INGREDIENTS
- 2 lbs boneless skinless chicken thighs lightly pounded to even thickness
- 2 lemons juiced
- 4 garlic cloves minced
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- salt to taste
For Shawarmas
- 6 pieces white or whole wheat pita
- 1 bunch curly parsley chopped
- 1/2 sweet white onion thinly sliced
- 4 tomatoes medium, sliced
- pickle spears
- hot sauce to taste (optional)
Shawarma Spice Mix
- 2 tbsp cumin
- 2 tbsp coriander seeds
- 1/2 tsp cayenne
- 2 tsp tumeric
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 2 tsp allspice
Tahini Sauce
- 2 tbsp tahini well-stirred
- 1/2 lemon juiced
- 2-3 tbsp warm water
- pinch salt
Instant Pickles
- 3 fresh pickling cucumbers medium-sized
- 1 cup white vinegar
- 1 1/2 tsp kosher salt
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 2 tbsp fresh dill chopped
METHOD
Chicken Shawarma
- Combine shawarma spice ingredients in a mortar and pestle and grind until fine.
- In a large freezer bag or medium bowl, combine chicken with spice mix, lemon juice garlic, olive oil and salt. Make sure chicken is evenly coated in marinate, cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes to 24 hours.
- Preheat barbecue to medium.
- Stir together tahini sauce and set aside. Have the pita, prepared parsley, tomatoes, onion, pickles and hot sauce ready and standing by.
- Barbecue chicken for about 4 minutes on each side, or until nicely charred with an internal temperature of 170 F.
- Once chicken is off the barbecue, set aside for a minute and warm the pitas for 30 seconds. Then slice the chicken, open the pitas, and fill with chicken, slices of onion, tomatoes, pickle, parsley, and a good drizzle of tahini sauce, and hot sauce. Roll up and enjoy!
Note: you may also buy shawarma spice mix at the grocery store and use about 5 tbsp of it
Instant Pickles
- Slice pickles lengthwise into four spears.
- In a small saucepan, bring vinegar, water, salt and sugar to a boil.
- Place prepared cucumbers in a non-reactive bowl and pour hot vinegar mixture overtop. Add chopped dill. Let cool on the counter for an hour then put in fridge to chill. Pickles will keep for about one week (although they’re so good, they probably won’t last the day.)