I'm so happy I decided to give this recipe a shot. I love Mediterranean cuisine and will take any opportunity to switch things up with my healthy meals throughout the week. I went into this fully expecting for my chicken to only sort of taste like shawarma but this recipe is so fool proof that even the most unpracticed chef can make it happen. You can check out the original recipe HERE or follow along with me to get some extra tips.
WHAT YOU WILL NEED:
I used a standard plastic spoon as my teaspoon because it's what I had *shrug emoji*
Pro tip: take all caps and sifter lids off of your spices before you start to prep your marinade. I added all of the spices first and then stirred in the olive oil. Before marinading, cut each piece of chicken into three to six pieces depending on size. I like to purchase the chicken breast as tenders because it's already cut. I seasoned the chicken with salt and pepper as I would season chicken normally before adding the marinade.
This is about the point where I freaked out my first time making this. I tasted the marinade before adding the chicken and it wasn't like anything I was used to. Don't let the marinade on its own fool you. It will taste bitter and flat (even with salt) and you will think you missed something. Everything will be fine, I promise. Smell is a better indicator of whether things are going well. The first time around my chicken looked much darker (more brown than red) after the marinade. I used more chicken and more cayenne this time around so my chicken looked more like the OG recipe photos (reddish, hot wing color). I marinaded my chicken in a doubled up plastic bag from the grocery store (you can leave it in a large bowl covered with plastic wrap). The first time I let the marinade sit for three hours but this time around I let it hang out for a full day in the fridge before cooking. Both ways taste equally delicious.
Place your marinaded chicken flat on a baking sheet and put it in the oven for 15 minutes at 400 degrees.
The original recipe calls for flipping the chicken half way through the roast but that's not how I get down (too lazy, duh!).
Take the chicken out of the oven and let it cool slightly. With tongs and a sharp knife cut the chicken into smaller pieces.
At this point the OG recipe calls for you to prepare a large skillet with olive oil to begin sautéing the chicken. But you'll find after roasting the chicken there's still fat and the remaining marinade oil on the sheet pan. So, instead, after cutting the chicken I return it to the pan and coat the meat with the leftover marinade.
You'll notice the chicken is cooked enough to eat from roasting but you don't want to skip the sauté step as it browns the meat further, making the seasoning a nice crispy coating around the edges of the chicken.
Now, for the last step, sauté the chicken in two batches for about 5 minutes on medium high heat until the smallest pieces of chicken are browned. I sprinkled a little more salt on the meat in this step as well. And just like that you have six amazing dinner portions of chicken shawarma for the week. I like to eat mine with some ginger/turmeric rice, hummus, cucumber salad, pickled red cabbage and tzatziki.
Let me know if you try it!
Snooze A.M. Eatery, Denver, CO
Lots of solid choices here. I ordered the Chili Verde Benedict with barbacoa. There's green chili sauced tortillas cooked with magic so they act as the biscuit/english muffin element in the benedict. Genius. All topped with poached cage free eggs, green chili hollandaise, pico de gallo and cotija cheese. I can honestly say this is the best thing I've eaten so far in 2018.
My boyfriend ordered the shrimp and grits, which was also delicious! He didn't love me enough to get a sunny-side egg for better aesthetics, however he did let me taste his apple mimosa. Of all the mimosa concoctions I've tried (pineapple, white peach, strawberry, etc.), this was the most delicious aside from OJ and seemingly the most obvious. We tried recreating it when we got home but ehh...pro tip: spring for not the cheapest champagne and a darker, cider-like apple juice (ie: Simply). In any case, I hope this chain (yes, chain, HOW?) makes its way over to the midwest sometime soon.
Would order again without trying something new.
Hasbrowns: 10/10
Hutch American Bistro, Chicago, IL
I don't want to give this spot too much credit because I did watch them burn the shit out of my friends biscuit. Buuuut if you are a lover of all things benedict, this is one you'll wanna try. Also, there's $2 mimosas on weekdays (get the white peach!) if you wanted to turn that self-care call off into a real party. I ordered the Pulled Bacon Benedict. Of course, before ordering, I asked what the hell pulled bacon entailed. Cured, whole slab bacon, brined for a week then braised. Heaven heaven heaven stop talking. It was awesome. With the rich, saltiness of the bacon, I think it would've been better served on a buttery, crisp biscuit but after seeing how they murder biscuits in that kitchen I want no parts.
Would order again without trying something new.
Hasbrowns: (N/A, cheesy mash) 7/10
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