How to make shawarma at home

Making shawarma at home is easier than it may seem, allowing you to customise the ingredients to your taste. Here is a basic recipe for making chicken shawarma at home:

Ingredients:
– 500g boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts, thinly sliced
– 1/4 cup plain yoghurt
– 3 tablespoons olive oil
– 3 cloves garlic, minced
– 1 teaspoon ground cumin
– 1 teaspoon paprika
– 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
– 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
– 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (adjust to your spice preference)
– Juice of 1 lemon
– Salt and pepper to taste

For Assembling:
– Pita bread or flatbreads
– Lettuce, shredded
– Tomatoes, sliced
– Cucumber, sliced
– Red onion, thinly sliced
– Pickles (optional)
– Tahini sauce or garlic sauce (store-bought or homemade)
– French fries (optional for stuffing inside the shawarma)

Instructions:

1. In a bowl, combine all the marinade ingredients – yoghurt, olive oil, minced garlic, ground cumin, paprika, ground coriander, ground cinnamon, cayenne pepper, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Mix well.

2. Add the thinly sliced chicken to the marinade, ensuring all the pieces are coated. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let it marinate in the refrigerator for at least 1-2 hours, or ideally, overnight.

3. Preheat your oven to 200°C (390°F).

4. If you have a vertical rotisserie for shawarma, you can skewer the marinated chicken slices and cook them on the rotisserie until fully cooked and slightly charred.

5. If you don’t have a rotisserie, you can cook the chicken in the oven. Spread the marinated chicken in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or aluminium foil. Bake in the oven for about 20-25 minutes or until the chicken is cooked and slightly crispy.

6. While the chicken is cooking, prepare the other shawarma toppings: shred the lettuce, slice the tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, and other preferred vegetables.

7. Warm the pita bread or flatbreads in the oven for a few minutes or on a stovetop skillet until they are pliable.

8. To assemble the shawarma, spread some tahini sauce or garlic sauce on the warmed pita bread. Add a layer of shredded lettuce, followed by the cooked chicken slices and the sliced vegetables. You can also add pickles and French fries if desired.

9. Roll the pita bread tightly around the filling, tucking in the sides as you go, to form a shawarma wrap.

10. Serve the homemade shawarma warm and enjoy!

You can adjust the recipe by adding other ingredients like hummus, shredded cabbage, or different sauces to suit your taste preferences. Making shawarma at home allows you to get creative and tailor it to your liking. Enjoy your delicious homemade shawarma!