Beef Shawarma|Recipe|Healthy|Article

Beef Shawarma is the ultimate on-the-go meal. Thinly slice the meat, wrap in pita bread with veggies and sauce is a delicious quick treat.

First what is Shawarma?

Shawarma is thinly slicing into cuts of meat, like chicken, beef, goat, lamb, and sometimes turkey.

​Rolled into a large piece of flatbread or pita that has been steamed or heated.

Inside the pita, foods like hummus, tahini, pickles, vegetables, and even french fries are added.

Think of shawarma as a taco or burrito Middle Eastern style.

How to make Shawarma

Raw meat is placed on large, rotating cones. As it rotates, the meat is cooked by a heat source that is located behind the actual cone.

The meat slowly falls off or is thinly slice by a chef with a large knife. It can take several hours to fully cook.

Ingredients

• 2 pounds beef (prime rib is best)
• 1 cup yogurt (plain)
• 1/4 cup vinegar
• 2 cloves garlic (crushed)
• 1 teaspoon pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 cardamom pods
• 1 teaspoon allspice
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice (from 1 lemon)
• For the Sauce:
• 1 cup tahini
• 2 cloves garlic (crushed)
• 1/4 cup lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons yogurt
• For the Filling:
• 1 cucumber (thinly sliced)
• 1 onion (thinly sliced)
• 8 loaves pita bread (or 4 large)
• 1/2 teaspoon sumac
• 1 to 2 tomatoes (thinly sliced)
• 1/2 cup parsley (finely chopped)
• Optional: pickle slices

Steps:

1. Combine all ingredients except for beef, fillings, and sauce ingredients to make the marinade.
2. If it seems a little dry, add a little olive oil (a tablespoon at a time). Here is an excellent tahini recipe, if you do not have some handy.
3. Add the beef, cover, and refrigerate at least 8 hours, preferably overnight.
4. In a stockpot or large saucepan, cook beef over medium heat for 45 minutes or until done.
5. Be sure not to overcook! If beef becomes a little dry, add a few tablespoons of water throughout the cooking duration.
6. While beef is cooking, prepare the sauce. Combine sauce ingredients and mix well. Set aside.
7. Take the onions, tomatoes, cucumbers and sprinkle with sumac.
8. Add other filling ingredients in a large bowl and combine well.
9. When the beef is done, you can shred it, slice it, or leave into large pieces.
10. As long as it is thinly cut, there is not much difference. We prefer to cut mine into wide strips.
11. To assemble the pita, place enough beef on pita to cover 1/4 of the loaf. Add veggies and pour sauce.
12. Roll like a soft taco or burrito and you have shawarma!