Shawarma is a popular Middle Eastern wrap filled with marinated meat and fresh vegetables. This simple recipe makes delicious homemade shawarma perfect for lunch or dinner.

Ingredients

For the Chicken

• 2 boneless chicken breasts, thinly sliced
• 2 tsp minced onions
• 2 tsp minced garlic
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• 1 chicken stock cube, crumbled
• 1 tsp chilli powder
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• Salt to taste

For the Wraps

• 4 tortilla wraps or flatbreads
• 1 small cabbage, thinly sliced
• 2 large carrots, grated
• 3 small tomatoes, thinly sliced
• 1 onion, thinly sliced
• 1 cucumber, thinly sliced

For the Sauce

• 3 tbsp mayonnaise
• 2 tbsp tomato ketchup
• Extra chilli powder for sprinkling

How to Make Shawarma

Marinate the Chicken

1. Prepare marinade: Mix minced onions, garlic, thyme, crumbled stock cube, chilli powder, olive oil, and salt in a bowl.
2. Marinate chicken: Add sliced chicken to the marinade and mix well. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or overnight for best flavour.

Prepare the Vegetables

1. Wash and slice: Wash all vegetables thoroughly and slice as instructed above.
2. Set aside: Keep vegetables ready in separate bowls.

Cook the Chicken

1. Heat oil: Heat 1 tbsp oil in a large frying pan over medium-high heat.
2. Cook chicken: Add marinated chicken and stir-fry for 8-10 minutes until golden brown and cooked through.
3. Cool: Remove from heat and let cool slightly.

Make the Sauce

1. Mix sauce: In a small bowl, combine mayonnaise and ketchup. Mix well.

Assemble the Shawarma

1. Warm wraps: Gently warm tortilla wraps in a dry pan for 30 seconds each side.
2. Spread sauce: Place wrap on a clean surface and spread the mayo-ketchup mixture over it.
3. Add filling: Add a portion of cooked chicken, followed by cabbage, carrots, tomatoes, onions, and cucumber.
4. Season: Sprinkle a pinch of chilli powder over the filling.
5. Wrap: Fold the bottom edge up, then fold in the sides and roll tightly to enclose the filling.
6. Serve: Serve immediately whilst warm.

Tips for Perfect Shawarma

• Marinate chicken overnight for maximum flavour
• Don’t overfill the wraps or they’ll be difficult to roll
• Warm the tortillas slightly to make them more pliable
• Serve immediately after wrapping for best texture
• You can substitute beef for chicken using the same marinade

Prep Time: 15 minutes (plus marinating time)
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes (plus marinating)
Serves: 4 people