Lebanese Beef Shawarma Recipe: Make Shawarma at Home! (2024)

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Last Updated on June 13, 2022

What is Shawarma

Shawarma is probably one of the most recognizable Middle Eastern ethnic food names in the West, behind Falafel and Hummus. The name comes from the Turkish word çevirme which means “turning,” and where you have some deeply marinated layers of beef, lamb or chicken stacked on a vertical spit and slowly turning against a soft grilling fire for hours. The meat is then shredded and wrapped in a pita bread with garlic paste (chicken shawarma) or Tahini sauce (beef shawarma) and other goodies such as grilled tomatoes, chopped parsley, french fries, grilled onions, and salted Lebanese pickles. Let’s have a look at the Beef Shawarma Recipe

Shawarma Street Vendor in Tripoli, Lebanon

Shawarma(Arabic: شاورما‎) is also spelled asschwarma, shwarma, shawrma or shawermadependingon how folks hear their ethnic brethren say it! 🙂 This delicacy may get confused sometimes with the Greek Gyro but there is a major difference in the spices used and how meat is processed. In this post we’re going to feature our refined and well tested Beef Shawarma Recipe. (You can check our Chicken Shawarma Recipe Here)

How to Make Beef Shawarma at Home

Growing up in Lebanon, we almost never had to make Shawarma at home since it was an integral part of Lebanese Street Food and was thus so readily available. However in the US it’s not as common, at least not in Upstate NY. So my wife and I embarked on a little journey of fine tuning the art of making Shawarma at home, and I think we got it! We were able to replicate a very delicious Shawarma recipe that is so close to a high quality restaurant Shawarma both in flavor and texture, you can’t even tell. And we were able to accomplish that using two different methods of cooking the meat.

Preparing the Meat for Lebanese Beef Shawarma Recipe

Pick your favorite beef cut and ensure it has plenty of fat in it. Our photos here feature a roast cut, however you can do this with any steak cut, Ribeye, or even butter steak. Any fat in the cut will greatly enhance the flavor of the Shawarma. And if you like lamb, you can also mix some leg of lamb meat with the beef.

Cut the meat into chunks of about 3 to 4 inches in length and no more than 2/3 inch in thickness. You don’t want to have very small cuts since they’ll dry out and won’t be as moist as you’d love them to be. And if you make larger cuts, it may work if you roast it, but not on the Panini grill.

Lebanese Beef Shawarma Recipe: Make Shawarma at Home! (2)

Shawarma Beef Cuts

Lebanese Beef Shawarma Recipe: Make Shawarma at Home! (3)

Beef Shawarma Spices

Mix the spices with the lemon juice and vinegar in ablender (we use MAGIC BULLET for such quick mixes) then rub meat cuts with the marinade. It’s important to not blend the olive oil with the spices and lemon/vinegar because it tends to emulsify and mask the flavors, for some reason. Instead, after you have rubbed the meat with the marinade you just made, sprinkle some olive oil at the end, rub a bit more and you’re done. Cover container and refrigerate overnight (it needs several hours of marination).

Lebanese Beef Shawarma Recipe: Make Shawarma at Home! (4)

Magic Bullet Mini: High Speed Blending For Marinade

Lebanese Beef Shawarma Recipe: Make Shawarma at Home! (5)

Marinated Beef Shawarma Ready for Grilling

Two Beef Shawarma Cooking Methods That Work

If you don’t have much time on your hands, use a panini or George Foreman grill on medium/high and grill the marinated beef chunks for 10-15 minutes, no more. If otherwise you are in no rush, place the Shawarma chunks in a pyrex tray with a bit of marinade, cover it tightly with aluminum foil, and gently bake at 270-300F for 2 hours. The Pannini grill method yields a more flavorful Shawarma, where as the oven method yields juicier and more tender meat.

Lebanese Beef Shawarma Recipe: Make Shawarma at Home! (6)

Beef Shawarma on Panini Grill

Lebanese Beef Shawarma Recipe: Make Shawarma at Home! (7)

Beef Shawarma Baked in Oven In Covered Pyrex

Lebanese Beef Shawarma Recipe: Make Shawarma at Home! (8)

Home Cooked Beef Shawarma Ready for Shredding

The Making of a Beef Shawarma Sandwich

Once the meet is cut/shredded, place a handful along the diameter of a warm pita bread, add the Tahini sauce, salted Lebanese pickles, a sprinkle of chopped parsley, some French fries, and some roasted tomatoes.. Roll and enjoy!

