Chicken Shawarma Salad Bowl (Printable version)

Juicy spiced chicken atop crisp greens with fresh tomatoes, cucumbers, and creamy garlic sauce.

# What You'll Need:

→ Chicken Marinade

01 - 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken thighs
02 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
03 - 1 tablespoon lemon juice
04 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 1 teaspoon ground cumin
06 - 1 teaspoon ground coriander
07 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
08 - 1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric
09 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
10 - 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
11 - 3/4 teaspoon salt
12 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

→ Salad Base

13 - 6 cups mixed salad greens (romaine, arugula, spinach)
14 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
15 - 1 large cucumber, diced
16 - 1/4 red onion, thinly sliced
17 - 1/2 cup fresh parsley, chopped

→ Garlic Sauce

18 - 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
19 - 1 clove garlic, finely grated
20 - 1 tablespoon lemon juice
21 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
22 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
23 - 1 tablespoon water

# How To Make:

01 - In a mixing bowl, combine olive oil, lemon juice, minced garlic, cumin, coriander, paprika, turmeric, cinnamon, chili powder, salt, and black pepper. Add chicken thighs and toss to coat thoroughly. Marinate for at least 15 minutes or up to 2 hours for enhanced flavor development.
02 - Heat a large skillet or grill pan over medium-high heat. Cook marinated chicken for 5 to 7 minutes per side until well browned and cooked through. Allow chicken to rest for 5 minutes before slicing into strips.
03 - In a small bowl, whisk together Greek yogurt, grated garlic, lemon juice, olive oil, and salt. Add water incrementally to reach desired consistency.
04 - Distribute mixed salad greens evenly among four serving bowls. Top each portion with halved cherry tomatoes, diced cucumber, sliced red onion, and chopped parsley.
05 - Arrange sliced chicken over the salad greens. Drizzle garlic sauce over each bowl and serve immediately.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The spice blend creates that authentic shawarma flavor you usually only get from restaurants
  • Everything comes together in under 40 minutes but tastes like it simmered all day
  • You can customize the toppings to suit whatever fresh vegetables you have on hand
02 -
  • Dont skip letting the chicken rest after cooking—those juices need time to redistribute or youll end up with dry meat
  • The garlic sauce can turn puckeringly strong if you make it ahead, so add the garlic right before serving
  • Your skillet needs to be properly hot before adding the chicken or youll steam instead of sear
03 -
  • Slice the chicken as thin as possible for maximum surface area and better texture in every bite
  • Sprinkle a little sumac over the finished bowl for a bright, tangy finish that really makes it pop
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