours, or refrigerate in a single day for deeper taste.


- Put together the tzatziki sauce whereas the rooster marinates. Mix Greek yogurt, grated cucumber, garlic, cumin, dill, lemon juice, lemon zest, salt, and pepper in a medium bowl. Stir effectively, alter seasoning to style, and put aside.


- When able to prepare dinner, convey the rooster to room temperature if it was refrigerated.
- Warmth a grill or grill pan over excessive warmth and brush with impartial oil. Cook dinner the rooster for about 3–4 minutes per facet with out transferring it, so that you get good grill marks. As soon as cooked by means of, switch to a plate, cowl with foil, and let relaxation for five–10 minutes.
- Elective: grill your pita bread for 15–30 seconds per facet for further taste and char.


- To assemble, unfold a spoonful of hummus on heat pita bread, then layer with tzatziki, sliced grilled rooster, cucumbers, tomatoes, and purple onion. Wrap in parchment if desired and dig in!


Serve Rooster Shawarma
- Wrap Fashion: I prefer to serve rooster shawarma sliced in heat pita or flatbread, layered with hummus, tzatziki (or garlic sauce), cucumbers, tomatoes, purple onion, and generally pickles. Wrapping it in parchment makes it simpler to deal with and excellent for grabbing on the go.
- Bowl Fashion: For a bowl model, I skip the pita and layer every little thing over a mattress of rice or blended greens. I high it with the sliced rooster, an enormous dollop of tzatziki, chopped veggies, and a drizzle of olive oil or further lemon juice. It’s simply as satisfying and nice for meal prep, too. And excellent news? I have already got a bowl model prepared for you, I simply have to publish it! Keep tuned!
Aspect Dish Suggestions


Rooster Shawarma
Make rooster shawarma at house with daring Center Jap flavors utilizing this simple recipe! It options the most effective shawarma marinade and the proper mix of spices. I serve it wrapped in pita bread with hummus, tzatziki sauce, and a easy veggie salad.
Elements
Tzatziki Sauce
- 1 ½ cups Greek yogurt complete, low, or non-fat
- 1 cup English or Persian cucumber grated
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 2 cloves garlic grated or minced
- 1 tablespoons dill minced
- 1 tablespoon mint minced
- 1 medium lemon (zest and juice)
- salt and pepper to style
Meeting
- pita bread
- hummus your selection of taste
- cucumbers Persian or English chopped into ¼” cubes
- cherry tomatoes lower in half
- recent purple onion thinly sliced or pickled purple onion
Directions
Marinade
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In a big bowl, mix the garlic, paprika, cumin, coriander, salt, pepper, turmeric, cardamom, cinnamon, cayenne, lemon juice, lemon zest, and olive oil. Add the rooster and absolutely coat. Place plastic wrap on high of the rooster so it varieties a seal and let marinate at room temperature for 1-2 hours or marinate within the fridge in a single day.
Tzatziki Sauce
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Whereas the rooster is marinating, mix the Greek yogurt, cucumbers, cumin, garlic, dill, lemon juice, lemon zest, salt, and pepper in a medium bowl. Regulate seasoning and put aside.
Cooking
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Take away the rooster at the very least half-hour earlier than cooking in case you’ve marinated it in a single day within the fridge.
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Warmth a grill pan or your grill to excessive warmth.
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Oil the pan or grill with 2 tablespoons of impartial oil. Grill the rooster on each side for about 3-4 minutes per facet with out transferring so you may get some good grill marks. As soon as carried out, put aside on a plate and canopy with foil and let relaxation for 5-10 minutes.
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When you like, grill your pita bread for about 15-30 seconds per facet to get some char and shade.
Meeting
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When able to eat, scoop a spoonful of hummus onto your pita bread and unfold round to cowl the middle. Subsequent, unfold a spoonful of tzatziki sauce on high.
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Subsequent, slice and place some rooster on high, and layer with the cucumber, tomatoes, and purple onion.
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Wrap in parchment paper in case you like and revel in!
Notes
Useful tips on rooster
- Marinating: I like to recommend marinating the rooster for at least 1 hour. In a single day is most well-liked, however 1 hour works effectively.
- Cooking: Be sure your rooster is absolutely cooked to 165 levels utilizing a thermometer. When you don’t have one, be sure that all of the pink has been cooked out of the rooster earlier than serving.
- Grilling: I want grilling rooster shawarma (or utilizing a grill pan on stovetop) as a result of the excessive warmth creates that smoky char and crisp edges you simply cannot get within the oven, whereas nonetheless holding the meat juicy and tender.
- Broiling: When you don’t have a grill pan or a grill, there’s a resolution! Transfer a rack in your oven to the best part, flip your oven to broil, place the rooster on a foil lined baking sheet that’s been greased with cooking spray, and broil for five minutes on all sides or till the inner temperature reaches 165 F. This can even get some nice char on the rooster!
Notes about sauces
- Greek yogurt sauce: I like making the tzatziki sauce from scratch (recipe offered above!) however be happy to skip that and use a store-bought model!
- Spicy sauces: Add a tablespoon of harissa, sizzling sauce, or chili sauce of option to your marinated rooster!
Serving and storage suggestions
- Serve it sizzling or chilly? I like to recommend consuming the rooster when it’s sizzling! All the different parts ought to be chilly or at room temperature.
- Storage: I like to recommend storing all elements individually within the fridge. The whole lot can final for as much as 4 days within the fridge.
- Freezing: I don’t suggest freezing something as as soon as it’s thawed, the standard and taste diminishes considerably.
Enjoyable variations
- Different elements so as to add: Feta, toum, pink pickled turnips, and additional herbs
- Burrito: Swap the pita for big flour tortillas and make a burrito as a substitute!
- Make it vegetarian: Mushrooms, tofu, eggplant, tempeh, and jackfruit are all nice choices to strive as a substitute of rooster!
You will want these provides:
- knife
- slicing board
- measuring spoons
- measuring cups
- grill pan or grill
- tongs
- parchment paper
Notice about vitamin data:
The estimated vitamin data DOES NOT embrace any elements listed below the ASSEMBLY part, resembling pita bread, hummus, cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, purple onion.
Diet
Diet Data
Rooster Shawarma
Quantity per Serving
% Day by day Worth*
* % Day by day Values are primarily based on a 2000 calorie eating regimen.
Diet Disclaimer:
The dietary data on this web site is just an estimate and is offered for comfort and as a courtesy solely. The accuracy of the dietary data for any recipe on this web site just isn't assured. It shouldn't be used as an alternative choice to knowledgeable nutritionist’s recommendation.