Lebanese Chicken Shawarma

Name: Lebanese Chicken Shawarma
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 55 min
Yield: 6 servings
Cuisine: Lebanese
Ingredients: 1 kg boneless chicken thigh, skin off; 4 garlic cloves, crushed; 1/4 cup olive oil; 3 tbsp lemon juice; 2 tbsp plain yoghurt; 2 tsp ground cumin; 2 tsp ground coriander; 1 tsp smoked paprika; 1 tsp ground cinnamon; 1/2 tsp ground allspice; 1/4 tsp ground cardamom; Salt and black pepper; Lebanese pita or flatbread; Toum (garlic sauce); Pickles, tomato and parsley

20mPrep35mCook6ServesMediumDifficulty

Shawarma is Lebanese street food at its finest, and while most of us don’t have a vertical spit at home, this oven method gets you gloriously close. The magic is in the marinade - a warm blend of spices, garlic and lemon that soaks into the chicken overnight.

ChickenGrillStreet FoodDinner

Ingredients

For the chicken

●1 kg boneless chicken thigh, skin off
●4 garlic cloves, crushed
●1/4 cup olive oil
●3 tbsp lemon juice
●2 tbsp plain yoghurt
●2 tsp ground cumin
●2 tsp ground coriander
●1 tsp smoked paprika
●1 tsp ground cinnamon
●1/2 tsp ground allspice
●1/4 tsp ground cardamom
●Salt and black pepper

To serve

●Lebanese pita or flatbread
●Toum (garlic sauce)
●Pickles, tomato and parsley

Method

1
Combine all the marinade ingredients in a bowl. Add the chicken and coat well.
2
Cover and marinate in the fridge for at least 4 hours, ideally overnight.
3
Preheat the oven to 220°C. Arrange the chicken on a lined tray in a single layer.
4
Roast for 30-35 minutes, until the edges are charred and the chicken is cooked through.
5
Rest for 5 minutes, then slice thinly.
6
Pile into warm pita with toum, pickles and fresh vegetables. Roll tightly and eat immediately.

Teta's Tips

✦Chicken thigh is essential - breast dries out. The fat keeps it juicy and helps it char.
✦For extra colour, finish under a hot grill for 2-3 minutes after roasting.
✦Make a big batch of toum - you will want it on everything.

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From the cookbook