Delicious homemade Chicken Shawarma is juicy, tender and very flavorful. This is a comfort meal that is extremely tasty and fun to eat. Wrapped in warm tender Pita Bread and full of authentic Mediterranean chicken, this dish is a “must have” addition to your home cooking rotational menu. My children and husband love this meal. It’s so good they will eat the left overs for days without complaint.
Wonderfully well-marinated, delicious chicken that is brought to eatable perfection through the gentle kiss of a controlled direct flame that will bring joy and satisfaction to your next foodlicious experience. Watch the video, follow the instructions below to prepare something new/different for those you share your table and life with. If you like Mediterranean food, I suggest you double the recipe so you will have plenty of leftovers on the ready as you make this weeks eating that much easier.
Would you want to take a bit of this.
Boneless, skinless chicken thighs. You can use chicken breast you prefer but it won’t be as juicy as the thighs.
Seasonings for the marinade.
Let marinate for at least 3 hours, preferably overnight.
Place the marinated meat on the gril and cook for 4-5 minutes on the first side (look for charring at the edges). Flip and then cook for an additional 2-3 minutes.
Cover with aluminum foil and let stand/sit for ~10 minutes.
Tzatziki Sauce ingredients.
Grate the cucumber and sprinkle a little salt on it. Let it sit for 10-15 minutes, help remove excess water.
Squeeze the grated cucumber, to remove most of the water.
Place the drained cucumber, yogurt, minced garlic, lemon juice and olive oil in a medium sized bowl. Add a pinch/dash of salt and pepper to your liking.
Mix well.
Fill the pita bread in this order: Nice thick layer of Tzatziki Sauce, chopped lettuce, sliced tomatoes and chicken meat. Best serve immediately.
Chicken Shawarma
Ingredients
Marinate
- 8 chicken thighs (around 2 lbs) skinless & boneless
- 1 tbsp ground cumin
- 1 tbsp ground turmeric
- 1 tbsp ground coriander
- 1 tbsp garlic powder
- 1 tbsp paprika
- 1 ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp cayenne pepper +/- adjust to your liking
- ⅓ cup lemon juice approx. 2 lemons
- ⅓ cup extra virgin olive oil I used extra light
Tzatziki Sauce
- ½ english cucumber with skin & seeds
- ½ lemon juice only
- 3 garlic cloves finely minced or grated
- 1 cup Greek yogurt
- 1 tbsp olive oil I used extra light
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 tsp fresh dill (minced) optional
- salt & pepper to taste
Pita Bread
Chopped Green Lettuce
Sliced Fresh Tomatoes
Instructions
Marinate
- Clean and pat the chicken thighs dry (substitute with chicken breast if you prefer but be carful not to over cook them). Place chicken in a ziplock bag or container with a seal.
- Pour in lemon juice and olive oil. Mix until well coated.
- In a small bowl: mix all the seasoning ingredients together. Pour the seasoning mixture into the ziplock bag or container with the chicken. Mix until evenly coated.
- Let marinate for at least 3 hours, preferably overnight.
Tzatziki Sauce
- Grate the cucumber and sprinkle ½ tsp salt on it. Let it sit for 10-15 minutes, this helps remove excess water. Squeeze the grated cucumber to remove additional water.
- Place the drained cucumber, yogurt, minced garlic, lemon juice and olive oil in a medium sized bowl. Add a pinch/dash of salt and pepper to your liking. Mix well. Cover and refrigerate, until ready to use.
Grill
- Preheat the grill or skillet to high.
- Place the marinated meat on the gril and cook for 4-5 minutes on the first side (look for charring at the edges as thinner cuts cook faster). Flip and then cook for an additional 2-3 minutes.
- Remove the meat from the grill and place in a container. Cover with aluminum foil and let stand/sit for ~10 minutes. When ready to eat, slice the chicken. (see video and pics for reference)
Layering the Shawarma
- Preheat the oven to 275°F (135°C).
- Place the pita bread in the oven for 1-2 minutes or until warm (careful not to over heat, you don't want the bread to become "toasted"). Remove the pita bread from the oven.
- Fill the pita bread in this order: Nice thick layer of Tzatziki Sauce, chopped lettuce, sliced tomatoes and chicken meat. (see video for reference)
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