Lebanese: Chicken Shawarma

Lebanese cuisine is one of the popular in Eastern and Western world. The most popular dish is Shawarma. The one I am sharing with you today is chicken shawarma, if you a vegetarian you can easily replace chicken with cottage cheese.

If you usually wonder what you would like to eat as a super, yet low fat. This is a great recipe to try out. I must share with you that, this is something I often make when JS and I are on a low fat diet. The dip I use with this one is very nutritious as it contains Sesame. It is easy to cook and the marinade can be prepared a day in advance too. Sometimes Lebanese spice might not be available in your nearest store, so I also suggest Chinese Five spice to use it as a replacement. The result would be the same as the components of the spices are quite similar.

When I first made this recipe, I wasn’t sure how it would turn out. When I saw the final result, it was at par or even better what we usually eat at the restaurant.

Serves 2

Ingredients:

250 gm boneless chicken

2 pita bread

some tahini dip

some arabic pickle

Marinade

1 tsp vinegar/ lemon juice

1 tsp lebanese spice/ chinese five spice

1/4 tsp ground cardamom

1/4 cup thick yogurt

1 well beaten egg

1/2 tsp ginger garlic paste

1 tsp salt

1 tsp black pepper

1 tomato-sliced

1 onion-sliced

Method:

1. Slice the chicken into long thin pieces.
2. Mix all the ingredients of the marinade in a bowl. Add chicken and keep aside for atleast 4 hours or more in the refrigerator.
3. Heat 2 tbsp oil in a pan, add chicken along with the marinade. Stir fry for 4-5 mins till a little golden brown from some sides. Cook for 3-4 mins or till tender.
4. Cut each piece of pita bread horizontally into half. Warm the pita bread in a pan.
5. Spread 1 tsp of tahini paste in the pita pocket. Add the cooked chicken.
6. Serve with Arabic Pickle.

Tags: chicken, chinese five spice, Dip, Lebanese, Pickle, Shawarma, Tahini