Shawarma, the beloved Middle Eastern dish of thinly sliced, marinated meat slow-roasted on a vertical spit, is typically served with flatbread and an array of accompaniments. This version, which calls on chicken thighs for their juiciness and resilience to overcooking, chars them under the broiler alongside chunks of onion for a fuss-free dinner that will quickly make its way into your weeknight rotation. After the chicken comes out of the oven you can push the thighs to the side to make room for all of the toppings: sliced tomato, cucumber spears, and a tangy garlic yogurt. Loading the lot into warm pitas makes for a satisfying meal that comes together faster than you could order it for delivery.
Recipe information
Total Time
45 minutes
Yield
4 servings
Ingredients
Preparation
Step 1
Place a rack in upper third of oven; heat broiler. Mix together ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil, 1 Tbsp. garlic powder, 1 Tbsp. ground cumin, 2 tsp. Diamond Crystal or 1 tsp. Morton kosher salt, 2 tsp. ground coriander, 2 tsp. paprika, 2 tsp. sugar, 1 tsp. ground turmeric, and ¼ tsp. ground cinnamon in a large bowl. Add 2 red or yellow onions, cut into 2" pieces, and 2 lb. skinless, boneless chicken thighs and toss until onions and chicken are evenly coated in spices. (It’s okay if onions fall apart.) Scatter over a foil-lined baking sheet.
Step 2
Broil onions and chicken, rotating baking sheet as needed for even browning and turning over halfway through, until chicken is browned all over and charred in spots, 18–24 minutes. (If some onions are browning too quickly, tuck them under the chicken as you turn them to protect from broiler.)
Step 3
Meanwhile, whisk together 2 garlic cloves, finely grated, 1½ cups plain whole-milk Greek yogurt, ½ tsp. Diamond Crystal or ¼ tsp. Morton kosher salt, remaining 2 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil,and 3 Tbsp. water in a small bowl. Taste garlic yogurt and season with more salt if needed.
Step 4
Cut chicken into strips; season with more salt if needed. Serve chicken and onions with garlic yogurt, warm pita, sliced tomatoes, and cucumber spears, if desired.
