How to Make Shawarma at Home Without an Oven

Middle Eastern dish Shawarma has swept the world with its succulent marinated meat wrapped in soft pita bread. This guide will show you how to make shawarma at home without an oven, but traditionally cooked on a vertical rotisserie. You can make this dish using simple techniques and basic kitchen tools, and still have the same tender, spiced meat. This stovetop version of shawarma is super easy, super delicious, and doesn’t require any special equipment, whether you’re using chicken or beef.
So in this article, we’ll be taking you through, step by step, what to do, and what the benefits of each ingredient used in this recipe are.
Ingredients for Shawarma Marinade:
To make this shawarma recipe, you will require the accompanying fixings:
For the marinade:
500g Chicken or meat (boneless cuts)
- 1/2 cup Yogurt
- 2 tablespoons Olive oil
- 2 tablespoons Lemon juice
- 4 cloves Garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon Ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon Ground coriander
- 1 teaspoon Ground paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon Ground turmeric
- 1/2 teaspoon Ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon Ground dark pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon Ground cardamom
- 1 teaspoon Salt
For the shawarma wrap:
6-8 pieces Pita bread or flatbread
Tahini sauce or garlic sauce for sprinkling
Cucumber – cut
Tomato – cut
Red onion – cut
Pickles (discretionary)
New parsley, cleaved
Step-by-Step Recipe to Make Shawarma Without an Oven

Step 1: Prepare the Shawarma Marinade
The way in to a delightful shawarma lies in its marinade. This blend of yogurt, olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, and flavors will imbue the meat with a profound, sweet-smelling taste.
- In an enormous bowl, blend the yogurt, olive oil, lemon juice, minced garlic, and every one of the flavors: cumin, coriander, paprika, turmeric, cinnamon, dark pepper, cardamom, and salt.
- Mix the fixings together until you have a smooth, very much mixed marinade.
- Add your decision of meat (chicken or hamburger) to the bowl, guaranteeing each piece is covered with the marinade.
- Cover the bowl with saran wrap and refrigerate for something like 4 hours, or short-term for the best character.
Tip: The more extended the meat marinates, the more delightful and delicate it turns out to be, so consider marinating it short-term for greatest outcomes.
Step 2: Cook the Shawarma on the Stovetop
Since we aren’t utilizing a broiler, we’ll cook the shawarma meat on the burner utilizing a skillet or barbecue dish. This strategy guarantees a decent burn on the meat, securing in flavor and making a delicious surface.
- Heat a huge skillet or barbecue container over medium-high intensity. Add a tablespoon of olive oil to the dish.
- When the dish is hot, add the marinated meat in a solitary layer. Try not to pack the skillet, and cook the meat in bunches if necessary.
- Cook the meat for 5-7 minutes on each side, contingent upon thickness, until the meat is brilliant brown and completely cooked through.
- Once cooked, eliminate the meat from the container and let it rest for a couple of moments prior to cutting it into slender strips.
Tip: For a more bona fide shawarma surface with firm edges, you can build the intensity during the last moment of cooking to give the meat a pleasant burn.
Step 3: Prepare the Shawarma Wrap Ingredients
While the meat is resting, set up the elements for gathering the shawarma wraps. This incorporates vegetables, sauce, and bread.
- Warm the pita bread or flatbread in a dry skillet or barbecue for a couple of moments on each side to make it delicate and malleable.
- Spread a liberal measure of tahini sauce or garlic sauce in the focal point of the bread.
- Add a layer of cut cucumbers, tomatoes, red onions, and pickles in the event that you need a tart kick.
- Top with a couple of segments of the cooked shawarma meat.
- Decorate with cleaved new parsley for additional character.
Step 4: Assemble and Serve the Shawarma
Now that the parts are prepared, now is the ideal time to gather your shawarma wraps.
- Roll the pita or flatbread firmly around the filling to frame a wrap.
- On the off chance that you favor a crispier wrap, toast the gathered shawarma in a hot skillet for 1-2 minutes on each side, pushing down with a spatula to assist with fixing it.
- Serve the shawarma wraps promptly with additional sauce as an afterthought.
Tips for Making Shawarma at Home

