Chicken Shawarma Tahini Salad (Printable)

Spiced chicken served over a fresh tomato, cucumber, and onion salad with creamy tahini dressing.

# What Goes In:

→ Chicken

01 - 1.1 lb boneless, skinless chicken thighs
02 - 2 tbsp olive oil
03 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 1 tsp ground cumin
05 - 1 tsp ground coriander
06 - 1 tsp smoked paprika
07 - 1/2 tsp ground turmeric
08 - 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
09 - 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
10 - 1/2 tsp salt
11 - Juice of 1 lemon

→ Salad

12 - 3 medium tomatoes, diced
13 - 1 large cucumber, diced
14 - 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
15 - 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
16 - 1 tbsp olive oil
17 - Juice of 1/2 lemon
18 - Salt and black pepper, to taste

→ Tahini Dressing

19 - 1/3 cup tahini
20 - 3 tbsp fresh lemon juice
21 - 2 tbsp water, plus more as needed
22 - 1 clove garlic, finely minced
23 - 1/2 tsp salt

# How to Make It:

01 - In a bowl, combine olive oil, garlic, cumin, coriander, paprika, turmeric, cinnamon, black pepper, salt, and lemon juice. Add chicken thighs and coat evenly. Marinate for at least 15 minutes or refrigerate up to 8 hours.
02 - Heat a large skillet or grill pan over medium-high heat. Cook chicken for 5 to 7 minutes per side until fully cooked and charred. Rest for 5 minutes, then slice into strips.
03 - In a large bowl, toss tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, and parsley. Drizzle with olive oil and lemon juice, season with salt and pepper to taste. Set aside.
04 - Whisk tahini, lemon juice, water, garlic, and salt until smooth. Add more water if needed to achieve desired consistency.
05 - Divide salad among plates. Top with sliced chicken and drizzle generously with tahini dressing.
06 - Serve immediately, optionally garnished with extra parsley.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It tastes like takeout but leaves you feeling light instead of sluggish.
  • The tahini dressing does all the work, pulling every bite together without trying too hard.
  • You can prep the chicken ahead and assemble it cold or warm depending on your mood.
  • It's one of those recipes that looks impressive but doesn't ask much of you.
02 -
  • Don't move the chicken around while it cooks, let it build a crust before you flip it.
  • The tahini will seize and thicken when you first add liquid, this is normal, just keep whisking and it will smooth out.
  • If the salad sits too long, it will release water, so dress it close to serving time.
03 -
  • Let the chicken marinate longer if you can, even 30 minutes makes it more flavorful.
  • Taste the tahini dressing before you drizzle, it should be tangy, salty, and smooth enough to pour easily.
  • Slice the chicken against the grain so every bite is tender.
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