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Irresistible Chicken Shawarma Recipe taken with iphone 15 pro max --iw 2 --ar 4:5 --v 6.1 --raw

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.
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Course Soup
Cuisine Mexican
Servings 6 people
Calories 420 kcal

Equipment

  • 1 Mixing bowl Large

Ingredients
  

Main ingredients

  • 1 kg Deboned chicken thighs or mix with breasts, cut into 1-inch strips
  • 0.5 cup Buttermilk or 1 cup milk mixed with 1 tablespoon vinegar
  • 0.5 cup Olive oil or avocado/canola oil
  • 0.25 cup Lemon or lime juice
  • 3 cloves Garlic minced
  • 1 tablespoon Mild pepper paste optional
  • 1 teaspoon Harissa optional
  • 0.5 cup Orange juice
  • 2 tablespoon Pomegranate molasses or date molasses, optional
  • 1 tablespoon Orange zest
  • 1 tablespoon Onion powder
  • 1 tablespoon Garlic powder
  • 1 tablespoon Himalayan salt
  • 1 teaspoon Black pepper freshly ground
  • 0.5 teaspoon Ground coriander
  • 0.5 teaspoon Ground cardamom
  • 0.5 teaspoon Ground cinnamon
  • 0.5 teaspoon Ground ginger
  • 0.25 teaspoon Fresh nutmeg grated
  • 0.25 teaspoon Ground cumin
  • 0.25 teaspoon Curry powder
  • 1 Red onion thinly sliced
  • 0.25 cup Fresh parsley chopped
  • 0.25 cup Tomato seeded and sliced
  • 1 tablespoon Sumac
  • Saj, Shrek, or tortilla bread for wrapping
  • Toum (garlic spread)
  • Cucumber pickles
  • French fries optional

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.