Are you sick of paying a lot for shawarma from your neighborhood takeout joint? Do you wish you could make such tender, juicy meat with aromatic spices in the comfort of your own home? If so, don’t worry, my friends. I’m here to help you master the art of making shawarma at home.
Before diving straight into how to make shawarma at home, let’s discuss why homemade shawarma is preferable to store-bought shawarma. To begin with, you have total control over the materials. There will be no more mystery meat or iffy sauces, only fresh and delicious spices, delicate slices of meat, and wonderfully crisp vegetables. Consider how much money you’ll save by avoiding those marked-up costs.
Now, I know what you’re thinking: “But making shawarma at home seems so complicated!” Fear not, my dear readers; I tell you that it is much simpler than it appears. Anyone can make a delicious batch of homemade shawarma with a little planning and preparation. So put on your apron and prepare to amaze yourself (and perhaps your guests) with this scrumptious dinner.
Ingredients Needed To Make Shawarma At Home
Do you get exhausted from desiring shawarma but are not willing to leave your house? Don’t worry, making shawarma at home is simpler than you think. Let’s begin by looking at the components and instruments required.
To begin, gather your ingredients: This makes about six wraps of shawarma.
- 3 chicken breast or thigh boneless or beef (whatever you like)
- Hot dog/ sausage roll
- 6 shawarma bread (pita bread or flour tortilla wraps)
- 1 small cabbage, sliced into thin strips
- 3 medium carrots (grated or sliced into thin strips)
- 1 big cucumber (sliced into thin strips and circles)
- 2 large tomatoes, thinly sliced
- 1 medium onion, sliced into thin strips
- Ketchup
- Mayonnaise
- 1 Tablespoon vegetable/olive oil (for stir-frying)
So why wait any longer? Let’s move on to preparing the marinade and marinating the chicken/ meat, so we can finally indulge in our homemade shawarma feast.
Preparing The Marinade And Marinating The Meat
To make delicious homemade shawarma, it’s important to start with a flavorful marinade for the chicken/meat. Begin by mixing together these ingredients:
- 1 spoon of lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon thyme
- 2 teaspoon curry
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder or 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon onion powder or 2 teaspoons minced onion
- 1 large chicken stock cube (Maggi Chicken)
- Half a teaspoon of black pepper
- Chili pepper
- Pinch of Salt
- 1 Tablespoon Vegetable /Olive oil
Mix these ingredients properly and pour them into your thinly sliced chicken or beef. Make sure each piece of meat is coated in the marinade before covering and refrigerating for at least 30 minutes or, better still, keep in the freezer through the night so that the ingredients can penetrate into your chicken.
After marinating for half an hour or more, remove the meat from the refrigerator and let it come to room temperature while preheating your frying pan, grill, or oven. Grill the meat on your pan with 1 spoon of oil until the chicken turns brown on both sides and is cooked through. If using an oven, bake at 425F for about 15–20 minutes until fully cooked.
Making shawarma may seem intimidating, but following these simple steps will help ensure success every time. Now that our meat is grilled and cooked to perfection, let’s move on to assemble our wraps with vegetables and sauce.
The Process Of How To Make Shawarma At Home
- Get your chicken properly grilled and cooked.
- Mix your sauce, which is Ketchup and mayonnaise (Bama). You can add a little sugar to get that little sweetness.
- Slice your vegetables (cabbage, tomatoes, cucumber, carrot).
- Get tour pita bread on a clean surface and spread your mixed sauce over it for added flavor.
- Then add your sliced tomatoes, cucumbers, cabbage, carrot, or even lettuce and any other vegetables of your choice.
- The meat is the star of this show, so be sure to layer it evenly over the veggies before drizzling it with your mixed sauce.
- Finally, roll it up tightly and grill it on your hot frying pan and enjoy.
The key here is balance – don’t overload one side with too many toppings or skimp on the protein. With practice, you’ll find the perfect combination that suits your taste buds.
Making homemade shawarma can seem daunting at first, but once you get the hang of assembling them perfectly every time, there’s no going back. Remember to have fun experimenting with different combinations until you find what works best for you.
Is It Possible To Substitute The Meat With A Vegetarian Option?
Shawarma is a delicious Middle Eastern dish that traditionally features thin slices of marinated meat cooked on a rotating spit and served in warm pita bread. However, if you’re a vegetarian or simply looking for a healthier alternative, you may wonder whether there are any viable substitutes for meat. The good news is that there are several options to choose from, depending on your taste preferences and dietary restrictions.
One popular choice for vegetarians is falafel, which consists of ground chickpeas mixed with herbs and spices and shaped into small balls or patties before being fried or baked. Falafel has a similar texture and flavor profile as meat shawarma but without animal products. You can also make homemade falafel easily by blending canned chickpeas with garlic, onion, parsley, cumin, coriander, salt, pepper, and flour until smooth enough to form into balls or discs.
Another possibility is mushroom shawarma, which involves slicing large portobello mushrooms thinly and marinating them in olive oil, lemon juice, garlic powder, paprika, cumin seeds, salt, and pepper before grilling or roasting them until tender and slightly charred. Mushroom shawarma provides a rich umami flavor and meaty texture that can satisfy even carnivores while remaining entirely plant-based.
Finally, you could try seitan shawarma made with wheat gluten protein seasoned similarly to traditional shawarma spice blends such as sumac, cumin, paprika, etc. Seitan’s chewiness makes it another great meat alternative, especially when grilled like Shawarmas.
In conclusion, there are various ways to create a vegetarian shawarma that is just as tasty and satisfying as the classic meat version. By experimenting with different ingredients and spices, you can find the perfect combination of flavors and textures to suit your individual preferences. Whether you’re looking for a healthier option or simply want to try something new, vegetarian shawarma is definitely worth a try.
Conclusion
In conclusion, making shawarma at home is an easy and fun way to recreate your favorite Middle Eastern dish. With just a few ingredients and tools, you can have a delicious meal in no time.
Preparing the marinade is key to achieving the perfect flavor for your shawarma meat. It’s important to marinate it for at least 30 minutes or up to overnight for maximum taste. Cooking the meat on a grill or in the oven will give it that crispy texture we all love. And assembling the wraps with fresh vegetables and sauces adds color and flavor to each bite.
Overall, making homemade shawarma allows you to customize it to your liking and experiment with different flavors. So why not try it out today? As they say, “Variety is the spice of life,” so add some spice to your routine by trying out this recipe.
Hope this article on “How to make shawarma at home” has been informative and useful to you. Good luck on your shawarma-making journey.
