Shawarma, the darling of the Middle East, is the most popular and common street food that forms a part of the Levantine cuisine. This very delectable meat dish includes chicken, turkey, lamb, beef or veal placed in rotating spits and grilled for as long as a day. Shavings of juicy meat are cut off from the block and eaten as such or as a wrap filled with tahina, cucumber, tomato, hummus, etc. Although very much a restaurant food, it is easy to make Shawarma even at home.
Ingredients required:
(Servings: 4-6)
· 2 lbs. chicken breast/ thigh, skinless and boneless
· 6 pita breads or khubz (Arabic bread)
· 2 Tomatoes, chopped
· 1 cup lettuce, shredded
To marinate
· 2 garlic pods
· 3 tbsp. olive oil
· 2 tbsp. lemon juice
· 1 tbsp. cardamom powder
· 1 tbsp. coriander powder
· 1 tbsp. cumin powder
· ½ tsp. Cayenne pepper
· ½ tsp. black pepper
· Salt to taste
Shawarma sauce
. 1 cup yoghurt (Greek variety)
. 1 garlic pod, crushed
. 1 tsp. cumin powder
. 1 tbsp. lemon juice
. 1 tsp. pepper
· Salt to taste
Cooking instructions:
. Cut the chicken into thin pieces.
. Mix the ingredients mentioned in ‘To marinate’ section in a large bowl. Add the chicken pieces and toss well to ensure that each chicken piece is coated with the marinade mixture. Cover the bowl with cellophane and marinate for at least 24 hours.
. Now mix all the ingredients in the ‘Shawarma sauce’ section in a bowl. Cover and refrigerate until required.
. To grill the chicken, either an oven grill or outdoor barbeque grill can be used. In an oven grill, place the marinated chicken pieces on the grilling tray. Cook until brownish in color and then turn over to grill on the other side.
. Remove from grill, wrap the chicken pieces in aluminum foil, and allow to set for 5 minutes.
. Shred the chicken into thin slices using a knife and mix with tomato, shredded lettuce and Shawarma sauce.
. Take a pita bread or khubz, add the chicken Shawarma mixture in the center and make a wrap out of it.
Chicken Shawarma is most commonly eaten as rolls. It can also be served as such alongside ‘khubz’, salad and garlic mayonnaise or toumaia (garlic sauce). Chicken Shawarma also makes rice items like Mejadra or Pilaf even tastier!
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