Lebanese Beef Shawarma Recipe

Learn how to make real Lebanese beef shawarma at home with this simple to follow recipe.

4.6 from 43 votes

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Cook Time 15 minutes mins

Total Time 12 hours hrs 35 minutes mins

Ingredients

Meat

  • 2 lbs beef choose fatty cuts

Marinade Ingredients

  • 5 cloves garlic
  • 1/2 cup lemon juice
  • 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon cloves whole or powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon cumin powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon caraway
  • 1/2 teaspoon cardamom powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon oregano or thyme, dried or green
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon peppercorn
  • 1/4 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger

Tahini Sauce Ingredients

  • 2 teaspoons Tahini paste
  • 1 cup Lemon Juice
  • 3 cloves garlic
  • teaspoon Salt

Sandwich Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup Italian parsley finely cut
  • 1 small tomato preferably roasted or grilled
  • 1/2 cup French fries
  • loaf Pita bread

Instructions

Shawarma Marinade

  • Mix the spices along with the lemon juice and apple cider vinegar in a blender for a couple of minutes. Don't mix in the olive oil yet.

  • Cut the beef into chunks of 4 inches long by no more than 2/3 inch in thickness.

  • In a bowl, rub the meat with the marinade, sprinkle a bit of olive oil then rub again, cover and let marinate overnight in the fridge.

Grilling Shawarma Method 1: Panini Grill

  • Lay the marinated shawarma chunks on a panini or George Foreman grill and cook for 10-15 minutes on medium-high heat.

  • Once cooked, shred the meat on a cutting board and serve hot.

Grilling Shawarma Method 2: Oven Roasting

  • Lay the marinated beef chunks in a Pyrex tray with a bit of marinade, cover the trap tightly with aluminum foil, then gently bake at 270-300F for 2 hours.

  • Once cooked, shred the meat on a cutting board and serve hot. This roasting method will make the meat very tender and juicy and will almost fall apart.

Preparing the Tahini Sauce

  • In a blender, mix the Tahini paste with garlic, lemon juice and salt until you turn it into a thick sauce.

Serving a Shawarma Wrap

  • Place about 4-6 ounces (to taste) of shredded shawarma in a pita bread along the diameter, sprinkle some Tahini sauce, add freshly grilled tomatoes, french fries, a garnish of Italian parsley. Roll and enjoy.

Nutrition Facts

Lebanese Beef Shawarma Recipe

Serving Size

1 Wrap

Amount per Serving

Calories

667

% Daily Value*

Fat

52

g

80

%

Saturated Fat

17

g

106

%

Polyunsaturated Fat

3

g

Monounsaturated Fat

26

g

Cholesterol

129

mg

43

%

Sodium

713

mg

31

%

Potassium

804

mg

23

%

Carbohydrates

17

g

6

%

Fiber

3

g

13

%

Sugar

3

g

3

%

Protein

33

g

66

%

Vitamin A

703

IU

14

%

Vitamin C

42

mg

51

%

Calcium

75

mg

8

%

Iron

5

mg

28

%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Keyword Beef Shawarma, Lebanese Shawarma

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Lebanese Beef Shawarma Recipe: Make Shawarma at Home! (2024)

FAQs

What is Lebanese shawarma made of? ›

Shawarma was traditionally made with lamb, mutton and chicken though these days you see it with beef too. It's commonly served in the form of a wrap, though in some countries you see it served on plates with sides such as seasoned rice or fries, and salads.

How do they make shawarma meat? ›

The slices are stacked on a skewer about 60 cm (20 in) high. Pieces of fat may be added to the stack to provide extra juiciness and flavour. A motorized spit slowly turns the stack of meat in front of an electric or gas-fired heating element, continuously roasting the outer layer.

What makes shawarma taste like shawarma? ›

Shawarma is traditionally seasoned with spices like cardamom, turmeric, cinnamon, cumin, and paprika to create a sweet-spiced, warm, and earthy flavor profile in the roasted meat.

How is real shawarma made? ›

How Shawarma is Made. Shawarma is marinated with various seasonings and spices such as cumin, turmeric, and paprika. It is made by stacking thinly sliced meat, typically lamb, beef, or chicken, on a large rotating skewer or cone. It is also sometimes cooked with extra fat from the meat to give it a juicer taste.

How is Lebanese shawarma different? ›

Lebanese shawarma is often marinated with spices such as cinnamon, allspice, and cardamom, while Turkish shawarma is typically seasoned with a blend of spices that may include cumin, paprika, and oregano. Accompaniments: The accompaniments that are served with Lebanese and Turkish shawarma can vary.

