Chicken Shawarma Bowl

This juicy chicken and veggie packed shawarma bowl, topped with a creamy white garlic sauce!

Chicken ingredients:

• 5 chicken thighs

• 1/2 cup Greek yogurt

• 1 tbsp lemon juice

• 5 garlic cloves

• 1 tsp cumin

• 2 tsp paprika

• 2 tsp salt

• 2 tsp pepper

• 1/2 tsp turmeric (optional for color)

• 1/4 tsp all spice (optional)

• 1 yellow onion

Rice ingredients:

• 2 cups basmati rice

• 3 garlic clove

• 1/2 tsp cumin

• 3 tsp salt

• 1 tsp pepper

• 1/4 tsp cardamom seeds (optional)

• 2 tbsp butter or oil

Garlic sauce: ( in a blender)

• 1/2 cup mayo

• 1/2 cup Greek yogurt

• 1/2 tbsp lemon

• 2 garlic cloves

• 1 tsp white vinegar (optional)

• pepper/salt to taste

**add water to make it thinner or help lessen the garlic taste if it’s too strong

Cucumber salad:

• 1 English cucumber

• cherry tomatoes

• 2 tbsp olive oil

• 1 tbsp lemon

• salt to taste

• parsley (optional)

Directions:

1. First soak the rice in water for 15 min.

2. While the rice is soaking, prepare the chicken by trimming any fats. Then add to a bowl & add all the ingredients listed above for the chicken, let it marinate for 30 min or overnight.

3. Next wash the rice until the water runs clear, then set aside in a strainer. In a large pan on medium heat, melt the butter then add the garlic & half the spices listed for the rice. Mix until fragrant, then add in the rice & fry for a couple seconds. Lastly, add in the water & the rest of the spices, then cover & simmer on low heat for 10-15 min. Once the rice has soaked up the water, turn off the heat & let it rest for 10 min (don’t uncover yet)

4. Preheat the oven to 425. In a 13 by 9, add oil & yellow onion to the pan. Bake for 40 min, flipping halfway. If you like the chicken to be a little more crispy, then once the chicken is done cut it & put it in the oven on HI broil for 5-10 min.

5. While the chicken is cooking make the sauce by blending all the ingredients. For the cucumber & tomato salad, chop the cucumber, cherry tomatoes, & parsley (optional) into bite size pieces. Then toss in the oil, lemon juice, & salt/pepper.

6. Let’s start assembling the bowl by layering rice, chicken, cucumber tomato salad, and other toppings (I added pickled radish & feta cheese).

7. Drizzle the white garlic sauce & enjoy!