Good Karma Schawarma Recipes

THE PERFECT CHICKEN SHAWARMA

Steps:

• For the chicken: Put the chicken pieces in a large bowl. Add the olive oil, paprika, 1/2 teaspoon salt, yogurt, crushed garlic and soy sauce and toss to coat well. Add the lemon juice and toss again. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or up to overnight.
• For the flatbread: Combine the flour and a pinch salt in a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook. With the machine on low, add 1/2 cup water and mix until just combined. Increase the speed to medium-low and continue kneading, adding more water as necessary, just until the dough comes together into a ball. Increase the speed to medium and knead for another 30 seconds.
• Flour a work surface and transfer the dough to it (the dough will be sticky). Sprinkle more flour over the dough and knead until smooth. Portion the dough into 6 pieces, roll into balls and flatten with a rolling pin. Brush off the excess flour with a clean, dry pastry brush.
• Heat a large nonstick skillet or griddle over medium-high heat. Add one piece of dough and cook until the first side is lightly bubbled and golden, a few minutes, then flip and cook the other side. Remove from the heat and wrap in a clean kitchen towel to soften and keep warm. Repeat with the remaining dough.
• For the toumeyyaeh (garlic sauce): Mix 1 cup water with the cornstarch in a microwave-safe bowl until dissolved. Microwave for 2 minutes until the mixture is very thick like pudding.
• Put the garlic, cornstarch mixture, mayonnaise, olive oil and a few pinches of salt in a blender or mini chopper and process until smooth. Let cool to room temperature, cover and refrigerate.
• Preheat a grill pan over medium-high heat. Brush the pan with olive oil and grill the chicken until marked both sides and cooked through, 7 to 10 minutes. Remove from the grill and let rest for 5 minutes.
• Chop the chicken and add to a bowl with the pickles, onions, 3 tablespoons of the garlic sauce and sumac. Toss to combine.
• Place each flatbread on a piece of parchment or waxed paper and spread with some of the extra garlic sauce. Fill each with some of the chicken mixture and a few french fries and parsley, if using. Roll the flatbread in the paper, slice in half on a bias and serve.

SHAWARMA

Steps:

• Combine yogurt, lemon juice, garlic, pepper sauce, vinegar, onion, black and cayenne pepper, mace, and salt.
• Add meat and marinate overnight.
• (at least 12 hours-stir a few times) Grill the meat until done or broil in oven.
• Combine the tahini, garlic, lemon juice, and parsley.
• Whisk well.
• Add water if needed.
• To make the sandwich slice open a pita, spread some tahini sauce on the bread and add some lettuce and sprouts, tomato, onion and meat.
• Pour on a little tzatziki and chow down.

CHICKEN SHAWARMA

Steps:

• Tip all the ingredients, except the chicken and lemon wedges, into a blender or a smoothie bullet with 1 tsp sea salt and whizz to a smooth paste. Pile the chicken into a bowl or large plastic container, pour over the paste and mix through so the chicken is completely coated. Cover and marinate for at least 4 hrs or up to 48 hrs - the longer, the better.
• Cooking on the barbecue: Light a lidded barbecue, and let the flames die down. Once the coals have turned ashen, pile them up on one side with a few coals scattered around the other. Starting and ending with half a baking potato, thread all the chicken onto two long metal skewers - so that both skewers go through each piece of meat - packing the thighs down between the potato halves so that they are really compact. Place the large chicken kebab to the side of the barbecue with only a few coals underneath. Pop the lid down and cook for 45-50 mins, turning every 15 mins, or until cooked through - prise the chicken pieces apart in the centre to check, or use a digital cooking thermometer; it should read 70C or more. Leave to rest for 5 mins.
• Cooking in the oven: Heat the oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 8. Sit the kebab across a roasting tin so it is suspended, or rest a wire rack over a roasting tin and place the chicken on top. Cook for 45-55 mins or until cooked through.
• Warm the naan on the barbecue or in the oven. Bring the kebab to the table to carve, wrap with warm naans, and serve with the other salads and lemon wedges for squeezing over.

CHICKEN SHAWARMA SALAD

Steps:

• Mix the garlic, olive oil and lemon juice together in a reusable plastic container or bowl. Stir in all the spices, oregano, a large pinch of salt and the yogurt, then mix to make a paste. Tip in the chicken, tossing to coat, then cover and marinate for at least 1 hr, or chill overnight.
• To make the dressing, mix all the ingredients together in a small bowl, season, cover and chill until needed. Can be made up to two days ahead. Toss all the salad ingredients, except the lemon juice and olive oil, together. The salad can be assembled 1-2 hrs ahead and kept chilled.
• Light the barbecue or heat a griddle pan over a high heat. Cook the marinated chicken for 5 mins on each side, or until lightly charred and cooked through. Lift onto a board and set aside.
• Drizzle the salad with the lemon juice and olive oil, then season with salt and toss everything together. Scatter the salad over a large platter or tip into a large serving bowl. Slice the chicken, then arrange it over the salad (or serve it on the side if you're also cooking for vegetarians). Serve the salad with the tahini dressing on the side for drizzling over, along with toasted flatbreads or pittas for stuffing the chicken into and pickled chillies, if you like.