Recipe
Shawarma-Inspired Spiced Chicken Recipe with Tzadziki Sauce and Cucumber Salad
Jan
Shawarma-Inspired Spiced Chicken Recipe with Tzadziki Sauce and Cucumber Salad Recipes
The Inspiration for Shawarma-Inspired Spiced Chicken Recipe
Originally from Detroit, Michigan plus living in the Middle East for several years, I’ve had a delicious variety of shawarma recipes over the years. Sometimes shawarma can be really hot, but in general the spice blend is warm, earthy and exotic but not too spicy. If you love extra spice, you could add cayenne pepper or Harissa to your chicken marinade, but the base recipe is without the heat. This is not a traditional Shawarma Chicken Recipe, but rather a way to bring the middle eastern spices to a regular weeknight meal. I love to cook lean chicken breasts at least a couple nights a week and these exotic spices really transform an otherwise mundane meal into something more exciting.
Planning the Menu for Shawarma-Inspired Spiced Chicken Recipe – why Tzadziki Sauce and Cucumber Salad
This is my go-to Shawarma-Inspired Spice Blend from regular ingredients at your local grocery store. I use this spice rub on lamb, chicken, beef, and steak. It works on slow roasts in the oven, braises in the Instant Pot, or on kebabs or other meats on the barbeque grill. To accompany the Shawarma-Inspired Chicken, I like to balance the warm spices with something cool and tangy. Tzadziki sauce is a wonderful contrast because of the tang of the greek yogurt and fresh lemon juice, and the spicy bite of the fresh garlic. The dill has a fresh citrus note, too. All flavors that contrast well with the earthy, warm spices of the chicken. The cucumber salad is light, bright and offers the textured crunch that only a cucumber can do! One of my favorite kitchen tools is this chopper that perfectly cubes my cucumbers. The texture of these perfect little crunchy cubes is so delicious on it’s own but even more fabulous with the rest of the meal – especially if you decide to stuff it all together into a pita pocket!
Shawarma Spice Mix Recipe:
2 TBSP ground coriander
1 TBSP ground cinnamon
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp ground turmeric
1 tsp smoked paprika
1/2 tsp ground allspice
Mix all ingredients together and keep in an airtight container until ready to use.
Shawarma-Inspired Chicken Recipe:
5lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts
2 TBSP extra virgin olive oil
1-2 TBSP shawarma spice mix
Himalayan pink salt & ground black pepper to taste
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Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
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Toss chicken with olive oil and spice mix.
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Bake in oven for 15 minutes or until internal temperature reaches 165 degrees.
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Remove from oven. Let sit for 10 minutes.
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Slice chicken into strips.
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Toss sliced chicken in the pan juices and add salt if necessary.
Tzadziki Sauce Recipe:
2 English cucumbers
1 16oz container of greek style yogurt, preferable 0% fat
1 clove minced garlic
1 bunch fresh dill
juice of 1-2 lemons
Himalayan Pink Salt & Black Pepper to taste
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Shred the cucumbers and set over paper towels in a colander. Sprinkle with a little salt and let the extra moisture drain out of the cucumbers for 10 minutes.
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Squeeze any extra moisture out of the cucumbers and add to a big bowl.
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Add the rest of the ingredients to the big bowl with the cucumbers and blend together.
Can be served immediately but the flavors intensify if left to cool for an hour in the refrigerator.
Cucumber Salad Recipe:
2 English Cucumbers
1/4 cup crumbed Feta Cheese
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Dice the cucumbers into 1/2 in cubes.
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Mix the cucumbers and feta together in a large bowl.
Watch the Cooking LIVE! video to learn how to make the Shawarma Chicken, Tzadziki Sauce and Cucumber Salad Recipes Here:
In this video, I will show you step by step how I make all three of these dishes for dinner tonight! Plus, Marlon Omdahl will read all of the live questions out loud for me so I can answer in real time. If you end up watching the recorded version of the video, please also feel welcome to join in the conversation. I reply to all of those comments as well!
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Kristin Omdahl is the best-selling author of dozens of knit and crochet books; designer of almost 1000 knit and crochet patterns; producer of award-winning videos; and curator of gorgeous yarns and products. You can join Kristin LIVE 5 days a week for The Kristin Omdahl Show on YouTube and browse through thousands of tutorial videos there, too. Kristin donates a portion of every sale to help survivors of domestic violence. Learn more about Kristin’s charity, Project Kristin Cares HERE.
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