I must admit I never thought of ever cooking shawarma, since it was so readily available throughout my life before moving to Paris.  Shawarma is something that is never cooked, but something you go out to eat. It’s a fun affair with family or friends made posh in a restaurant or simple from the many takeouts in Edgware Road in London.  The warm bread packed full with favoured chicken and Lebanese pickle with dripping tahini sauce. No matter how many little paper napkins I take from the silver dispenser I always end dropping some of that sauce on my scarf and trousers!

When I moved to Paris I found it difficult to find a good shawarma. So I started to cook it at home. I was surprised at how easily I could get the a similar flavour as the one in Maroush in London. I also found that there is a special spice mix for it too that you can buy named Shawarma spices ! (I found this in London) But to be honest mixing my own spices is better. I know how much to add of each spices as I try to please my boy’s and husband’s taste buds. However i am using 7 spices; it is frequently used in middle eastern cooking.  If you can’t find it, you can always mix it yourself. (1 tablespoon finely ground black pepper, 1 tablespoon ground allspice, 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon, 1 teaspoon grated nutmeg, 1 teaspoon ground coriander, 1 teaspoon ground cloves, 1 teaspoon ground Ginger)

Chicken Shawarma must be accompanied by Tahini sauce. That is why you lucky folks are getting two recipes in one post. Today is your lucky cooking day !

 

I am using chicken breast simply because I can easily cut it into slices. If you prefer thigh please do use it. There is two steps of cooking; oven and pan. I do this so I can get some crispiness on the chicken, if you want to avoid the pan frying step you can. Remember not to over cook your chicken it will become dry and crumbly.

If you want to go extra healthy you can eat your Shawarma without bread ! ( must be flat Lebanese bread otherwise it will not taste the same) replace it with salad and Tahini sauce, it’s very delicious.

Chicken Shawarma

Ingredients

2 chicken brest

1 white onion

3 garlic cloves

1 red bell pepper

1 green bell pepper

1 lemon

3 table spoons of olive oil

seasoning

2 teaspoons turmeric

3 teaspoons 7 spice mix

 

Method

Step 1- Cut the chicken into strips and small bite size pieces. Place in a bowl and add crush garlic, olive oil seasoning and spices. Mix well.

Step 2- Add to the bowl strips of red add green bell peppers and onion. add lemon juice and mix well.

Step 3- Place the chicken mixture into the oven 190C for 20 min.

Step 4- take etc chicken out of the oven and into frying pan and cook for 5 to 10 min. Until chicken edges are slightly crispy.

Step 5-Serve hot with bread / salad / pickles with tahini sauce.

Tahini Sauce

Ingredient 

3 Tahini (sesame paste)

2 cloves Garlic

1 tablespoon olive oil

2 tablespoons of water

2 tabelspoons lemon juice

pinch of salt

Sumac to garnish

Parsley to garnish

 

Method

Step 1- Crush the garlic cloves with salt.

Step 2- Add tahini and olive oil and mix really well.

Step 3 Add lemon juice and mix well. If the sauce is too think add water and keep mixing and tasting, adjusting ingredients.

Step 4 Garnish with sumac and parsley.