A Middle Eastern classic street food, shawarma can be made with beef, chicken, lamb or a combination, but it is all about the spice mix to give the authentic flavor. Learn how to make homemade shawarma seasoning and use them to make the best homemade beef shawarma recipe.
Why This Recipe Works
Perfectly spiced beef strips rolled up with tahini sauce, onions, lettuce and pickles for the ultimate homemade weeknight dinner that everyone will enjoy.
In my Middle Eastern opinion, shawarma should taste a bit tangy so do not freak out on the amount of vinegar used. Adding tahini to the marinade added a desirable nutty flavor to the shawarma, sometimes I take it off because I have a kid who is allergic to tahini but do not skip it if you can.
Recipe Ingredients
Ingredient Notes
- Shawarma Seasoning: you can buy a shawarma spice mix if you have a middle eastern store next to you or else make your own, it is so easy. Recipe below.
- I usually use sirloin or flank, other cuts work as well, more on the beef cuts in the FAQ section.
- Sugar helps with browning and tenderizing the meat.
Recipe Instructions
Note: This is an overview of the instructions. The full instructions are in the recipe card below.
- In a deep bowl add all the ingredients including the shawarma spice mix. Just take 1 tablespoon of the spice mix and leave the rest in a jar for further use. The shawarma spice mix I listed below makes about 7 tablespoons.
- Add the beef strips and mix with your hands making sure to coat all the strips well. Cover and refrigerate at least 8 hours for up to 24 hours.
- In a non stick skillet, cook beef strips in batches and do not cram the skillet.
- Keep cooking until all the liquids evaporates from the pan and the strips start to brown a little.
- If you are making the lightly sauteed veggies, then add the onions and saute for a minute then add the peppers and continue for another minute. Turn heat off and add the parsley, do not let the veggies cook all the way through as we want them crisp.
Expert Tips
- Allergy note: this marinade includes tahini paste which although not a tree nut but might cause allergy in some people. You can still make it without the paste but it is highly recommended.
- How long to marinate the shawarma: If you have a tender beef cut, then a 30 minutes to 2 hours is enough to add flavors. But if tenderizing is required then I recommend overnight and up to 24 hours.
- You can use part lemon juice and part vinegar.
- Make a head tip: prepare the marinade ahead of time and refrigerate for up to2 days or freeze up to two months.
Shawarma Spices
I have a magical shawarma spice blend for you, just mix it and keep it in a jar to use for your shawarma. It has all the great flavors of paprika, cumin, ginger, coriander, cloves, black pepper, sumac, allspice, cinnamon, cardamom and turmeric. This blend of warm spices works so well in any shawarma.
Recipe FAQs
Shawarma is thinly sliced meat that is marinated then cooked on a large rotating spit then shaved off into pita sandwiches with so many good things. In homemade shawarma lean beef works very well. Tougher steak cuts like flank, skirt, sirloin and round are best for marinating long hours.
They are both delicious. While every chef has his own slightly different opinion but everyone agrees that they are both delicious. Gyro is made with lamb and/or beef topped with tomato, onion and tzatziki. Shawarma on the other hand can be made with chicken, beef, lamb or even goat. It is usually topped with hummus, onion, tomato and garlic dip. Shawarma also is made with meat that should be marinated for long hours to ensure deep flavors, in Egypt restaurants usually marinate the meat overnight for this purpose.
How to Serve Beef Shawarma
Beef shawarma has been in our weekly menu for so long, you can serve it as a sandwich in pita bread, wrap or plate style with rice.
Add a nice big dollop of garlic white sauce, tahini sauce or hummus then top that with fresh or sauteed veggies. Take a bite and pretend you are relaxing on the beaches of the Mediterranean... sooo goood. I bet this will show up on your dinner table frequently as it does on ours.
Enjoy other Shawarma Recipes
If you like this recipe do not forget to give it a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ star rating and attach a photo of your finished dish. It is always a pleasure of mine to see your photos and check your own take of the recipe. Thank you.
Beef Shawarma
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 pounds beef steak thin slices, Note1
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil for cooking.
