What is Shawarma?

Shawarma is thinly sliced cuts of meat, like chicken, beef, goat, lamb, and sometimes turkey, rolled into a large piece of flatbread or pita that has been steamed or heated. Inside the pita, foods like hummus, tahini, pickles, vegetables, and even french fries are added. Think of shawarma as a taco or burrito Middle Eastern style.

How is Shawarma Made?

Raw meat is placed on large, rotating cones. As it rotates, the meat is cooked by a heat source that is located behind the actual cone. The meat slowly falls off or is thinly sliced by a chef with a large knife. It can take several hours to fully cook.

What is Served with Shawarma

It usually serve with fries, salads like tabouleh, falafel, and just by itself for a quick bite on the go. In some places it is served alone, without the pita or flatbread.

Do I Need a Cone Tower to Make Shawarma at Home?

It’s really hard to duplicate the taste without a tower. You can come very close, but there is still that “something” that is missing!

Shawarma Recipe

Ingredients:

  • 2 lbs beef or chickens or lamb, sliced very thin
  • 1 cup plain yogurt
  • 2 teaspoons lemon juice
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/2 teaspoon hot pepper sauce
  • 1 teaspoon vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon onions, finely minced
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground mace
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup tahini
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 teaspoons lemon juice
  • 2 teaspoons chopped parsley
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 8 slices pita bread
  • sliced tomatoes
  • sliced onions
  • mixed sprouts
  • lettuce, sliced thin

Tzatziki Sauce

Ingredients:

  • 2 (8 ounce) containers plain yogurt
  • 2 cucumbers - peeled, seeded and diced
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1/2 lemon, juiced
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill
  • 3 cloves garlic, peeled

In a food processor or blender, combine yogurt, cucumber, olive oil, lemon juice, salt, pepper, dill and garlic. Process until well-combined. Transfer to a separate dish, cover and refrigerate for at least one hour for best flavor.

Directions:

 

  1. Combine yogurt, lemon juice, garlic, pepper sauce, vinegar, onion, black and cayenne pepper, mace, and salt.
  2. Add meat and marinate overnight.
  3. (at least 12 hours-stir a few times) Grill the meat until done or broil in oven.
  4. Combine the tahini, garlic, lemon juice, and parsley.
  5. Whisk well.
  6. Add water if needed.
  7. To make the sandwich slice open a pita, spread some tahini sauce on the bread and add some lettuce and sprouts, tomato, onion and meat.
  8. Pour on a little tzatziki and chow down.

Prepare the Pita

Place enough chicken on pita that cover 1/4 of the loaf. Add veggies and pour sauce. Roll like a soft taco or burrito and you have shawarma! You can also stuff the pocket of the pita if you like. I prefer to roll large pitas (this is where making your own pita comes in handy).

Serving Shawarma

You can serve shawarma with fries, falafel, hummus, or with a salad like tabouleh.

source: mideastfood.about.com, recipezaar.com, allrecipes.com, photo from nationless.blogspot.com


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10 Responses to “How to Make Shawarma (Recipe)”

  1. 10
    Aylia Says:

    hmm…..seems delicious… wud definetely have to try…
    muwaah….!!

  2. 9
    mayeen Says:

    ellow..may i know wat is dill?and wer i can buy it?waiting or ur reply..thanks!!!

  3. 8
    anne Says:

    hello ,
    thanks for the recipe , on how to make shawarma.
    may i know where can i visit n study actual makin of shawarma?
    Im thinkin to study in short time , 1 or 2 days?

  4. 7
    Ach Says:

    i love to eat shawarma, especially the one sold in malls in the philippines. do you know the recipe of the white & brown sauce they use? i’ll be leaving for work abroad & i don’t wanna miss eating shawarma.. hope you can email me the recipe to this eadd: khan_naitzi@yahoo.com.

    thanks a lot & more power to this very informative site…

  5. 6
    Leo Says:

    @dominic, tahini is just ground sesame seeds. it’s easy to find sesame seeds in supermarkets but the harder part is how you can find a ground one. maybe you can use a blender to grind it or turn it into paste.

  6. 5
    dominic bordador Says:

    hi!
    could someone please tell me where i can buy tahini?
    thanks!

  7. 4
    Leo Says:

    hi reuter, click this link for pita bread making

  8. 3
    reuter miguel Says:

    hi gooday , if i may ask for you kindness to pls teach me the proceedure of how to make a pita bread pls. thanks alot i realy appriciate it godbless

  9. 2
    emil de lara Says:

    SHAWARMA BUSINESS

    *For Sale 50k negotiable or For Rent
    5k monthly.

    * Complete set (Stainless Food
    Cart;Grille; Umbrella (70×70 size);and
    gas tank.

    * 09158083014 / 7344275 EMIL

  10. 1
    Leo Says:

    E Akino Says: 7/04/2007 01:07:00 PM

    This is a great recipe and when your in saudi..this is a common meal if you want to save. back home shawarma is all beef, here in Riyadh most shawarma is chicken base rarely you’ll find beef, in Jeddah it’s a combination. What ever it’s base ingredients is this meal fits Pinoy taste. Mabuhay Kabayan!

    Abel Says: 7/04/2007 04:42:00 PM

    I love Mid-Eastern food. (mouth waters) Me and my wife’s favorite is the newly renovated and beefed-up service at Behrouz in Timog Ave, QC. The renovation and improved service are just bonuses. Even when they still had lousy service, the food was worth it despite grueling waits and cowboy-style dine area. But that’s all improved now.

    I also used to own a Shawarma Food Cart in Riverbanks Marikina but it was short-lived. The preparation was so tedious, I figured I’d rather buy one than prepare and sell it myself. :)

    Anyways, thanks for the “How to” on shawarma making.

    Anonymous Says: 7/07/2007 09:40:00 AM

    hi there! where can i get the procedure on how to make a pita for the shawarma? looking forward for ur response. thanks a lot and God Bless.

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