Chicken Shawarma Sandwich
Shawarma is a lot like gyro. It is similarly cooked on a vertical spit and thinly shaved into strips. It is popular at fast food restaurants across the Mediterranean , including Morocco where I have had the most amazing shawarma sandwiches.
I haven’t had shawarma ever since I made it for my book about two years ago. I’m constantly concerned with coming up with new recipes that I forget to revisit old favorites. I have finally made it again. I have almost forgotten how good it is.
This recipe doesn’t require an exorbitant list of ingredients, which is really nice. It requires some planning ahead, though. It needs to marinate and the longer it does, the better it will taste. The sesame tahini is so garlicky and lemony, and complements this sandwich so beautifully.
Serve shawarma in a pita or naan pocket topped with tomato and onion slices. Drizzle with loads of tahini sauce and you have yourself an out of this world chicken sandwich.
Shawarma Sandwich Recipe
4 servings
For the chicken
1 pound boneless skinless chicken breast, cut into thin strips
3 tablespoons distilled white vinegar
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon allspice or shawarma spice (I used allspice)
3 tablespoons olive oil
Salt and freshly ground pepper
4 whole grain pita or naan pockets
For the tahini sauce
1/2 cup tahini (sesame paste)
2 cloves garlic, minced or pressed
Juice of 2 lemons
4 tablespoons plain yogurt or sour cream
Salt and freshly ground pepper
For Garnish
1 tomato, sliced
1 small onion, cut into thin strips
In a large bowl, combine the chicken, vinegar, garlic, shawarma spice, olive oil, salt, and pepper. Mix well. Cover and let marinate in the refrigerator for 6 hours, preferably overnight.
Cook the chicken in a medium sauté pan over medium heat, stirring occasionally, 20 to 25 minutes.
Mix all the ingredients for the sauce together in a medium bowl. Serve the chicken in the pita bread pockets, garnished with onion and tomato and drizzled with the tahini sauce.
Note: I personally like to spray my pita or naan with cooking spray and grill it in a panini press to get rid of the cardboard feel it sometimes has. Doing so really makes a difference in the taste and restores elasticity to the bread. You may heat the pita on a skillet instead of a panini press, if you wish.
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Peter M — 05/09/2011 @ 11:04 am
I love it…different flavour profile from Gyro but still delicious and it contains identifiable, real meat inside!
lacaffettierarosa — 05/09/2011 @ 12:06 pm
Nisrine, this looks so good. I love gyros but I am often put off by the poor quality of the meat – although here in Germany I am really spoiled for choice and there are a lot of great places for that.
I was wondering – did you try barbecueing the chicken instead of pan frying it? Does it work?
Thanks!
cookies and cups — 05/09/2011 @ 12:12 pm
This sounds perfect! My husband would love this :)
Dan — 05/09/2011 @ 1:39 pm
A good shawarma is just plain good. I've had so many variations with so many different breads and fillings I could go on for hours.
squirrelbread — 05/09/2011 @ 3:38 pm
Shawarma holds a special place for me, and if it's on the menu, I'm having it no matter what. I usually throw a bit of greens on there as well, though that's probably because of my background in nutrition as opposed to tradition. As for your comment about constant concern with new recipes and forgetting the classics, I can definitely relate. I have to remind myself sometime that I have a recipe box full of wonderful, tried-and-true dishes!
Cheers,
*Heather*
tori — 05/09/2011 @ 3:52 pm
Looks fabulous- I just found your blog through Orangette and have had the most delightful hour trawling through the archives with a cup of tea. Your photographs are just stunning. We just came back from four days in Morocco and I absolutely fell in love with the food. Can't wait to try some more at home.
Kate @ Demiglazed — 05/09/2011 @ 5:02 pm
…how did you know I've been craving shawarma lately and looking for a recipe? This is great!
Jennifurla — 05/09/2011 @ 5:08 pm
Looks perfect, I have never made anything like this before.
Amanda — 05/09/2011 @ 8:26 pm
Nothing better than a schwarma sandwich in djem al fna!! Love it!
Kalyn — 05/09/2011 @ 10:17 pm
This looks just amazing. At a middle eastern restaurant in Salt Lake, my favorite thing on the menu is "Schwarma Platter." It's a plate, half filled with a salad dressed with olive oil and lots of lemon, the other half spread with hummus and topped with Schwarma meat, turnip pickles, and some herbs. Absolute heaven!
We Are Not Martha — 05/10/2011 @ 12:49 am
Mmm I love garicky tahini :) This looks absolutely amazing!
Sues
Helene — 05/10/2011 @ 1:47 am
I love shawarma. What a delicious sandwich.
Ilke — 05/10/2011 @ 2:42 am
Love shawarma. We used to go to a great place, called Pita House, in Greenville, SC for shawarma. Although bigger, I can not find the same taste in Charlotte.
Love your pictures. I will put your book on my list! :)
Kulsum@JourneyKitchen — 05/10/2011 @ 10:05 am
If I spend a week eating shawarma, I Still won't get tired. I should mail tis recipe to my mom who misses shawarma in Kuwait very much!
Natascha Kessler - Heaven on Hearth — 05/10/2011 @ 11:02 am
Looks delicious. My husband would love this. I just enjoy quick and easy meals!
Nisrine Merzouki — 05/10/2011 @ 11:05 am
Thanks, Tori. Welcome to my blog.
Joanne — 05/10/2011 @ 12:01 pm
I love just how simple and yet still utterly addictive shawarma is! I need to try your version because it looks amazing!
Deeba PAB — 05/10/2011 @ 12:26 pm
Bookmarked…this looks just GREAT!
Anonymous — 05/10/2011 @ 2:00 pm
Hello Nisrine, Great Book! I was wondering with your vast knowledge could you please tell me how to make Moroccan Bread. I am very interested in the flat round loaves. I thought i saw a picture on Your Web page. Thanks Mo
Bria @ West of Persia — 05/10/2011 @ 4:48 pm
Loving this! Chicken shawarma is good comfort food. I'm making chicken kebabs this week, but now you've inspired me to put chicken shawarma on the list for next week.
gary robinson — 05/10/2011 @ 6:02 pm
When I lived in Abu Dhabi, there was a little shawarma shop on my way home from work I often dipped into. They stuffed a handful of french fries in theirs, and as shameful as this is…it made ALL the difference to an already fantastic snack!
1000+1 — 05/11/2011 @ 8:53 am
shawirma is one of my long time favorites! i never tried making it at home though … thanks for sharing this great recipe!