Shawarma Chicken With Garlic Sauce (Printable View)
Tender spiced shawarma chicken with fluffy garlic toum, perfect in pitas, atop rice or salad; grill or oven finish.
# What You Need:
→ Chicken and Marinade
01 - 1.5 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs
02 - 3 tablespoons plain yogurt or non-dairy yogurt
03 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
04 - 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
05 - 4 garlic cloves, minced
06 - 1.5 teaspoons ground cumin
07 - 1 teaspoon ground coriander
08 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
09 - 1 teaspoon ground turmeric
10 - 0.5 teaspoon ground cinnamon
11 - 0.5 teaspoon cayenne pepper, optional
12 - 1 teaspoon kosher salt
13 - 0.5 teaspoon ground black pepper
→ Garlic Sauce
14 - 5 large garlic cloves
15 - 0.5 teaspoon kosher salt
16 - 1 cup neutral oil such as canola or sunflower
17 - 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
18 - 1 to 2 tablespoons ice water, as needed
→ To Serve
19 - 4 pita breads or flatbreads
20 - Sliced tomato
21 - Sliced cucumber
22 - Sliced red onion
23 - Fresh parsley or cilantro
# How-To Steps:
01 - In a large bowl, combine yogurt, olive oil, lemon juice, minced garlic, cumin, coriander, smoked paprika, turmeric, cinnamon, cayenne (if using), salt, and black pepper. Add chicken thighs and coat thoroughly. Cover and chill for at least 1 hour, or up to overnight for intensified flavor.
02 - In a food processor, process garlic cloves with salt until finely minced. With the processor running, slowly drizzle in the oil in a thin stream, alternating with lemon juice, until the sauce becomes fluffy and emulsified. Add ice water by the tablespoon if needed for a creamy consistency. Taste and adjust for salt or lemon.
03 - Preheat a grill, grill pan, or skillet over medium-high heat. Remove chicken from marinade and let excess drip away. Grill or sear each piece 5 to 7 minutes per side until fully cooked and charred in spots. Let rest 5 minutes, then slice into strips.
04 - Fill warm pita with sliced chicken and drizzle generously with garlic sauce. Add sliced tomatoes, cucumbers, red onion, and fresh parsley or cilantro as desired.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The creamy garlic sauce is so addictive, you'll find yourself making extra just for dipping fries or even veggies.
- The whole kitchen fills with warming spices, making even ordinary evenings feel like a street food celebration.
02 -
- If you rush the garlic sauce, pouring oil too quickly, it’ll split into an oily mess instead of a creamy spread.
- Letting the chicken marinate overnight transforms the flavor and keeps it moist, especially if you’re meal prepping.
03 -
- If your toum breaks, start over with a fresh egg white and whisk in the broken sauce to salvage it.
- Marinate chicken in the morning—by dinnertime, the flavor is unbeatable and the prep feels effortless.