Chicken Shawarma Salad Bowl (Print Version)

Spiced chicken over fresh greens with vegetables and creamy garlic sauce.

# Needed Ingredients:

→ For the Chicken

01 - 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken thighs
02 - 2 tbsp olive oil
03 - 1 tbsp lemon juice
04 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 1 tsp ground cumin
06 - 1 tsp ground coriander
07 - 1 tsp smoked paprika
08 - 1/2 tsp ground turmeric
09 - 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
10 - 1/2 tsp chili powder
11 - 3/4 tsp salt
12 - 1/4 tsp black pepper

→ For the Salad

13 - 6 cups mixed salad greens (romaine, arugula, spinach)
14 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
15 - 1 large cucumber, diced
16 - 1/4 red onion, thinly sliced
17 - 1/2 cup fresh parsley, chopped

→ For the Quick Garlic Sauce

18 - 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt (use non-dairy yogurt for dairy-free)
19 - 1 clove garlic, finely grated
20 - 1 tbsp lemon juice
21 - 1 tbsp olive oil
22 - 1/4 tsp salt
23 - 1 tbsp water (to thin, as needed)

# How-To Steps:

01 - Combine olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, cumin, coriander, paprika, turmeric, cinnamon, chili powder, salt, and pepper in a bowl. Add chicken thighs and toss to coat evenly. Marinate for at least 15 minutes, or up to 2 hours for deeper flavor development.
02 - Heat a large skillet or grill pan over medium-high heat. Cook marinated chicken for 5 to 7 minutes per side until well browned and cooked through to an internal temperature of 165°F. Let rest for 5 minutes before slicing into strips.
03 - Whisk together Greek yogurt, grated garlic, lemon juice, olive oil, and salt in a small bowl until smooth. Add water gradually to reach desired drizzling consistency.
04 - Divide salad greens evenly among four bowls. Top each portion with cherry tomatoes, diced cucumber, sliced red onion, and fresh parsley. Arrange sliced chicken over the vegetables.
05 - Drizzle garlic sauce generously over each bowl. Serve immediately while chicken is still warm.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The spice rub comes together in seconds but transforms ordinary chicken into something that tastes like it came from a restaurant
  • Everything gets prepped while the chicken marinates, so you are looking at the most efficient dinner routine imaginable
  • That garlic sauce is absolutely addictive and somehow makes even the simplest salad greens feel special
02 -
  • The chicken will release some liquid as it cooks, do not panic, just let it cook off until you get that nice sizzle and browning action
  • Grating the garlic for the sauce instead of mincing makes a huge difference in texture and flavor distribution
03 -
  • Let your skillet get properly hot before adding the chicken, that sizzle is what creates the beautiful browned bits
  • Use a microplane or fine grater for the garlic in the sauce, it practically dissolves into the yogurt
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