‘Shawarma’ is a classic middle eastern dish where marinated meat is cooked on a skewer. Yes, it’s similar to a gyro but not quite the same. Rotating the meat regularly ensures it cooks evenly, while inducing a lovely char. This dish is a really flavourful one, as the marinade contains a host of middle eastern spices like cinnamon, paprika, and turmeric. This recipe from Jack’s Meat Shack adds a fun build-your-own experience to any event.
If you’re not bothered about keeping the authenticity of the dish intact, some ingredients can be swapped out for others. If you’d prefer it spicier, add some chopped fresh chillies to the marinade. Equally, if you want a different flavour profile, why not add ginger and coriander. The latter can also be used as a garnish, along with other choices of fresh herbs like thyme or parsley.
If you don’t have access to a grill, oven roasted chicken shawarma can work fine. Pre-heat the oven to a slightly higher temperature to make up for the fact the oven uses indirect heat. Then follow the same temperature guide. You can even finish the thighs under the broiler to achieve a similar char.
Shawarma traditionally uses lamb or mutton. However, chicken, beef, turkey, and veal are all viable options too. Non-meat eaters can also substitute in falafel, paneer, and vegetables.
Actually, yes. Many middle eastern inspired dishes use monosaturated and polysaturated fats. You won’t find any lard or butter being used in Shawarma. On top of this, Shawarma cab be a great source of protein, carbohydrates, iron, sodium, fiber, and magnesium.
