The Ultimate Halal Chicken Shawarma Recipe
Everyone has that favourite chicken or lamb shawarma shop that serves a hot sandwich which consistently hits the spot. But have you ever thought to try and make a shawarma at home? I'm here to tell you that it's easy, nutritious and delicious, and your family will love you for it.
First, watch the video 🎥
@crescent.dreams episode one: chicken shawarma 🍗🥪 what easy iftar eat recipe do you want to see next? #ramadan #iftar #muslimtiktok @The Golden Balance ♬ original sound - crescentdreams🌙Step 1: Marinating the chicken 🐓
To give your chicken that burst of flavour, we're going to create a homemade marinate that blends aromatic spices in a bowl. You'll need:
- 2 pounds of boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into thin 3" strips
- 1/4 cup of olive oil
- 2 tablespoons of lemon juice
- 2 cloves of minced garlic or 1 teaspoon of garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon of ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon of ground coriander
- 1 teaspoon of paprika
- 1 teaspoon of cajun pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon of ground turmeric
- 1/2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon of ground cardamom
- Drop of vinegar
- Tomato paste
- Salt, sugar and pepper to taste
Mix all the ingredients thoroughly, ensuring that the chicken is well-coated. Cover the bowl and let it marinate in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours, or preferably overnight. This allows the flavours to penetrate the chicken, resulting in a tender and delectable shawarma.
Step 2: Preparing the garlic sauce 🥣
No shawarma is complete without a tantalising, tangy garlic sauce. Here's how to create a garlic sauce that'll blow your mind:
- 10 cloves of garlic
- 1 cup of groundnut oil
- 2 tablespoons of lemon juice
- Salt to taste
Blend until the sauce starts to come together. If you overblend, the sauce will split as the garlic becomes too heated. If this happens, don't worry! You can use some egg white and whisk by hand again slowly until the sauce starts to stiffen. You want it to be able to hold it's own and the ingredients should all mix together well.
Step 3: Slice your pickles 🌶
Your shawarma will be lacking unless you have some pickles in your sandwich! Finely slice them so they're ready for when you're plating up.
Step 4: Cooking the chicken 🔥
Heat a grill pan or a skillet over medium-high heat. You want to create a nice char on both sides of the chicken. Drizzle a bit of olive oil to prevent sticking. Add the chicken strips to the pan, working in batches and listening out for the sizzle, and cooking the marinated chicken strips for about 5-6 minutes per side, or until they are cooked through and nicely browned. Ensure the chicken is cooked to an internal temperature of 74°C for optimal food safety. Then remove from the pan.
Step 5: Assembling the shawarma 👩🍳
Yes chef! Now comes the exciting part. Warm up an authentic flatbread in the same pan, making sure to mop up all the chicken juice. Then load up your chicken, pickles and garlic shawarma sauce.
Roll the sandwich up in baking paper and foil and put it back in the pan for one last toast. And voila! A shawarma sandwich that'll have your kids crying out for one more. Serve with french fries or alongside a halal jelly drink for even more brownie points.
Is your shawarma halal? ✅
Finally, always make sure your meat comes from halal sources. These sources should be halal certified, and if you want to find out more, you can read our handy 10 things you need to know.
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