Syrian Chicken Shawarma Plate
A flavorful and aromatic chicken shawarma, marinated in a blend of Middle Eastern spices, served with garlic sauce, pickles, and pita bread. This is a popular street food and home-style meal in Syria.
🧂 Ingredients
- 1 kg Boneless, skinless chicken thighs(cut into bite-sized pieces)
- 1/2 cup Yogurt
- 2 tbsp Lemon juice
- 3 tbsp Olive oil
- 4 cloves Garlic(minced)
- 2 tbsp Shawarma spice blend(store-bought or homemade (cumin, coriander, paprika, turmeric, cardamom, cinnamon, cloves))
- 1 tsp Salt
- 1/2 tsp Black pepper
- 4 large Pita bread
- For the Garlic Sauce (Toum)
- 10 cloves Garlic cloves
- 1 cup Vegetable oil
- 2 tbsp Lemon juice
- 1/2 tsp Salt
- Pickled turnips or cucumbers(for serving)
- Fresh parsley(chopped, for garnish)
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
In a large bowl, combine yogurt, lemon juice, olive oil, minced garlic, shawarma spice blend, salt, and pepper. Add the chicken pieces and toss to coat evenly. Marinate for at least 30 minutes, or preferably 2-4 hours in the refrigerator.
💡 Tip: Marinating overnight will yield deeper flavor. - 2
Prepare the garlic sauce (Toum): In a food processor, blend the garlic cloves with salt until finely minced. Slowly drizzle in the vegetable oil while the processor is running, until the mixture emulsifies and becomes thick and white. Stir in the lemon juice.
⏱️ 10 minutes💡 Tip: Ensure the oil is added very slowly to achieve the correct consistency. If it separates, you can try to re-emulsify it by adding a little more minced garlic and slowly drizzling the mixture back in. - 3
Heat a large skillet or grill pan over medium-high heat. Add the marinated chicken in a single layer, working in batches if necessary to avoid overcrowding. Cook for 5-7 minutes per side, until the chicken is cooked through and nicely browned.
⏱️ 15 minutes - 4
Warm the pita bread. To assemble the plates, spread a generous amount of garlic sauce on each pita. Top with the cooked chicken shawarma, pickles, and a sprinkle of fresh parsley.
💡 Tip: You can also serve the shawarma components separately for guests to assemble their own.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓For a more authentic shawarma flavor, you can grill the chicken over charcoal.
- ✓Adjust the spice blend to your preference. Some variations include a pinch of allspice or nutmeg.
- ✓Toum can be made ahead of time and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week.
🔄 Variations
- Serve the shawarma in a wrap with lettuce, tomato, and tahini sauce.
- Add thinly sliced onions and tomatoes to the cooked chicken for extra flavor and texture.
- For a spicier kick, add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the marinade.