Name: Jamie Oliver Chicken Shawarma Recipe
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: PT-483936H32M6S
Total time: 47 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: Eastern
Ingredients: 10 cardamom pods (seeds removed and crushed); 1 teaspoon fennel seeds; 1 teaspoon cumin seeds; 1 teaspoon coriander seeds; 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon; 1 teaspoon ground allspice; 1 teaspoon ground cloves; 1 teaspoon smoked paprika; 6 cloves garlic (peeled and crushed); 4 fresh bay leaves (stems removed and finely chopped); 4 tablespoons natural yogurt; 1 heaped tablespoon smooth peanut butter; 2 tablespoons olive oil; 8 boneless, skin-on chicken thighs; 1 large red bell pepper (cut into chunks); 1 onion (peeled and quartered); 1 large tomato (quartered); 1 lemon (quartered); Warm flatbreads or pita; Houmous; Fresh salad (lettuce, cucumber, and tomatoes); Amba sauce (optional, for a tangy kick)

Description

Jamie Oliver’s Chicken Shawarma is a Middle Eastern-inspired dish made with marinated chicken thighs cooked on skewers or roasted in the oven, served with fresh toppings and warm flatbreads.

Ingredients

Scale

For the Marinade:

- 10 cardamom pods (seeds removed and crushed)

- 1 teaspoon fennel seeds

- 1 teaspoon cumin seeds

- 1 teaspoon coriander seeds

- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

- 1 teaspoon ground allspice

- 1 teaspoon ground cloves

- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika

- 6 cloves garlic (peeled and crushed)

- 4 fresh bay leaves (stems removed and finely chopped)

- 4 tablespoons natural yogurt

- 1 heaped tablespoon smooth peanut butter

- 2 tablespoons olive oil

- 8 boneless, skin-on chicken thighs

For the Skewers:

- 1 large red bell pepper (cut into chunks)

- 1 onion (peeled and quartered)

- 1 large tomato (quartered)

- 1 lemon (quartered)

For Serving:

- Warm flatbreads or pita

- Houmous

- Fresh salad (lettuce, cucumber, and tomatoes)

- Amba sauce (optional, for a tangy kick)

Instructions

Step 1: Prepare the Marinade

- Toast cardamom, fennel, cumin, and coriander seeds in a dry pan over medium heat for 1-2 minutes until fragrant.

- Transfer to a spice grinder or mortar and pestle, and grind into a fine powder.

- In a bowl, mix the spices, garlic, bay leaves, yogurt, peanut butter, and olive oil to form a smooth marinade.

Step 2: Marinate the Chicken

- Place the chicken thighs in a large bowl or ziplock bag.

- Pour the marinade over the chicken and coat evenly.

- Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, preferably overnight.

Step 3: Assemble the Skewers

- Preheat the oven to 200°C (400°F) or heat a grill pan over medium-high heat.

- Thread the chicken, bell pepper, onion, tomato, and lemon pieces onto skewers.

Step 4: Cook the Chicken

- If using an oven, roast the skewers on a baking sheet for 30-40 minutes, turning halfway through.

- If using a grill or pan, cook for 5-7 minutes per side until the chicken is golden and cooked through.

Step 5: Serve and Enjoy

- Remove the chicken from the skewers and slice into strips.

- Serve in warm flatbreads with hummus, salad, and sauces.

- Squeeze extra lemon juice on top before serving.