Middle Eastern Spice Blends For Chicken Shawarma

By Caroline Anderson July 4, 2023 17 mins read 99 Views

Typically made by layering marinated meat on a spit, shawarma is a popular street food in the Middle East. While the spice blends vary from cook to cook, they generally include cumin, cardamom, paprika, and an accent of cinnamon or turmeric.

Chicken shawarma is a simple and delicious meal that will quickly become a staple in your family’s rotation of meals. This recipe features tender chicken seasoned with sumac, turmeric, and cinnamon for an easy, flavorful lunch or dinner!

What Spices Are Typically Used to Make Chicken Shawarma?

Shawarma is a Levantine dish that involves seasoned meat that's roasted on a vertical spit. It's served tucked into a pita with veggies, tahini sauce, and other side options.

Typically, chicken is the primary ingredient in this meal. However, beef and lamb shawarma are also popular.

The spices used to season shawarma vary depending on the region and cuisine, but you can find many recipes that use common Middle Eastern ingredients like cumin, paprika, and garlic powder. These spices pair well with chicken shawarma and are a great way to elevate this classic dish.

If you’re looking to spice up your next chicken shawarma dinner, you can try making your own DIY shawarma seasoning blend. It’s a forgiving recipe that uses pantry spices and can be easily customized to your own tastes.

How Can I Elevate My Chicken Shawarma Recipe with the Right Blend of Middle Eastern Spices?

If you want to elevate your chicken shawarma recipe, there are several spice blends that can work well. One of my favorite blends is called Baharat, which combines a few simple ingredients for a fresh and tangy flavour.

The spices in the blend are cumin, smoked paprika, turmeric and cinnamon. These all combine to create an aromatic, smoky and sweet flavour that’s perfect for chicken shawarma!

Another key ingredient in this Baharat blend is fenugreek, which is an herb that comes from India and is used to add a depth of flavour. It’s often used in Indian curries as well as Middle Eastern cuisine.

Cardamom is another essential component of this blend. It’s a strong and fragrant spice that’s commonly found in many Middle Eastern dishes, including falafel. It’s also a key component of Arabic and Turkish coffee. It’s a wonderful spice to have in the kitchen because it can add depth and complexity to any dish.

Garam Masala

If you're looking to elevate your chicken shawarma, the right blend of Middle Eastern spices can be a game changer. Garam masala is a popular spice blend that's often used in Indian dishes, but it's also a staple in many other parts of South Asia.

It's a spicy, aromatic blend that can include as few as four ingredients or as many as 14 different spices. Typically, it's made from whole spices that are toasted before grinding into a powder.

The exact combination of spices in a garam masala will depend on the region it's made in, and each family's preferences. But most recipes will contain cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, and black pepper.

In some regions, the addition of chile is also common. It may seem like a lot of heat, but it actually balances the flavors and enhances the aromas of your dish.

Shawarma Seasoning

Shawarma seasoning is a great way to add extra flavor to your chicken shawarma. It’s a blend of spices that is perfect for grilling and roasting and it’s very easy to make!

It is a mixture of spices including cumin, coriander, paprika and turmeric. This spice blend is very versatile and can be used to season any meat or vegetable.

You can also use it as a dry rub before grilling or roasting. This will give your shawarma a seasoned crust which makes it super tasty and it’s an easy way to add some extra flavor without having to marinate your meat first.

The best part is that it doesn’t have MSG or any other flavour enhancers in it, so you can use it for a variety of dishes! This homemade shawarma seasoning is a must have in your pantry for quick and easy meals that taste delicious!

Frequently Asked Questions

Almond Meal vs. Almond Flour: What's the Difference?

An almond meal can be used as an alternative to almond flour. It can also be used in cooking and baking.

Almond flour may also contain gluten, making it difficult to digest. It is important to avoid gluten-free products if you have celiac or other digestive disorders.

Almond flour isn't considered "superfood", but it is high in healthy fats, fibres, protein, vitamin E, and sodium.

The almond meal offers many nutritional benefits including iron, magnesium, zinc, manganese (thiamin), calcium, vitamin A, B1 and Vitamin C.

Because it's made from almonds, almond flour contains monounsaturated fatty acids, while almond oil contains polyunsaturated fatty acids. Both can lower LDL cholesterol and increase HDL cholesterol.

Almond flour also contains antioxidants like phenolics and flavonoids. These compounds help to prevent oxidative damage from free radicals.

A study published in the Journal of Agricultural Food Chemistry found that almond flour had antioxidant activity equivalent to that of blueberries, cranberries, pomegranates, and red wine grape juice.

Almond flour can be purchased with almond milk that has been supplemented with nutrients.

How to Store Spices

Keep them away from heat and light.

For longer storage, store spices in a dark cabinet. This will help keep them fresh and prevent any deterioration due to oxidation.

Keep spices away from direct sunlight in a dry, cool place. The spice may lose flavour and aroma if placed near a window or heater.

Spices can be best kept in an airtight container or tin. Avoid storing spices in plastic containers.

Check the seal every time you open and reseal it. Heat can cause moisture to spoil your product.

If you have leftover spices, don't throw them away. Make sure to use leftover spices in other recipes. To prolong their shelf life you can freeze them.

