Best Shawarma Seasoning

This Best Shawarma Seasoning (shawarma spices) is a mix of spices used to season chicken, fish and vegetables.  This shawarma spice blend recipe is a fragrant blend of paprika, thyme, cumin, ginger, nutmeg, cinnamon and allspice. 

Once you make this Shawarma spice blend, you will be hooked! Everything you season it with will taste amazing!

What is Shawarma Spice Blend?

Shawarma is a popular Middle Eastern street food made of marinated meats that are slow-cooked on a vertical rotisserie. When the meat is cooked through, shavings are cut off of the stack of meat for serving while the remainder of the meat stays on the rotisserie. The actual meaning of “shawarma” comes from the Turkish word “cevirme” which means “spinning or turning”.  Shawarma meats are marinated in a mixture of warm and savory spices (Shawarma seasoning) that makes the most tender, juicy and exotic flavored meats. This Shawarma seasoning is popular in both Middle Eastern and Mediterranean regions. 

Shawarma Seasoning Recipe

This Shawarma seasoning recipe is my favorite homemade spice mixture to make. I like to marinate chicken and fish with it, make quick pan-roast tomatoes with it and roast vegetables with it. 

• Paprika
• Cumin
• Thyme
• Ginger
• Nutmeg 
• Allspice
• Black Pepper
• Cayenne

How to Make Shawarma Seasoning

• Measure the spices individually and add each to a mason jar.
• Stir the spices to mix them together.
• Seal lid on jar.

How to Make Chicken Shawarma Marinade 

To make the best chicken shawarma marinade, combine 1/2 teaspoon shawarma seasoning with 1/4 cup of this  Garlic Oil per each 1 to 1-1/2 pounds of chicken. The combination of these two – Garlic Oil and Shawarma Seasoning, makes an amazing marinade!!! You’ll be hooked!

1. Pour the Garlic Oil in a bowl, casserole baking dish or large freezer bag, add the shawarma spice blend and mix to combine.
2. Add the chicken breast to the marinade and toss to coat.
3. Seal bowl or baking dish with plastic wrap or seal the freezer bag.
4. Refrigerate for a minimum of 1 hour but overnight will make the chicken more flavorful, juicy and tender.

If you don’t make the Garlic Oil, you can blend 1/4 cup olive oil, 1 tablespoon lemon juice and 2 garlic cloves in a blender (or NutriBullet) then mix with the shawarma spice blend. I like to blend garlic with the olive oil and lemon juice rather than just stirring the oil and lemon juice with minced garlic. Blending the garlic with olive oil and lemon juice really infuses the flavors together and makes for a really incredible marinade. And this combo of Garlic Oil with Shawarma Spice Blend as a chicken shawarma marinade makes the most amazing tasting chicken!!

How to Store Spices

It’s best to store spices in a cool dry place (like a pantry). When mixing spices together like we’ve done for this Shawarma Spice Blend, be sure to store them in an airtight jar (like a mason jar) in a cool dry place. This Shawarma Seasoning will last in an airtight container for up to 6 months.

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Yield: 1/4 cup

Best Shawarma Seasoning

Prep Time 5 minutes

Total Time 5 minutes

This Best Shawarma Seasoning (shawarma spices) is a mix of spices used to season chicken, fish and vegetables.  This shawarma spice blend recipe is a fragrant blend of paprika, thyme, cumin, ginger, nutmeg, cinnamon and allspice.  This recipe makes close to 1/4 cup of Shawarma Seasoning.

Ingredients

• 1-1/2 tablespoons ground paprika
• 1 tablespoon dried thyme
• 2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 1-1/2 teaspoons ground ginger
• 1-1/2 teaspoons ground nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon allspice
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

1. Measure the spices individually and add each to a mason jar.
2. Stir the spices to mix them together.
3. Seal lid on jar.

Notes

Chicken Shawarma Marinade

To make the best chicken shawarma marinade, combine 1/2 teaspoon shawarma seasoning with 1/4 cup of Garlic Oil per each 1 to 1-1/2 pounds of chicken. The combination of these two - Garlic Oil and Shawarma Seasoning, makes an amazing marinade!!! You'll be hooked!

1. Pour the Garlic Oil in a bowl, casserole baking dish or large freezer bag, add the shawarma spice blend and mix to combine.
2. Add the chicken breast to the marinade and toss to coat.
3. Seal bowl or baking dish with plastic wrap or seal the freezer bag.
4. Refrigerate for a minimum of 1 hour but overnight will make the chicken more flavorful, juicy and tender.

If you don't make the Garlic Oil, you can blend 1/4 cup olive oil, 1 tablespoon lemon juice and 2 garlic cloves in a blender (or NutriBullet) then mix with the shawarma spice blend. I like to blend garlic with the olive oil and lemon juice rather than just stirring the oil and lemon juice with minced garlic. Blending the garlic with olive oil and lemon juice really infuses the flavors together and makes for a really incredible marinade. And this combo of Garlic Oil with Shawarma Spice Blend as a chicken shawarma marinade makes the most amazing tasting chicken!!

Lemon Garlic Oil Recipe

• 1 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 1/4 cup fresh squeezed lemon juice
• 8-10 large garlic cloves, peeled, smashed with back of knife
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

Add ingredients to a blender and blend until creamy in texture and the garlic is minced into very fine pieces.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

4

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 27Total Fat: 1gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 5mgCarbohydrates: 5gFiber: 2gSugar: 0gProtein: 1g

theharvestkitchen.com attempts to provide accurate information, however, this nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only. The nutritional information provided comes from online sources and calculations.