Spiced Chicken Shawarma Salad Bowl (Printable Page)

Spiced chicken shawarma served over mixed greens with fresh vegetables and creamy garlic sauce. A healthy, satisfying bowl ready in 35 minutes.

# What You Need:

→ Chicken

01 - 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken thighs
02 - 2 tbsp olive oil
03 - 1 tbsp lemon juice
04 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 1 tsp ground cumin
06 - 1 tsp ground coriander
07 - 1 tsp smoked paprika
08 - 1/2 tsp ground turmeric
09 - 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
10 - 1/2 tsp chili powder
11 - 3/4 tsp salt
12 - 1/4 tsp black pepper

→ Salad

13 - 6 cups mixed salad greens
14 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
15 - 1 large cucumber, diced
16 - 1/4 red onion, thinly sliced
17 - 1/2 cup fresh parsley, chopped

→ Garlic Sauce

18 - 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
19 - 1 clove garlic, finely grated
20 - 1 tbsp lemon juice
21 - 1 tbsp olive oil
22 - 1/4 tsp salt
23 - 1 tbsp water

# Steps:

01 - In a mixing bowl, combine 2 tbsp olive oil, 1 tbsp lemon juice, 2 minced garlic cloves, 1 tsp cumin, 1 tsp coriander, 1 tsp smoked paprika, 1/2 tsp turmeric, 1/2 tsp cinnamon, 1/2 tsp chili powder, 3/4 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp black pepper. Add 1 lb chicken thighs and coat thoroughly. Marinate for at least 15 minutes or up to 2 hours for enhanced flavor.
02 - Heat a large skillet or grill pan over medium-high heat. Cook marinated chicken for 5 to 7 minutes per side until well browned and cooked through. Let rest for 5 minutes, then slice into strips.
03 - In a small bowl, whisk together 1/2 cup Greek yogurt, 1 finely grated garlic clove, 1 tbsp lemon juice, 1 tbsp olive oil, and 1/4 tsp salt. Add water gradually to achieve desired consistency.
04 - Divide 6 cups mixed salad greens among four bowls. Top each with 1 cup cherry tomatoes halved, diced cucumber, sliced red onion, and fresh parsley. Arrange sliced chicken over the greens.
05 - Drizzle garlic sauce over each bowl and serve immediately.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The spice blend creates that restaurant quality shawarma flavor without needing a rotisserie or special equipment
  • Everything comes together in under 40 minutes but tastes like you spent all day cooking
02 -
  • Letting the chicken rest after cooking is non-negotiable, otherwise all those juices run out onto the cutting board
  • The spice blend might look like a lot, but trust the measurements, this is what makes it taste like shawarma instead of just grilled chicken
03 -
  • Pat the chicken dry before adding the marinade so the spices really stick and create a nice crust
  • Use a microplane or fine grater for the garlic in the sauce, nobody wants chunky surprises in their creamy topping
Go Back