The following are a couple of tips to assist you with making the ideal shawarma at home:
- Utilize boneless, skinless meat: Whether utilizing chicken or hamburger, settle on boneless cuts for simple cutting and in any event, cooking.
- Marinate the meat for something like 4 hours: In spite of the fact that it’s enticing to cook the meat immediately, marinating it for a more drawn out period assists the flavors with entering the meat, bringing about more flavor.
- Try not to stuff the dish: Congestion the skillet while cooking the meat can keep it from burning appropriately. Cook in clumps to guarantee in any event, searing.
- Attempt various sauces: While tahini sauce is the most widely recognized decision for shawarma, garlic sauce or a yogurt-based sauce likewise functions admirably and adds richness to the dish.
- Add vegetables and toppings: Shawarma is frequently presented with new vegetables like cucumber, tomato, onion, and parsley. These add crunch and newness to adjust the lavishness of the meat.
- Utilize a cast-iron skillet for improved results: Cast-iron skillets hold heat well, guaranteeing the meat cooks equally and fosters a delightful roast.
Benefits of Shawarma Ingredients
Shawarma isn’t just delightful yet in addition nutritious. Here is a breakdown of the medical advantages of a few key fixings utilized in this dish:
- Chicken or hamburger: Both chicken and meat are phenomenal wellsprings of protein, which helps in muscle building and fix. Chicken is a less fatty choice, while hamburger gives more iron and zinc, which are fundamental for safe wellbeing.
- Yogurt: Yogurt fills in as the base for the marinade and softens the meat. It additionally contains probiotics that advance stomach wellbeing.
- Olive oil: Olive oil is wealthy in heart-solid monounsaturated fats and upgrades the kind of the dish. It additionally keeps the meat clammy during cooking.
- Garlic: Garlic adds a punch of flavor and is loaded with cell reinforcements. It has calming properties and may assist with bringing down cholesterol levels.
- Lemon squeeze: The causticity of lemon juice lights up the marinade and improves the taste. It’s likewise an incredible wellspring of L-ascorbic acid, which supports the insusceptible framework.
- Cumin, coriander, paprika, turmeric, and cinnamon: These flavors don’t simply add profundity to the dish yet in addition offer medical advantages. For instance, cumin helps processing, turmeric has calming properties, and cinnamon manages glucose levels.
How to Make Shawarma More Authentic

While cooking shawarma at home without a stove is helpful, there are a couple of ways of making your hand crafted shawarma much more bona fide:
- Utilize a meat tenderizer: Shawarma is customarily produced using delicate cuts of meat. In the event that your meat is hard, consider utilizing a meat tenderizer or beating it daintily with a moving pin prior to marinating it.
- Barbecue the meat: On the off chance that you have an open air barbecue, cooking the shawarma meat on it can impersonate the impact of a rotisserie, giving the meat a smoky flavor and fresh edges.
- Make your own pita bread: Locally acquired pita bread is advantageous, however making your own at home can lift the shawarma experience. Hand crafted pita is delicate, feathery, and assimilates sauces better.
- Present with cured vegetables: Center Eastern shawarma is frequently presented with salted vegetables like salted cucumbers, beets, or turnips. These add a tart differentiation to the flavorful meat.
Final thoughts
Shawarma is a flexible and delightful dish that you can undoubtedly make at home without a stove. By following this bit by bit guide, you can appreciate café quality shawarma in the solace of your kitchen. Whether you utilize chicken or hamburger, the vital lies in marinating the meat with a rich mix of flavors and cooking it on a burner to accomplish that signature shawarma flavor.
With a smidgen of exertion and the right fixings, you’ll have the option to reproduce this well known Center Eastern dish and dazzle your loved ones. Remember to add new vegetables, a sprinkle of tahini sauce, and embellishment with parsley to finish the dinner. Attempt this recipe today, and you’ll be stunned at the fact that it is so natural to make shawarma at home, no stove required!