Saed News: First, it should be known that Shawarma is one of the popular street foods in the Middle East, made with marinated meat and a blend of aromatic spices.
Saed News Cooking Service Report: You might be wondering how to make Shawarma Chicken with Lavash Bread. First, it should be known that Shawarma is one of the popular street foods in the Middle East, made with marinated meat and a mix of aromatic spices. In this recipe, we use Lavash bread instead of pita, which, in addition to being easily accessible, has a thinner and crunchier texture. If you'd like to learn how to make Shawarma Chicken with Lavash bread, this article is for you.
Ingredients for Shawarma Chicken with Lavash Bread:
Chicken breast or thigh: 500 grams
Greek yogurt: ½ cup
Olive oil: 3 tablespoons
Fresh lemon juice: 2 tablespoons
Grated garlic: 3 cloves
Ground cumin: 1 teaspoon
Paprika: 1 teaspoon
Ground cinnamon: ½ teaspoon
Ground black pepper: ½ teaspoon
Salt: 1 teaspoon
Ground cardamom: ½ teaspoon
Lavash bread: as needed
Onion: 2 pieces
Potato: 2 pieces
Steps to make Shawarma Chicken with Lavash Bread:
Step 1: Preparing the ingredients
To start, prepare all the necessary ingredients. Cut the chicken breast or thighs into thin strips so that they cook faster. Measure the spices (paprika, cumin, black pepper, cinnamon, and cardamom) and set them aside. Grate the garlic, squeeze the lemon juice, and prepare the yogurt in a bowl. Also, keep the Lavash bread and vegetables like pickles, tomatoes, and chopped parsley ready for serving.
Step 2: Marinating the chicken
For the Shawarma to have an amazing flavor, the chicken should be marinated for at least 4 hours. In a large bowl, combine Greek yogurt, olive oil, lemon juice, grated garlic, and the spices. Add the chicken pieces and mix well to ensure all the pieces are evenly coated. Then, cover the bowl and refrigerate.
Step 3: Cooking the chicken
Heat a cast-iron pan or grill on medium heat and add a little oil. Arrange the marinated chicken pieces in the pan and cook for about 5-7 minutes on each side until they are golden and crispy. While cooking, flip the chicken regularly to ensure it cooks evenly on all sides.
Step 4: Slicing and seasoning the onion
To add a delightful flavor to the Shawarma, slice the onion thinly and season it with a little sumac and salt. This will give the onion a mild flavor and reduce its sharpness.
Step 5: Preparing the potatoes
In some Shawarma recipes, fried potatoes are also added. Cut the potatoes into strips and fry them in hot oil until golden and crispy. Place them on a paper towel to absorb excess oil.
Step 6: Preparing the Lavash bread and toppings
Place the Lavash bread on a flat surface and add a suitable amount of cooked chicken, fried potatoes, pickles, tomatoes, parsley, and seasoned onions. If desired, you can also add some garlic sauce or Greek yogurt on top of the ingredients.
Step 7: Rolling and warming the Shawarma
Roll the Lavash tightly and place it on a dry pan or grill. Heat each side for about 1-2 minutes until it is slightly crispy and has a better flavor.
Step 8: Serving Shawarma Chicken with Lavash Bread
Cut the Shawarma into the desired size and serve with garlic sauce, Greek yogurt, or tahini sauce. You can also enjoy this dish with fried potatoes and a salad.
Additional Tips for Making Shawarma Chicken with Lavash Bread:
Use the right spices for authentic Shawarma flavor: Spices play an essential role in the final taste of Shawarma. It's best to use a mix of spices like paprika, cumin, cinnamon, ginger, black pepper, cardamom, and sumac to achieve a flavor close to authentic Lebanese Shawarma.
Use yogurt for tender chicken: To achieve soft and juicy chicken, yogurt is an important ingredient in the marinade. It helps tenderize the chicken and allows it to absorb the spices better.
Add mushrooms for a different taste: In some versions of this dish, mushrooms are added to the ingredients, giving Shawarma a unique and delightful flavor. For Shawarma with mushrooms, sauté sliced mushrooms in butter and fry them with the marinated chicken.
Make Shawarma with Tahini Sauce: Tahini sauce is a popular sauce to serve with Shawarma in Arabic countries. To make it, combine tahini, lemon juice, grated garlic, salt, and some yogurt, then pour it over the Shawarma when serving. This sauce gives the dish a creamy and delicious flavor.
Make Lebanese Shawarma sauce: One of the most popular sauces for Shawarma is Lebanese garlic sauce. To make it, blend grated garlic, egg whites, olive oil, and lemon juice until it has a creamy and light texture. This sauce, combined with Lavash bread, Shawarma chicken, and fresh vegetables, makes a wonderful combination.
Better way to warm Shawarma: If you want the Lavash bread to become crispy and delicious after rolling the Shawarma, you can warm it in a grill pan or sandwich press for a few minutes. This will make the bread slightly crispy and enhance the flavor.
How to make a healthier Shawarma: To make a healthier version of this dish, you can cook the chicken in the oven at 200°C. Also, instead of fried potatoes, you can use grilled vegetables like bell peppers, eggplant, and zucchini to increase the nutritional value of the Shawarma.
Add cheese for a different flavor: If you want to give your Shawarma a unique flavor, add some slices of cheddar cheese or grilled cheese on the chicken when rolling the Lavash. This will give the Shawarma a creamy texture and a more appealing taste.
