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Photo (taken by yours truly) of Spiced Shawarma Chicken from my cookbook, An Edible Mosaic: Middle Eastern Fare with Extraordinary Flair.
If you’ve been reading my blog for a while you know that Mike and I are serious shawarma people.
Of course I was thrilled when Brandy (of Nutmeg Nanny) told me that was the recipe she wanted to make for the main course for A Mid-East Feast (the appetizer that everyone made was Zucchini Fritters…and stay tuned because dessert is coming next week!). If you’re not familiar with it, here’s a little bit about shawarma in the Middle East it from my last post on it: Shawarma can be made from just about any kind of meat you can imagine, but chicken and lamb are particularly popular (chicken is my personal favorite). Before being cooked, the meat is marinated and spiced (spices used vary from vendor to vendor), and then formed into a cone shape on a vertical rotisserie. As the meat turns on the rotisserie, the outer layer cooks, crisping in places, and the juices are caught in a drip pan below. The cooked meat is thinly sliced, tossed in the juices, and made into sandwiches, and then the next layer of meat cooks and is sliced off, etc.
If you’re having trouble getting your kids to eat healthy, try shawarma…after all, it’s the Middle Eastern version of fast food! My niece adores it.
Mike and I seek out the best shawarma joints when we’re in the Middle East. Once he moved to the U.S., good shawarma was something that he just wasn’t willing to give up…and once I had tasted it, neither was I! The thing about shawarma is that it’s typically cooked on a vertical rotisserie (if you’re wondering what it looks like, check out my post on shawarma in Damascus). Most people I know (myself included) do not have this piece of equipment at home, so to get an authentic-tasting shawarma, I use a two-step cooking process – roasting in the oven, followed by sautéing on the stovetop – which results in delicious and authentic-tasting shawarma.
The result? Mike (my Middle Eastern hubby) says it’s better, both more flavorful and more tender, than the shawarma back home. (And he doesn’t mince words or spare my feelings when it comes to food, lol.) And that right there is why I loved learning to cook Middle Eastern food.
The full recipe for my Spiced Shawarma Chicken Sandwiches can be found here on Heather’s blog. If shawarma is your thing you will love this recipe! (And even if it isn’t, seriously, give the recipe a try and I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.)
A huge thank-you to all the wonderful bloggers participating in A Mid-East Feast! Please stop by their beautiful blogs to check out their shawarma posts and take a look around.
Brandy – Nutmeg Nanny
Amanda – Fake Ginger
Jeanette – Jeanette’s Healthy Living
Gina – Running to the Kitchen
Joanne – Eats Well With Others
Heather – Girlichef
Natasha – Five Star Foodie
Megan – What Megan’s Making
Rachel – Baked by Rachel
P.S. Brandy just got married last weekend – isn’t she a rock star for organizing this event while planning a wedding? Stop by her blog Nutmeg Nanny to say congrats!!
I’m the writer, recipe developer, photographer, and food stylist behind this blog. I love finding the human connection through something we all do every day: eat! Food is a common ground that we can all relate to, and our tables tell a story. It’s my goal to inspire you to get in the kitchen, try something new, and find a favorite you didn’t know you had.
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Fantastic about the Mid East Feast! What a lovely idea and a great way to showcase your hard work putting together the cookbook. Can’t wait to see what everyone makes!
Shawarma is of course one of our favorites too – lamb would be my top choice, especially as it’s crisped on the outside. We also don’t have a proper shawarma spit (but boy do I wish I did!) so my aunt taught me the same method you use — to get it nice and tender in the oven, then flash-saute it until it’s crispy. Love it!
Yasmeen, Yes, my hubby and I were SO HAPPY after much experimenting to finally get the perfect shawarma recipe down pat! We love making it at home, and as there aren’t any shawarma vendors in the area where we live, it’s the only way we get to enjoy it.
I love shawarma its one of my favourite “fast foods”. Its something you crave once you’ve had it. I am heading over to Nutmeg Nanny
I’m so glad to have a proper recipe…and so excited that it will be in the cookbook! I’ve made chicken shawarma and loved it, but I know it could be better and I have to try this version that is even better than the shawarma found in the Middle East!
We LOVE shwarma but have a hard time finding a good place…our favorite place is a bit far in downtown Toronto. I’ve tried a recipe at home…tastes good but can’t really say it’s shwarma. Can’t wait to give yours a try!
These look wonderful! I have never made this but, would love to. I know it would go over well.
Sounds great to me!
Junior and I are so enjoying the wraps! Today we had them with grapes, so yummy!
Faith – these were such a hit in our house – I barely got a bite! I am going to make a double batch next time. I had never tasted Shawarma so I was so excited that we had a chance to try this recipe this past week. My family has been enjoying exploring Middle Eastern food using the recipes from your fabulous cookbook!
I can NOT wait to make these – they are next!
I don’t even know how to pronounce that and have never tried it but I wish I had some right now! :)
I’ll be making this for sure! Shawarma is my hubby’s favourite!
oh my gosh yum! I want to eat everything you make :) Brandy is awesome
When we were in Oman, a friend told us that we had to have shawarma. And it was delicious! So, so good :D
Mouthwateringly scrumptious!
Cheers,
Rosa
I am extremely grateful that Brandy chose these Shawarma wraps…you know why? Because it was my first experience with Shawarma in any form – and now I can’t get enough of it. All of my future Shawarma experiences will be measured against your fantastic recipe!
I’ve always thought about buying one of those little rotisserie ovens just for the purpose of making Pork Al Pastor or maybe Gyros, and if I ever buy one, I’ll try Shawarma on it, as well. But I’m in no rush since your way is so perfect.
And thank you for the shout-out and link, Faith! :D