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Chicken Shawarma with Garlic Yoghurt Sauce

Chicken Shawarma with Garlic Yoghurt Sauce

This Chicken Shawarma with Garlic Yoghurt Sauce is the ultimate easy and satisfying weeknight dinner with family-friendly, customizable toppings.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Course Dinner, Main
Cuisine Middle Eastern
Servings 4 servings
Calories 759 kcal

Equipment

  • frying pan
  • Oven
  • air fryer

Ingredients
  

TO SERVE

  • 400 g frozen French fries
  • 2 tomatoes sliced
  • 1 red onion finely sliced
  • 1 tablespoon fresh mint leaves roughly chopped (optional)
  • 4 Lebanese flatbreads or pita breads, wraps or naan breads
  • ½ teaspoon sumac (optional)

GARLIC YOGHURT SAUCE

  • 250 g Greek yoghurt
  • 2 tablespoon toum Middle Eastern garlic dip, or substitute with ½ teaspoon freshly minced garlic and ½ teaspoon salt

CHICKEN

  • 500 g boneless, skinless chicken thighs can be substituted with chicken breast
  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
  • 2 tablespoon Greek yoghurt
  • 2 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon freshly minced garlic
  • 2 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon ground cardamom
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon sweet paprika
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt flakes
  • ½ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
  • 3 tablespoon olive oil
  • 60 ml water

Instructions
 

Preparation

  • Prep the ingredients – Preheat the oven or air fryer and cook the freezer fries according to the packet instructions.
  • Ensure the tomatoes, red onion and mint (if using) are washed, cut and ready.

Garlic Yoghurt Sauce

  • Make the garlic yoghurt sauce – In a small bowl, combine the Greek yoghurt and toum or garlic dip (or freshly minced garlic and salt, if not using garlic dip). Set aside.

Marinating Chicken

  • Marinate the chicken – Put the chicken in a large bowl. Add the tomato paste, Greek yoghurt, lemon juice, minced garlic, cumin, cardamom, garlic powder, onion powder, sweet paprika, smoked paprika, sea salt, black pepper and olive oil.
  • Toss the chicken using tongs, ensuring each piece is well coated with the marinade. You can cook the chicken immediately, or allow the chicken to marinate, covered and refrigerated, for up to 24 hours for a deeper flavour.

Cooking Chicken

  • Cook the chicken – Heat a large, heavy-based frying pan over medium–high heat. Once hot, add the marinated chicken and cook for 5–6 minutes on each side, or until fully cooked and slightly charred.
  • Add the water in the last 3 minutes of cooking to loosen up all the crispy bits on the base of the pan.
  • Remove the chicken from the pan and let it rest for a few minutes before slicing into thin strips. Drizzle with the pan juices.

Assembling and Serving

  • Assemble the wraps – Lay your bread of choice on a plate. Spread a generous amount of the garlic yoghurt sauce in the centre. Top with the sliced chicken, crispy fries, tomato, red onion, shredded mint and a sprinkle of sumac (if using).
  • Fold the sides of the flatbread up in the shape of a taco.
  • Serve – Serve the wraps immediately, with extra yoghurt garlic sauce on the side for dipping.

Notes

Cardamom adds a unique, aromatic note to the marinade. If you don’t have it on hand, you can substitute it with a mix of ground cinnamon and nutmeg, or leave it out completely.

Nutrition

Serving: 1wrapCalories: 759kcalCarbohydrates: 68gProtein: 40gFat: 37gSaturated Fat: 9gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gMonounsaturated Fat: 21gTrans Fat: 0.02gCholesterol: 123mgSodium: 1489mgPotassium: 1153mgFiber: 8gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 1255IUVitamin C: 26mgCalcium: 197mgIron: 5mg
Keyword Chicken Shawarma, customizable toppings, easy dinner, family-friendly, Garlic Yoghurt Sauce
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