Can you add spice into a drink

I love spices adding flavour to food. But how do you make spices liven up when they are added to drinks?

Spices are great because they bring out the best in any beverage. You can add a little cinnamon or nutmeg to any glass of wine, beer or coffee.

But, since most recipes call to ground spices, you'll need whole spices. This is sensible, but it can be expensive, time-consuming, and requires storage space.

This is where magic happens. With a little creativity, you can make your favorite spices easy to use in powdered form. You can then mix the spices into your favorite beverages to make delicious spiced drinks.

There are two ways to go about creating these powders. The first involves the grinding of whole spices to make fine powder. A mortar and pestle is another method to grind the spices to a finer consistency.

No matter which method you use, the powder will be much easier to measure and store than whole spices. You won't run short of powder, and it keeps well.

You can even experiment with mixing different spices to create new flavours. You could make minty water by combining spearmint and peppermint. Or ginger and cardamom pods to make spicy ginger tea.

Once you are skilled in the production of powdered spices, it is possible to apply that technique to herbs. Basil, rosemary, thyme and sage are some of the most popular herbs.

The possibilities are endless. Powdered spices can be used to add flavour to beverages or enhance the flavor of dishes like soups, salads and pasta.

What are the most important flavours in Thai cuisine?

Thai cuisine includes several distinct regional cuisines. These include Northern, Central and Southern Thai food. Each region has a distinct flavour profile.

Thai food is known for its sweet, salty and sour flavors.

Thais value sweetness as it makes the food more enjoyable. Thai cuisine relies heavily on sweet ingredients, such as coconut milk (gula melaka), and palm sugar.

Sourness is also very popular in Thailand. Hot dishes can often be paired with sour foods. This helps to balance out the heat.

Spicy food is another crucial ingredient in Thai food. Spices such as chilli pepper, galangal, ginger root, and garlic are used extensively in Thai recipes.

What are the 7 Indian spices?

Indian spices are a group of spices used in Indian food. They usually include cardamom (also known by hing), cumin, turmeric, coriander,fenugreek, ginger, and asafoetida. Spices add flavour to dishes by blending natural ingredients like meats, vegetables and spices. Combining spices creates unique flavour profiles that make Indian food so special.

Cardamom's sweet, pungent flavor is balanced with ginger and citrus notes. It's used in many dishes, including biryani and curries. Cumin is a spice with an earthy smell and a rich, nuanced flavour. It is often added in to curries, dals, or meat dishes. Coriander has a sweet citrus aroma and adds a subtle nuttiness to dishes. It is commonly used to season vegetables, lentils, and other foods.

Turmeric's earthy flavour is enhanced by mustard, spices, pepper hints, and other spices. This spice is often used in curries, and other dishes. It also has a golden hue. Fenugreek possesses a rich, earthy scent, slightly bitter flavour, and earthy tone tones. It is commonly used to season meat dishes, such as kebabs and curry. Ginger is spicy, pungent, and has hints of citrus. It gives a great kick to soups, curries, and chutneys. Asafoetida (hing) has a pungent smell and strong flavor that substitutes onion and garlic in some recipes.

These spices produce unique flavors, which make Indian cooking distinctive.

Statistics

According to a recent survey, professional chefs and many home cooks use spices; usage has only continued to grow from 2011 to now. (hospitalityinsights.ehl.edu)
According to Healthline, pink Himalayan salt is estimated to contain up to 84 minerals and trace elements, which gives the salt its special pink color. (spicecravings.com)
According to the McCormick Science Institute, indigenous Indian spices were cultivated as early as the 8th century BC in the gardens of Babylon. (spicecravings.com)

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How To

Do You Know How to Make Curry Paste?

Curry paste is made from dried chillies, shallots and galangal root. It also contains lemongrass, galangal root (lemongrass), lemongrass, kaffir Lim leaf, garlic, shrimp paste and sugar. It is widely used in Thai cuisine.

Curry paste is a popular condiment in Southeast Asia. It adds a unique flavour to many dishes, such as curries, soups, stir-fries, salads, rice dishes, noodles, and desserts.

It is easy to make your own at-home recipes! Follow the steps below to make it easy!

Step1 - Prepare Ingredients

You need to prepare all ingredients before starting this recipe.
Start by peeling and chopping shallots (about 2 cups). Next, chop galangal root into small pieces (3 inches in length) and place aside.
Next, you will need to peel and slice the garlic cloves (about 4 cloves). Lemongrass stems about 1/2 inch thick should be removed and finely chopped.
Next, crush the dried red chilli peppers (4 tablespoons) and then remove the seeds (optional).
Next, slice the kaffir lime leaves in thin strips of about 5 inches. Set aside the white portion of the stem.
After that, wash and drain shrimp paste (about 6 ounces), then coarsely mash it.
Finally, measure out sugar and salt.

Step2 - Grind Ingredients

Blend all ingredients until smooth
The texture should be similar to that of peanut butter.
Take note: If you are looking to reduce oil in your dish you can add water to the mix.

Step3 - Add Coconut Milk

Mix coconut milk with the mixture.
Add coconut milk slowly so that the paste does not become too sticky.
If you like it milder, reduce the number of chillies used and add more galangal root.
You may prefer it hotter, so add more chilies or less galangalroot. The final result should taste good to you.

Step4: Serve