Shawarma chicken is a popular Middle Eastern dish made of savory spiced meat roasted on a vertical rotisserie When served in a wrap or plate, it needs the perfect accompaniments to complete the meal The right side dishes will provide contrasting flavors, textures, and nutrition to complement the chicken. Here are 12 delicious options to consider.
Overview of Shawarma Chicken
Shawarma chicken features juicy, thinly sliced chicken seasoned with a blend of warm spices like cumin, cardamom, paprika, and cayenne pepper. The meat is marinated then stacked and roasted vertically on a rotisserie, allowing it to cook slowly while the spices beautifully permeate the chicken. Slices are then shaved off to serve.
The chicken has a wonderful medley of aromatic flavors with a slight kick from the spices The texture is moist and tender It can be enjoyed wrapped in flatbread with veggies and sauce, or served over rice with traditional salads and dips on the side.
When planning sides for shawarma chicken, you’ll want options that provide contrasting textures like creamy or crunchy. Bright, fresh ingredients help cut through the rich chicken flavors. Sides that incorporate Middle Eastern spices or herbs also pair nicely.
12 Side Dish Ideas for Shawarma Chicken
1. Baba Ganoush
This traditional eggplant dip offers the perfect creamy, smoky contrast to shawarma chicken. Baba ganoush has a rich, smooth texture and deep flavor that complements the spices. It adds coolness and variety to the meal.
2. Hummus
No Middle Eastern spread is more versatile than hummus. Made from chickpeas, tahini, lemon, and garlic, hummus makes a protein-packed, flavorful dip for chicken shawarma. The creaminess balances the meat’s richness.
3. Tabbouleh
A bright parsley salad with bulgur wheat, tomatoes, onion, and lemon juice, tabbouleh provides freshness and crunch alongside the chicken. The herbs and citrus cut through the savory spices. It’s light and refreshing.
4. Fattoush
Fattoush salad combines crisp veggies, fresh herbs, and pita chips with a bright lemon vinaigrette. It adds a lively crunch and acidity to balance chicken shawarma’s richness. The mix of flavors is fantastic.
5. Tzatziki
Cooling yogurt-based tzatziki sauce served with shawarma chicken provides tangy creaminess and cools the palate from the spices. Its simple preparation makes it an easy, fool-proof pairing.
6. Roasted Cauliflower
The nutty sweetness of roasted cauliflower florets plays off shawarma’s spices beautifully. They caramelize during roasting for wonderful texture. Toss in garlic, lemon, and spices for extra flavor.
7. Rice Pilaf
Simple rice pilaf makes the ideal blank canvas for chicken shawarma. Fluffy grains soak up the chicken juices and spice flavors. Consider pilafs with Middle Eastern flavors like cumin or saffron.
8. Couscous
Like rice pilaf, couscous offers a mild base to enjoy with strongly flavored chicken shawarma. Toast the couscous first for nuttier flavor. Add fruits, nuts or herbs for a more exciting side.
9. Mediterranean Salad
A salad with cucumbers, olives, tomatoes, onion and feta cheese provides fresh flavor and texture contrast to sliced chicken shawarma. The veggies balance the richness.
10. Lentil Soup
Warm, protein-rich lentil soup makes a hearty pairing for chicken shawarma plates. The earthy, mildly spiced soup complements the chicken. Add spinach or tomatoes for a nutrition boost.
11. Roasted Eggplant
Eggplant roasted until caramelized and creamy has a sweetness that offsets shawarma’s spices. Drizzle with tahini sauce and sprinkle with mint or parsley for extra flavor and color.
12. Warmed Flatbread
No chicken shawarma meal is complete without warm flatbread like pita or naan to wrap the meat in or dip into side dishes. Fresh, soft bread soaks up chicken juices and spice flavors.
Planning a Complete Meal
When planning a full chicken shawarma meal, try to include an array of sides. Have at least one dip like baba ganoush, hummus or tzatziki to start. Add a bright, herbaceous salad like tabbouleh or fattoush. Include a pilaf, roasted veggie or lentil soup for heartiness. Fresh flatbread ties everything together.
With flavorful chicken as the star and tasty sides, you’ll have a mouthwatering Middle Eastern feast. Shawarma chicken makes the perfect centerpiece. Experiment with different salad, dip and vegetable pairings to find your favorites.
Make-Ahead Tips
One advantage of chicken shawarma and many complementary sides is that they keep well, making them great make-ahead dishes for entertaining. Here are some tips:
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Marinate the chicken 1-2 days in advance.
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Cook chicken, slice and refrigerate up to 3 days ahead. Reheat before serving.
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Prep dips like baba ganoush, hummus and tzatziki up to 3 days ahead.