For the marinade:
- 1 Tablespoon homemade Shawarma spice blend recipe follows.
- 1 teaspoon salt or to taste.
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper.
- 2 Tablespoons yellow mustard.
- 2 Tablespoons tahini paste.
- 1 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder.
- 1 1/2 tablespoon onion powder.
- 1/2 cup oil.
- 3/4 cup vinegar.
- 1/2 teaspoon sugar.
Shawarma spice blend:
- 1 Tablespoon paprika.
- 1 Tablespoon ground cumin.
- 1 Tablespoon ground ginger.
- 1 Tablespoon ground coriander.
- 1 Tablespoon ground cloves.
- 1 Tablespoon ground black pepper.
- 1 teaspoon sumac.
- 1 teaspoon allspice.
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon.
- 1/2 teaspoon cardamom.
- 1/2 teaspoon turmeric.
For serving (Choose from and combine)
- Lightly sautéed fresh vegetables: 1 large onion 1 cup bell peppers, sliced and 1/4 cup chopped parsley. Note2
- Lebanese bread / flatbread / pita bread
- Garlic sauce (Toum).
- Hummus
- Tahini spread.
- Tabbouleh.
- Fresh tomato slices.
- Red onions.
- Finely sliced iceberg lettuce
- French fries.
Instructions
- Start by grinding all the shawarma spic ingredients together then place in a jar and set aside.
- In a small bowl mix all the shawarma marinade well.
- Pour over the beef slices and toss well to coat the beef slices with the marinade, cover and refrigerate for at least 8 hours.
- In a large skillet over medium-high heat, add olive oil and start cooking the beef in batches. Do not cram the skillet.
- If you are making the lightly sautéed onion and pepper place them in the pan after the beef has cooked and stir for a couple of minutes we want them still crunchy and crisp.
- Spread a generous dollop of garlic dip or hummus on pita bread or any flatbread you are using. Top that with you favorite toppings from the list above and beef. Wrap tightly and enjoy.
Notes
- What steak cut to use for the Shawarma meat, tougher steak cuts like flank steak, skirt, sirloin and round are best for marinating long hours.
- Allergy note: this marinade includes tahini paste which, although not a tree nut, might cause allergy in some people. You can still make it without the paste but it is highly recommended.
- How long to marinate the shawarma: If you have a tender beef cut, then a 30 minutes to 2 hours is enough to add flavors. But if tenderizing is required then I recommend overnight and up to 24 hours.
- Make a head tip: prepare the marinade ahead of time and refrigerate for up to2 days or freeze up to two months.
- Lightly sautéed vegetables are the Egyptian version on shawarma, it is not authentic to the Lebanese one. If you are not making them then try to add some fresh parsley to your wrap it is really a nice addition.
Nutrition
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First published Oct 18, 2019. Last updated November 2, 2020 with new tips, step by step instructions and readability.
Thank you Amira for the best shawarma marinade and recipe! It reminds me of shawarma back in Cairo I used to have as a kid. My hubby (he’s syrian btw) said it’s the best shawarma ever! Looking forward to trying out more recipes
Thank you so much Hend for your feedback, I am so happy you liked it.
Just a thought, could it be cooked in the oven? If so, what temperature and time would you advise?
Hi,
I want to try making this dish but you don't specify what to do with the jar of dried spices that was set aside in step 1. I'm guessing either I have to use the spices as rub before tossing the steak in the marinade or after marinating for 8 hours but I am not sure. Can you please specify, or maybe I didn't read that step...
Susan, thank you so much for your interest in this recipe. In the marinade mixture the first ingredient is 1 tablespoon of this spice mix, so we will mix that with the rest of the marinade ingredients and toss the beef in. I hope this helps. Please let me know if you need anymore assistance.
Hello I am Arab as well and I find it hard to find authentic recipes and I've made this twice and it's seriously amazing, I am currently trying the chicken recipe for dinner. I am sure it will be great! Your food is amazing, your my source for when I don't know where to find a recipe.
Thank you so much Heba, you are so sweet, I am happy you liked the recipe.