Chicken Shawarma Salad
I had never heard of schwarma, let alone tasted it, until my freshman year of college.
Actually, it was the weekend before college began, and I had attended church with the roommate of a friend since this friend was out of town at a conference. After sitting through a rather lengthy, awkward service with a dude who I had just met and a ton of other strangers, which was a bit much for shy 18-year-old Erin, my new friend and I were invited to have lunch with some other members and a girl who I actually had met the summer before while working at a camp.
We went to a Lebanese restaurant… and I was completely overwhelmed looking at the menu, so I chose the first thing that sounded like it wouldn’t be too over-the-top to my untested tastebuds — Chicken Schwarma.
Needless to say, I fell in love with the dish that day, and throughout my college career, I ate my fill of schwarma.
Then I left South Louisiana and discovered schwarma is rather challenging to find. So challenging, in fact, that when we were living in Nashville, my husband got fed up about our lack of schwarma and decided to make our own.
While it’s not the same as the restaurant-made schwarma, it’s pretty darn good. And if I ever get a spit (A SPIT!), it will be even more out-of-control delicious… though I doubt my husband will let me set it up in the lawn and roast whole animals on it. (My Big Fat Greek Wedding reference… Bueller?)
Other Mediterranean flavored dishes we adore: Winston’s Garlic Hummus / Turkey Shawarma Wraps / Tzatziki Sauce / Roasted Garlic and White Bean Hummus / Grilled Chicken Shawarma / Greek Bruschetta
Here is our recipe for Chicken Schwarma:
Chicken Shawarma Salad
Jazz up your salad game with this Lebanese-inspired Chicken Shawarma Salad! Chicken shawarma tops a spinach salad with red onion, cucumbers, tomatoes and a homemade Greek dressing.
Ingredients
Salad
- 6 cups fresh spinach
- 1 cup English cucumber
- ½ cup red onion
- 6 tablespoons feta cheese
- Grilled Chicken Shawarma, chopped
Dressing
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon dried basil
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 4 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- ½ teaspoon grainy dijon mustard
Instructions
Prepare the dressing
- In a larger mason jar, measure in the dry ingredients: garlic powder, onion powder, dried oregano, dried basil, red pepper flakes, black pepper and salt. Shake until combined.
- Pour in the olive oil, red wine vinegar, lemon juice and dijon mustard.
- Cap with the mason jar top, and shake until well-combined.
- Set aside for future use. (And refrigerate if making in advance.)
Prepare the salad
- Once the Grilled Chicken Shawarma has cooked and cooled, chop into bite-sized pieces.
- In a large bowl, combine the spinach, cucumber, red onion and feta.
- Pour half of the dressing onto the salad greens, tossing until combined. Add more dressing if desired.
- Top with the Grilled Chicken Shawarma, add a little bit of Tzatziki sauce if desired and enjoy immediately!
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
4Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 323Total Fat: 21gSaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 15gCholesterol: 38mgSodium: 746mgCarbohydrates: 19gFiber: 3gSugar: 4gProtein: 15g
Nutrition facts are an estimate and not guaranteed to be accurate.
Mmmmmm, printing this out to keep at home! Sounds like a great at home alternative!
It really is fabulous, y’all. Please let me know what you think of it if you do give it a shot!
I only heard of chicken schwarma like 2 years ago myself. In my mind, I thought it was basically pita bread stuffed with salad and grilled chicken meat. Isn’t that it? My heart belongs to sandwiches so you can understand how much I love these. Now that you’ve stirred up good old memories, I’m off to find me some pita!
Yes, chicken schwarma is sometimes served in a pita with greens and the meat and tzatziki. 🙂 You’ve got it right. And while I love, love, love schwarma on a pita, it’s equally awesome on a salad with the pita on the side. How’d that pita sandwich turn out for ya?
wow, i’m not a “salad person” but this looks amazing!
Haha. I’m normally not a “salad person” either, but this dish is awesome. Please let me know what you think of it if you give it a go!
Oh my…I love Schwarma! Yours chicken Schwarma looks fantastic and delicious. Oh boy, I’m so glad I’m not the only one who wanted a spit…some day! 😛
You and me both, Amy! Schwarma is one of my favorites… and can we start a support group for people who want a spit in their lives? I mean, I know it probably wouldn’t be the most practical thing, but it would certainly make for some awesome food, right?
That looks so yummy and healthy. Definitely making this.
Thanks, Alli! Let me know what you think, girl. It’s wonderfully delicious!
So this sounds crazy but I only heard of schwarma in the Avengers, and I still have no idea what it is! I’m assuming because it has curry? Hope all is well!
It’s not crazy at all! If I hadn’t lived in Louisiana for so long, I doubt I would know what it was, either. Schwarma is a Mediterranean dish similar to a gyro. Basically, chicken schwarma is chicken that has been pounded out, put on a spit and roasted for hours, only being cut to be added to a dish. It’s absolutely DELICIOUS. Let me see if I can find some background information on it so you can learn more about the dish…
looks delicious!
Thanks, Michelle! It certainly is!