What are the 7 spices in chicken shawarma? ›

To make the 7-spice mix, combine allspice, pepper, cinnamon, clove, fenugreek, ginger, and nutmeg in a bowl. You can store the excess spice mix in an airtight container for up to two weeks. Combine 1 tablespoon of the spice mix with the olive oil, half of the minced garlic, 1 tablespoon of the lemon juice, and salt.

What is the secret of shawarma? ›

Shawarma is all about the delicious sauces that accompany the meat – typically garlic yoghurt or tahini and hommus – and the secret ingredient: pickles. Pickled vegetables are what take shawarma to a whole new plane: pickled cucumbers, turnips, and even carrots or mangoes are common.

What are the 3 most common foods put in the shawarma? ›

Shawarma is a popular Middle Eastern dish that originated in the Ottaman Empire, consisting of meat cut into slices , stacked in an and roasted on a slowly turning vertical rotisserie or spit. Traditionally made from lamb or mutton ,it may also be made with chicken , turkey, beef or veal.

What makes shawarma so good? ›

People love shawarma because of how meaty it is while still being a healthy food to eat. The way the meat is grilled indeed added to that undeniably great taste. Moreover, it contains various vegetables and sauces and can be eaten in multiple ways. That gives people its authentic taste and unique experience.

What is shawarma called in USA? ›

When people in America hear the term shawarma, they think of gyro, and while gyro is prepared the same way as shawarma, it is not created using the same kind of meats. Gyro is made with ground meat, lamb, beef, or goat. It is also served with tomatoes, onions, cucumbers, and tzatziki.

What is difference between gyro and shawarma? ›

While gyros usually come with the same combo of lettuce, tomatoes, and onions, shawarmas are often topped with a medley of pickled fruits and veggies. Shawarma is a predecessor to tacos al pastor, a Mexican dish made of spit-grilled pork.

Which type of shawarma is best? ›

Best Shawarma Recipes
  • Grilled Lamb Shawarma Platter. ...
  • Pulled Lamb Shawarma Sandwich. ...
  • Slow Cooked Lamb Shawarma. ...
  • Lebanese Beef Shawarma. ...
  • Shawarma Grilling Marinade. Plays Well with Butter. ...
  • Loaded Beef Shawarma Fries. Taste Great Foodie. ...
  • Vegan Sheet Pan Shawarma. This Mess is Ours. ...
  • Chicken Shawarma with Yogurt Sauce. Baking Mischief.
Aug 19, 2021

Is shawarma originally Lebanese? ›

Originating from the Ottoman Empire (roughly modern-day Turkey) in the 18th or 19th century, shawarma, also spelled shawurma or shawerma, meaning “turning” in Arabic, is a Levantine meat preparation, where thin cuts of lamb, chicken, beef, or mixed meats are stacked in a cone-like shape on a vertical rotisserie (it has ...

Did Lebanon create shawarma? ›

Shawarma originated in the Ottoman Empire, but in modern era Turkey, Lebanon and Syria they have different ingredients, and they make it in a different way, but its still the same concept.

How to make shawarma without a machine? ›

Baked Chicken Shawarma (Perfect for Leftover Rotisserie Chicken) The good news is that you don't have to have a large rotisserie to mimic chicken shawarma at home. By tossing chicken thighs in spices and roasting the meat a high temperature, you can have crispy, flavourful chicken in less than an hour.

Is Lebanese chicken shawarma healthy? ›

Today shawarma is a common meal found in most Lebanese or Middle Eastern eateries. It is rich in protein, fiber and carbohydrates and serves as an excellent weight management meal.

What kind of meat is shawarma made of? ›

Shawarma is a marinated & layered stack of meat (lamb, chicken or turkey)that is cooked vertically on a spit at high temperatures. Shawarma is a cooking style where lamb, chicken, turkey, beef or veal is cooked on grill plate for long time.

Where does Lebanese shawarma come from? ›

Originating from the Ottoman Empire (roughly modern-day Turkey) in the 18th or 19th century, shawarma, also spelled shawurma or shawerma, meaning “turning” in Arabic, is a Levantine meat preparation, where thin cuts of lamb, chicken, beef, or mixed meats are stacked in a cone-like shape on a vertical rotisserie (it has ...

Do they eat shawarma in Lebanon? ›

Chickpeas and parsley are also staples of the Lebanese diet. Well-known dishes include baba ghanouj, tabbouleh, sfeeha, falafel and shawarma. An important component of many Lebanese meals is hummus, a chickpea puree dish, and many dishes are eaten with flatbread.

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