Description
Mediterranean street corners inspire this zesty Chicken Shawarma with bold spices dancing across tender meat. Marinated, grilled, and served with warm pita, you’ll savor layers of authentic flavor from Lebanon’s culinary traditions.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 lbs (907 grams) boneless skinless chicken thighs
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 tbsps fresh lemon juice
- 3 tbsps olive oil
- 4 tsps ground cumin
- 4 tsps ground coriander
- 2 tsps fine salt
- 2 tsps black pepper
- 2 tsps paprika
- 1 tsp turmeric
- ½ tsp ground cloves
- ½ tsp cayenne pepper (adjust to taste)
Instructions
- Marinade Preparation: Thoroughly coat chicken thighs with spice mixture inside a sealed container, ensuring complete coverage of the meat with aromatic seasonings.
- Flavor Infusion: Refrigerate marinated chicken for 1-8 hours, allowing spices to deeply penetrate and tenderize the meat, with longer marination enhancing overall flavor profile.
- Grill Setup: Preheat grill to medium-high temperature (375-400°F), creating optimal conditions for achieving a perfectly caramelized exterior and juicy interior.
- Moisture Removal: Delicately blot chicken with paper towels to eliminate excess moisture, promoting enhanced browning and preventing steaming during cooking.
- Cooking Process: Grill chicken thighs directly on hot grates, rotating once to ensure even cooking, achieving golden-brown exterior and reaching internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) – approximately 8-10 minutes total.
- Alternative Cooking Methods: Options include stovetop preparation in cast iron skillet or oven-roasting at 400°F for 25-30 minutes, maintaining consistent cooking technique and flavor intensity.
- Resting Phase: Allow cooked chicken to rest 5-7 minutes, enabling natural juice redistribution and maximizing meat’s tenderness before slicing and serving.
Notes
- Marinate Strategically: Longer marination (up to 8 hours) intensifies flavor complexity and tenderizes chicken thighs more effectively.
- Pat Dry for Perfection: Remove excess marinade moisture with paper towels to achieve beautiful caramelized exterior and crispier texture.
- Temperature Matters: Use meat thermometer to confirm internal chicken temperature hits 165°F, guaranteeing safe and juicy results every time.
- Versatile Cooking Methods: Grill, skillet, or oven-bake depending on kitchen equipment and personal preference without compromising delicious shawarma taste.
- Prep Time: 1 hour
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: Middle Eastern
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 345
- Sugar: 0 g
- Sodium: 305 mg
- Fat: 21 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 5 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 130 mg