Best Chicken Shawarma at Home – Juicy, Flavor-Packed & Easy
This homemade chicken shawarma is tangy, smoky, and ultra flavorful with garlic and spice. Quick pressure cooking ensures juicy meat packed with Middle Eastern taste in each bite.
1kgDeboned chicken thighsor mix with breasts, cut into 1-inch strips
0.5cupButtermilkor 1 cup milk mixed with 1 tablespoon vinegar
0.5cupOlive oilor avocado/canola oil
0.25cupLemon or lime juice
3clovesGarlicminced
1tablespoonMild pepper pasteoptional
1teaspoonHarissaoptional
0.5cupOrange juice
2tablespoonPomegranate molassesor date molasses, optional
1tablespoonOrange zest
1tablespoonOnion powder
1tablespoonGarlic powder
1tablespoonHimalayan salt
1teaspoonBlack pepperfreshly ground
0.5teaspoonGround coriander
0.5teaspoonGround cardamom
0.5teaspoonGround cinnamon
0.5teaspoonGround ginger
0.25teaspoonFresh nutmeggrated
0.25teaspoonGround cumin
0.25teaspoonCurry powder
1Red onionthinly sliced
0.25cupFresh parsleychopped
0.25cupTomatoseeded and sliced
1tablespoonSumac
Saj, Shrek, or tortilla breadfor wrapping
Toum (garlic spread)
Cucumber pickles
French friesoptional
Instructions
Instructions
In a big bowl combine buttermilk, olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, pepper paste, harissa, orange juice, pomegranate molasses, and orange zest. Mix well until smooth and flavorful.
Add chicken strips and toss to coat. Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours to overnight.
Preheat pressure cooker (or grill/skillet). Remove chicken from marinade. Reserve extra marinade if desired.
Place chicken in pressure cooker with 1.5 cups water. Lock lid and cook on high pressure for 8 minutes.
Perform quick pressure release. Open lid and check chicken—it should be very tender and juicy.
Serve hot in flatbread with garlic spread, pickles, fries, and other fresh toppings.
Notes
For smoky flavor, place hot charcoal in a dish with cooked chicken, drizzle hot oil on top, and cover immediately with foil for a few minutes. Store leftovers in airtight containers. Freezes well and reheats gently.