Chicken Shawarma (Lebanese Garlic and Spice Roasted Chicken)
Local name: شاورما دجاج
In short: Chicken thighs marinated in yogurt, lemon, garlic and warm spices, roasted until charred and sliced thin for wraps with pickles and garlic sauce. It takes about 55 min in total and makes 6 servings.
- Prep
- 20 min
- Cook
- 35 min
- Resting
- 4 h
- Total
- 55 min
- Servings
- 6
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 510 kcal
Lebanese chicken shawarma is a street-food sandwich: spiced chicken shaved from a vertical spit, rolled in thin bread with garlic sauce, pickles and tomato. Home cooks get close with a yogurt, lemon and spice marinade and a very hot oven, which chars the edges of the chicken while keeping it juicy. Slice it thin, pile it into warm bread with toum and pickled turnips, and roll it tight.
Instructions
- Whisk the yogurt, lemon juice, olive oil, vinegar, garlic, spices, salt and pepper in a large bowl. Add the chicken and turn until every piece is coated.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, or up to 24 hours.
- Heat the oven to 230°C (450°F). Spread the chicken in a single layer on a lined, rimmed baking tray, without crowding.
- Roast for 25 to 30 minutes, until the edges are charred and the thickest piece reaches 74°C (165°F). Finish under the broiler for 3 to 4 minutes for extra browning.
- Rest the chicken for 5 minutes, then slice it thinly and toss with the juices on the tray.
- Warm the pita. Spread each with a spoonful of toum, pile on chicken, pickles, tomatoes and parsley, and roll tightly. Toast the rolls in a dry pan for 1 minute per side if you like.
Tips
- Do not crowd the pan. The chicken should lie in one layer so the edges brown instead of steaming. Chicken breast also works, but cut it into thick strips and roast for 20 minutes, since it dries out faster than thigh meat.
- If you do not want to make toum, whisk 120 g (1/2 cup) yogurt with 2 crushed garlic cloves and a squeeze of lemon for a quick sauce.
Questions and answers
How long should chicken shawarma marinate?
At least 4 hours and up to 24. The yogurt and lemon tenderize the meat, but beyond a day the texture turns mushy.
Can I cook shawarma on the grill?
Yes. Grill the marinated thighs over medium-high heat for 6 to 7 minutes per side, until 74°C (165°F), then slice thinly.
What goes in a Lebanese chicken shawarma wrap?
Sliced chicken, garlic sauce (toum), pickled cucumbers or turnips, tomato and parsley, all rolled in thin bread.
How long does it take to make Chicken Shawarma (Lebanese Garlic and Spice Roasted Chicken)?
About 55 min in total: 20 min of preparation and 35 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Chicken Shawarma (Lebanese Garlic and Spice Roasted Chicken)?
About 510 kcal per serving, with 39 g of protein, 36 g of carbohydrates and 23 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 510 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 39 g |
| Carbohydrates | 36 g |
| Fat | 23 g |
| Fiber | 3 g |
| Sugar | 4 g |
| Sodium | 1050 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
