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Chicken shawarma on the rocks is a popular Middle Eastern-inspired dish featuring juicy, spiced shawarma chicken served over a bed of fragrant rice and drizzled with creamy garlic sauce and tangy hot sauce. Unlike the classic wrap, this version skips the pita, making it a hearty and satisfying meal. The chicken is traditionally marinated in warm spices like cumin, paprika, and turmeric, then slow-roasted or grilled for maximum flavor. Paired with fluffy yellow rice and bold sauces, chicken shawarma on the rocks is a must-try dish for anyone craving rich, smoky, and savory flavors in every bite.
Chicken Shawarma: Essential Ingredients for Authentic Flavor
Shawarma is a flavorful Middle Eastern dish made with thinly sliced, marinated chicken that is traditionally slow-roasted on a vertical spit. The key to its bold, aromatic taste lies in the marinade, which typically includes yogurt, olive oil, garlic, and a blend of warm spices like cumin, coriander, paprika, turmeric, and cinnamon. Fresh lemon juice or vinegar adds a tangy depth, while a touch of cayenne or chili powder gives it a slight kick. The chicken is often served in a pita wrap or over rice, paired with garlic sauce, tahini, or spicy hot sauce for the perfect balance of savory, smoky, and tangy flavors.
Garlic Sauce: Creamy, Bold, and Irresistible
Garlic sauce, also known as toum, is a rich and creamy condiment that perfectly complements chicken shawarma. Made with just a few simple ingredients—fresh garlic, lemon juice, oil, and salt—this sauce is whipped into a smooth, airy emulsion that delivers a bold garlic punch. The traditional method involves slowly drizzling oil into a garlic and lemon mixture while blending, creating a fluffy, mayo-like consistency without any dairy or eggs. This recipe calls for a shortcut version using mayo and some greek yogurt. A little lighter version for an everyday pallete. Whether drizzled over shawarma, used as a dip, or spread onto pita, this garlicky sauce adds the perfect creamy, tangy contrast to the smoky, spiced chicken.
Chicken Shawarma (On the Rocks)
Ingredients
Chicken ingredients
- 6 chicken thighs , (boneless, skinless)
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 tsp garlic powder
- 2 tsp onion powder
- 2 tsp cumin powder
- 2 tsp sumac
- 1 tsp ground coriander
- 1 tsp ground allspice
- 1 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1 tsp cardamom powder
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
Sauce ingredients
- 1 cup mayo
- ¼ cup greek yogurt
- 2-3 cloves grated garlic
- 1 tsp salt, (adjust to taste)
- 2 tbsp lemon juice, (adjust to taste)
Topping
- tahini
- sriracha
Instructions
- Flatten our chicken thighs as much as possible, optional, it just helps absorb more seasoning and cook faster.6 chicken thighs
- Add our flattened chicken into a bowl along with olive oil and the rest of the seasonings. Mix well and let it marinate while we make the sauce.1 tbsp olive oil, 1 tsp salt, 2 tsp garlic powder, 2 tsp onion powder, 2 tsp cumin powder, 2 tsp sumac, 1 tsp ground coriander, 1 tsp ground allspice, 1 tsp ground nutmeg, 1 tsp cardamom powder, 2 tbsp lemon juice
- Mix together all sauce ingredients in a bowl. Adjust consistency using lemon juice or water.1 cup mayo, ¼ cup greek yogurt, 2-3 cloves grated garlic, 1 tsp salt, 2 tbsp lemon juice
- Into a hot pan cook our chicken until charred on each side and cooked through. 3-5 minutes each side.
- Remove and cut into smaller pieces.
- Plate our chicken on top of brown rice, cover in our garlic sauce, tahini, and hot sauce to taste.tahini, sriracha
