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Chicken Shawarma with Garlic Sauce

Enjoy tender, spiced chicken thighs cooked to perfection in the air fryer, served in pita with tangy garlic sauce and fresh vegetables.
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Prep Time 1 hour
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 20 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: Middle Eastern
Calories: 400
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Shawarma Marinade
  • 2 lbs chicken thighs, boneless and skinless
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tbsp ground cumin
  • 2 tbsp ground coriander
  • 1 tbsp ground turmeric
  • 1 tbsp paprika
  • 1 tbsp ground cinnamon
  • 1 tsp cayenne pepper Optional for added heat
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • 3 tbsp olive oil
For the Garlic Sauce
  • 1/4 cup plain yogurt
  • 1/4 cup mayonnaise
  • 1 Juice of 1 lemon
  • Salt, to taste
For Serving
  • Pita bread For serving
  • Chopped vegetables (lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers) For serving

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Make the shawarma marinade by stirring together the minced garlic, cumin, coriander, turmeric, paprika, cinnamon, cayenne, salt, pepper, and olive oil in a medium bowl.
  2. Add the chicken thighs into the marinade and toss to coat evenly. Cover and marinate for at least 1 hour, preferably overnight.
Cooking
  1. Preheat the air fryer and arrange the marinated chicken thighs in the basket in a single layer.
  2. Cook until the chicken is browned and cooked through, which may require cooking in batches depending on the air fryer's size.
  3. Let the chicken rest for a few minutes before slicing into strips.
Making Garlic Sauce
  1. In a bowl, mix together yogurt, mayonnaise, lemon juice, and a pinch of salt to taste.
Serving
  1. Stuff the sliced chicken into pita bread and drizzle with garlic sauce. Top with chopped vegetables.

Notes

The shawarma flavor is best with a thick coating and avoiding overcrowding in the air fryer. For added heat, increase the cayenne pepper. Make the garlic sauce ahead of time to save on prep time.