Chicken Shawarma at Home

Here is a take out recipe you can recreate at home! If you're wondering what to do with some of those spices in your cupboard, now might be the time to try them out.

Chicken Shawarma with Yogurt Garlic Sauce

My son really enjoys take out chicken shawarma. It has great flavour and is easy to pick up, but I wanted him to save some money and realize just how easy it was to make at home. 

It fed the family with some leftovers for him as well (his midnight snack). 

I am hoping this will be helpful for him later in life when he’s trying to eat well and balance his grocery budget! 

Prep time: 15 minutes
Marinate time: 1 hour

Cook time: 20 minutes
Serves: 6

4 cloves garlic, rasped 

1 tbsp (15 mL) each ground cumin and coriander

2 tsp (10 mL) each kosher salt and ground turmeric

1 tsp (5 mL) ground ginger

1/2 tsp (2 mL) each ground allspice and pepper

1/4 tsp (1 mL) cayenne pepper

1/3 cup (75 mL) extra virgin olive oil

2 1/2 lb (1. 2 kg) boneless skinless chicken thighs 

Yogurt Garlic Sauce:

1 cup (250 mL) plain Greek yogurt

2 tbsp (30 m L) fresh lemon juice

2 tbsp (30 mL) extra virgin olive oil

2 cloves garlic, rasped

1/2 tsp (2 mL) ground cumin

Salt and pepper to taste

Yogurt Garlic Sauce: In a bowl, whisk together yogurt, lemon juice, oil, garlic, cumin and salt and pepper to taste. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.

In a large bowl, combine garlic, cumin, coriander, salt, turmeric, ginger, allspice and pepper. Add oil and whisk together. Add chicken thighs and turn well to coat evenly with spice mixture. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or up to overnight. 

Preheat oven to 425 F (220 C). Line a baking sheet with foil or parchment paper and place chicken thighs evenly in single layer. 

Roast chicken for about 20 minutes or until golden brown and no longer pink inside and juices run clear. Let cool slightly and then slice into strips.

Serve with yogurt garlic sauce.

Tip: You can enjoy with rice or wrap it up in a pita. 

For a smokey flavour you can grill the chicken thighs over medium high heat. 

If you want more garlic flavour in the Yogurt Garlic Sauce, add more and be sure to balance some of that garlic with a bit more lemon juice and salt.