Loaded Beef Shawarma Fries

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There couldn’t possibly be a happier marriage than that of a refreshing salad and SHAWARMA! That’s what I call love! I’m not talking about just any salad. This Loaded Beef Shawarma Fries recipe is one of a kind. It’s a delicious combination of savory and zesty flavors blended with the unique taste of my shawarma-spice blend.

It’s not unheard of to have protein packed salads. Ranging from seafood to chicken salads, we can all agree that salads marry well with many different types of seafood and poultry. Lately, there are plenty of new recipes that include different cuts of meat layered onto or mixed into salads as well. For example, taco salad is a famous favorite of many to name one. But, shawarma has swept the world with its savory and one-of-a-kind preparation and flavor. So, adding it to a salad makes the dish all the more special.

Shawarma

There’s much to be said about shawarma but let’s take a moment to appreciate the shawarma craze that has swept the world in recent years. Being Lebanese, I’ve always had a soft-spot for shawarma and it’s generally not a dish anyone says no to lol. Growing up in Michigan really emphasized the impact shawarma has culturally. No joke, shawarma brought people from all walks of life together back in the day in the small-town restaurants. I even recall some teachers joking about giving extra credit grades to those of us who would bring them a shawarma sandwich lol!

Now, shawarma has become commonplace on many menus, even in non-Middle Eastern restaurants. Young and old love shawarma and endless dishes have been created with shawarma being the star. Shawarma wraps, shawarma subs, shawarma tacos, shawarma pizza, and the list goes on and on of all the different ways shawarma can be served up. You can now add to that list this Loaded Beef Shawarma Fries!

Stacked Beef Shawarma Salad — A versatile salad, you can choose any toppings liken pickled turnips, red onions,

Different Types of Shawarma?

The two main types of shawarma are chicken or beef. However, originally the authentic shawarma recipe in the Middle East was made with lamb meat. Because lamb meat has more fatty layers, it helps the meat to not dry out as it spins on a spit (the long skewer the meat is stacked on which turns in a heated machine to cook the meat). Then, the shaved lamb meat is spread out into a piece of pita bread, a parsley-onion salad is layered over it, fresh tomatoes cut on top. Finally, the lemony tahini sauce is drizzled over them all. Roll the pita and you have the world-famous shawarma sandwich.

Of course, chicken shawarma is prepared differently from its spices to how it’s served in original sandwich form. First, it’s marinated with different seasonings. Furthermore, its rolled in pita bread with a garlic paste and pickles. But, in many of the above-mentioned dishes, chicken shawarma, or shawarma djej, can easily be used in place of the meat, or shawarma lahme.

Shawarma Spices

You can spend countless hours searching for the perfect blend of shawarma spices to catch that authentic flavor. Trust me when I tell you, all spice blends are yummy, but the one in this recipe and in any recipe in which I use shawarma, will become your absolute favorite. Search no more because this spice blend has the perfect balance of aromatic flavors in proportion to the tangy and savory ones. You’ll be able to taste the traditional palatable flavors in every bite!

Frequently asked questions

What goes into the shawarma spice?

The main spice that gives it its unique flavor is all-spice or seven spices. From there on you should add a little black ground pepper, sumac for some tang, cumin, salt, and paprika.

How do I stack shawarma onto a skewer or a spit?

Make sure the meat is cut thinly into steak form. As you layer the steak, slightly change the degree at which you stack each piece so that they cook more evenly.

How can I ensure the shawarma doesn’t dry out?

You can use a cut of meat that has extra fat in it or you can add tomatoes to make it juicy. Another option is to marinate it in some yogurt.

shawarma salad, chicken shawarma salad, shawarma fries salad — Shawarma salad is the ultimate tower of crisp greens, topped with baked french fries, juicy seasoned shawarma beef strips, then drizzled with a tahini garlic sauce

Making Shawarma

It’s not as intimidating as it may seem. Truthfully, the success of a delicious shawarma really lies in its seasoning and balance of flavors. A part of maintaining flavor lies in how you cook the shawarma. Traditionally, it is cooked on a spit in a shawarma cooking machine. But, there a few other ways to prepare and cook shawarma that will give you the same juicy and flavorful outcome you desire.

DIY Shawarma Spit

The meat or chicken pieces are usually stacked in a specific way onto a spit so that they cook thoroughly and the spit turns slowly ensuring heat from the machine is evenly dispersed. Now, that large cooking machine is actually available in mini-size and is small enough to be put directly onto the dinner table so you can serve the shawarma fresh and warm.

If you don’t have access to a cooking machine and don’t want to buy one, there’s an easy solution. You can take two wooden skewers and use them to create your own shawarma spit. Push the duller side of the skewers into a potato cut in half, each skewer into one half of the potato. Be sure to leave a little space between the skewers because as you stack the meat the skewers will lean inward a bit.

When you’re finished stacking the meat, close off the skewer with half an onion and half a tomato on each skewer. This will ensure that the skewers will stand balanced and the drippings from the onions and tomatoes will enhance the flavors. Also, it will keep the meat from drying out!

Rotisserie Shawarma

Have a rotisserie machine at home or a rotisserie rod in your oven? Perfect! You can turn that rotisserie rod into a shawarma spit! Begin by pushing in two onions and then layering the meat over them. Then, close off the meat with one or two more onions. Let the rotisserie do it’s thing by turning the meat round and round until it’s evenly cooked!

Oven-baked Shawarma

Another easy way to cook shawarma is in the oven. Put your seasoned and marinated shawarma into a pan and cover with foil. Cook on low heat for about an hour and fifteen minutes so that the meat remains juicy.

Tahini Dressing for the Loaded Beef Shawarma Fries

You usually serve meat shawarma with a traditional tahini sauce. The Stacked Beef Shawarma Salad is served with a tahini dressing. So, the tahini sauce used in shawarma sandwiches turned into a dressing. Using the same ingredients you can choose the consistency you prefer for your salad dressing by thinning it out or keeping it thick. Furthermore, you can make it more sour for an intense flavor by adding extra lemon juice or sumac.