Delicious Chicken Shawarma

Make this delicious flavoursome chicken shawarma at home using my easy recipe. Shawarma is a traditionally Lebanese dish and it is prepared on a vertically rotating pit with spiced meats stacked on it. You do not need any fancy tools or huge industrial rotisserie grill. Just use your oven and create your own tasty shawarma. This dish works perfectly if boneless thigh is used instead of breast meat.

Prep Time: 15 minutes - Cook Time: 30 minutes - 6 Servings

Ingredients

1 kg boneless chicken thigh, kept as large pieces

3 wooden skewers

1 large onion or potato

Marinade for Chicken

2 tsp ground cumin

2 tsp ground coriander

2 tsp paprika

2 tsp tomato paste

1 tsp salt to taste

1 tsp garlic powder or 3 clove fresh garlic, crushed

1/4 tsp ground cinnamon

juice of half lemon or lime

Method

1. Preheat oven to 200°C.

2. Place the chicken thigh pieces in a large bowl and add all the marinade ingredients. Toss to coat the chicken into the spices. Keep in the refrigerator to marinade for 30 minutes to 2 hours. Take the chicken out of the fridge and bring to room temperature before putting it in the oven.

3. If you are using wooden skewers then soak them in cold water for 10 minutes. then pierce three skewers into the potato approximately 2cm apart from each other. Make sure sharp points of the skewers are facing up. Then slowly pierce one piece of the chicken into all three skewers, and repeat this process with all the chicken pieces.

4. Grease an oven tray with little bit of oil and place the shawarma on the tray. You can make the whole shawarma standing upright, but I placed it flat on the oven tray because my potato was quite weak.

5. Roast the chicken in the oven for 30 minutes first, then switch the grill on and cook for approximately 10 - 15 minutes on both sides.

6. Once the chicken has cooked well, take it out of the oven, and cover with foil to contain the moisture. When you are ready to serve, place the chicken on a clean board and slice away into strips.

7. Serve with the garlic and mint sauce. Perfect with pitta bread or couscous.

Recipe for mint and garlic sauce

In a mixing bowl place 1 cup natural yogurt, 1 tbs mayonnaise and 2 tsp mint sauce, 1 garlic clove chopped finely and salt. Mix well and serve with the chicken shawarma.

Enjoy!