This Homemade Shawarma Spice Blend works great as a rub or part of a marinade for chicken or beef. By making your own homemade shawarma seasoning mix you control exactly what is going in the spice blend and can adjust it to your tastes. This is a great way to spice up your Mediterranean recipes!
I recently shared a recipe for Beef Shawarma and Chicken Shawarma that my family loves to make, especially to use in pita wraps and rice bowls.
One of the key components of that recipe is the Homemade Shawarma Spice Blend that is used in the marinade.
I wanted to share this Shawarma Spice Blend with you guys so you have it on hand and can use it as a rub or in a marinade for chicken or beef. When you make a spice mix or seasoning blend at home you are controlling exactly what ingredients are in it.
This is important to me and allows me to also customize the spice blend to my tastes. If you like a bite more warm spice in your shawarma then you would add a bit more cinnamon.
Shawarma is a classic Arabic dish of meat (chicken, lamb, turkey, beef, or other mixed meats) seasoned and placed vertically on a spit and slow roasted. Typically the meat is thinly sliced and served with fattoush, tabbouleh, pita bread, tomato, and cucumber and sauces like a Tahini Sauce.
Recipe Ingredients You’ll Need
Of course this is a blend of spices so let’s talk about what spices make up this seasoning mix. You are going to love the rich, warm flavors of this spice mix.
- Ground Cumin
- Ground Coriander
- Garlic Powder
- Paprika (or try Smoked Paprika)
- Turmeric
- Onion Powder
- Allspice
- Cinnamon
- Black Pepper
Please see the recipe card below for exact ingredient amounts and instructions.
How to Create a Shawarma Marinade:
The best way to use this seasoning is to add the following to about 2 pounds of meat. You can use chicken, steak, pork, lamb or seafood. I also like to use this spice mixture on veggies.
- 2 pounds of your favorite proteins or vegetables of you choice
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- lemon juice (1 lemon juiced)
- 4 garlic cloves, smashed
- 2-3 tablespoons of honey
- 2 tablespoons shawarma mix
How to use this Shawarma Spice Blend
- Marinade: I like to have this on hand to use as a middle eastern marinade for protein like chicken or beef. It can be as simple as combing 1 Tablespoon of this seasoning with 2 Tablespoons of olive oil and 1 tablespoon of white vinegar and let the chicken or beef marinade for 10-20 minutes. If you like yogurt marinades, like in this Tandoori Chicken Recipe you should try adding the shawarma spice blend to the yogurt.
- Chickpeas: Use this spice mix to add to chickpeas and then roast them in the oven. We love Crispy Roasted Chickpeas as a snack and a small amount of this seasoning will go a long way with those crispy little bites.
- Seafood: Toss shrimp in olive oil and the spice mix before grilling. Rub it on fish- it works nicely on cod, salmon, sea bass or any fish really.
Recipe FAQ
Yes you can! Store it in an airtight container in a cool, dry place. It stays fresh for up to 6 months.
Yes there is! While both are Mediterranean spices blends shawarma seasoning tends to be more complex and warm with spices like cinnamon and allspice and gyro seasoning is usually more herb-based (oregano, thyme).
You will want to use about 1 to 1 1/2 tablespoons per pound of meat. If you like more flavor in the meat then use 1 1/2 tablespoons.
More Mediterranean Recipes
Vegetarian
Mediterranean Hummus Toast with Za’atar
Chicken
Sheet Pan Za’atar Chicken
Appetizers
Cucumber Hummus Bites
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Homemade Shawarma Spice Blend
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons cumin
- 2 tablespoons coriander
- 2 tablespoons garlic powder
- 3 teaspoons paprika
- 3 teaspoons turmeric
- 1 1/2 teaspoons onion powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoons AllSpice
- 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 1 1/2 teaspoons black pepper
Instructions
- Combine all the ingredients in a mason jar or glass jar and mix well. Store in a cool, dry place until you are ready to use.
Notes
- This mix makes about 3/4 of a cup. Use about 1 tablespoon of seasoning per pound of chicken or beef.
- When I do a simple marinade for 2 pounds of chicken or beef I use 2 Tablespoons shawarma spice blend, 2 Tablespoons olive oil, 1 Tablpesoon white vinegar. Allow chicken or beef to marinate for 2 hours or up to 24 hours.