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Make tabbouleh and fattoush salad (minus dressing) 1 day in advance. Dress just before eating.
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Cook lentil soup and pilafs 1-2 days ahead. Gently reheat to serve.
With a little advance preparation, you can pull off an amazing Middle Eastern meal with ease. The fantastic flavors of chicken shawarma and seasonal fresh sides are sure to impress guests. Round out the menu with baklava or date cookies for a sweet finish.
Recap of Side Dish Options
To recap, here are 12 delicious side dishes to serve with flavorful shawarma chicken:
- Baba Ganoush – Smoky eggplant dip
- Hummus – Creamy chickpea dip
- Tabbouleh – Bright parsley and tomato salad
- Fattoush – Crunchy pita salad
- Tzatziki – Cool yogurt cucumber sauce
- Roasted Cauliflower – Caramelized florets
- Rice Pilaf – Fluffy spiced grains
- Couscous – Nutty toasted wheat
- Mediterranean Salad – Veggies with feta
- Lentil Soup – Protein-rich and hearty
- Roasted Eggplant – Sweet and creamy
- Flatbread – Fresh pita or naan
With an array of contrasting textures, bright flavors and aromas, these sides perfectly complement juicy chicken shawarma. Try a variety for a mouthwatering Middle Eastern feast.
How to make Chicken Shawarma
For the best results, it’s best to marinate the chicken overnight. But to be honest, the volume and flavour of the marinade is intense enough that you can get away with a minimum of 3 hours of marinating. Been there, done that plenty of times, and nobody has complained!
- Mix marinade – For convenience, just mix the marinade directly in a ziplock bag. A bag works best because the chicken remains nicely coated in the marinade. If you prefer to use a container, either turn the chicken a few times or increase the marinade by 50%.
- Add chicken into the marinade. Seal the bag, removing excess air, then massage to coat from the outside. Leave to marinade for 12 to 24 hours in the fridge. If you’re pressed for time, even 3 hours will do!
- Yogurt sauce – Make the yogurt sauce simply by mixing the ingredients then set aside for at least 20 minutes to let the flavours meld. This will keep for 3 days in the fridge.
- Cook chicken either on the stove or on the BBQ. It will get a great crust on it from the spices, and you will adore the smell. It’s intoxicating!
- Rest chicken for at least 3 minutes before serving to allow the juices to redistribute throughout the flesh, else they will just run out everywhere when you slice the meat.
- To serve, just pile everything on a platter and let everybody make their own wraps! The chicken, lettuce, tomato slices, onion, yogurt sauce and warmed flatbreads – homemade or store bought. If the chicken is on the larger side, I sometimes slice it. But if they are smaller, I tend to just leave them whole.
Great food for gatherings
This Chicken Shawarma, along with the Vietnamese Noodles with Lemongrass Chicken, are two of my most frequently made foods when I’m cooking for a crowd because it’s easy to make loads, they are both great “lay it all out and let everyone serve themselves” type foods (I’m a big fan of food like that), and it travels well. I’ve made this multiple times on camping trips (along with the Vietnamese Noodles and Greek Gyros!).
It was also part of a 7 course Arabian Feast menu that I shared way back when I first published this recipe in 2015. I still haven’t gotten around to perking up all the recipes with fresh new photos, but I will one day! I love that menu because so much of it can be prepared ahead, and there’s lots of common ingredients.
Be prepared for the amazing smells when you’re cooking this Chicken Shawarma! – Nagi xx
This Chicken Shawarma Wrap from Duzan in Astoria, Queens NYC hit the SPOT. #DEVOURPOWER
FAQ
What is shawarma eaten with?
Shawarma is often served with pita bread, tabbouleh, fattoush salad, pickled turnips, taboon bread, tomato salad or hummus, and topped off with tahina sauce, amba sauce or toum (garlic sauce).Sep 14, 2022
What is shawarma chicken good with?
Serve with pita and tahini, chopped cucumbers and tomatoes, some olives, chopped parsley, some feta, fried eggplant, hummus swirled with harissa, rice or rice pilaf. You can make the white sauce that traditionally accompanies it by cutting plain yogurt with mayonnaise and lemon juice, and flecking it with garlic.Jan 23, 2024
What do you eat with chicken shawarma?
It’s a perfect weeknight meal and comes together in very little time. Pair it with vermicelli rice, Lebanese pita bread, Toum (garlic sauce), Tahini Sauce, pickled turnips or shatta (chili paste). Chicken Shawarma Recipe!
What vegetable goes well with shawarma?
Mediterranean veggies
I used eggplant, zucchini, bell pepper, and red onion in my vegetable blend. Carrots, beets, turnips, or squash would be delicious too!