Grilled Chicken Shawarma Wraps With Raita Food

YOGURT-MARINATED GRILLED CHICKEN SHAWARMA

Steps:

• For the chicken shawarma: Combine the yogurt, olive oil, garlic and lemon juice in a large bowl. Add the cumin, coriander, paprika, onion powder, allspice, cardamom, cinnamon, turmeric and 2 teaspoons salt and mix to combine.
• Add the chicken and toss to make sure every piece is fully coated and smothered in the marinade. Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours and up to 8 hours. Soak 3 wooden skewers in water for 30 minutes.
• For the toum: Meanwhile, slice the garlic cloves in half and remove any green sprouts. Place the garlic and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a food processor and blend until it becomes a paste, scraping down the bowl as needed.
• With the food processor running, pour in 1/2 cup of the oil in a very thin stream; this should take about 2 minutes. Stop to scrape down the bowl. Turn on the processor again and stream in the lemon juice, then stream in another 1/2 cup of the oil very slowly. Add 1 tablespoon of the ice water and pulse to combine. Add another 1/2 cup of the oil, then the remaining 1 tablespoon ice water. Then add the remaining 1/4 to 1/2 cup oil until creamy and fully emulsified. The whole process should take about 20 minutes. The toum will keep, in an airtight container in the refrigerator, for up to 2 months. Makes about 2 cups.
• Preheat an outdoor grill to medium high and set it up for both direct and indirect heat. (For a gas grill, leave one or two burners on low or off; for a charcoal grill, bank the coals on one side of the grill.)
• For serving: Cut the onion in half and place one half cut-side down on a cutting board. Insert the wooden skewers in the onion, blunt side in. The skewers should be spaced apart equally from each other to form a triangle.
• Thread the pieces of marinated chicken onto all 3 skewers on top of each other with no space between them. When all the chicken pieces are threaded, top the skewers with the other half of the onion.
• Place the shawarma on the direct-heat side of the grill and cook, rotating every 3 to 4 minutes using a pair of sturdy tongs, until you achieve nice grill marks, 10 to 12 minutes.
• Move the shawarma to the indirect heat side of the grill, cover and cook, turning occasionally so it cooks evenly on all sides, until the meat feels firm to the touch and the internal temperature reaches 160°F, 30 to 40 minutes.
• Transfer the shawarma to a cutting board. Cover the with a piece of aluminum foil and let it rest for 5 minutes. Uncover and hold the shawarma upright on a sturdy cutting board. Cut the chicken into strips from the top to the bottom of the stack using a sharp knife.
• Spread a lavash all over with toum. Place some lettuce, onions with sumac, tomatoes and pickles on the lavash and add the sliced shawarma and some French fries. Wrap tightly and serve.

CHICKEN SHAWARMA WRAPS

Steps:

• Combine Greek yogurt, garlic, lemon juice, cinnamon, oregano, salt, nutmeg, and cloves in a plastic container or resealable bag. Add chicken strips and shake until ingredients are evenly combined and chicken is well coated. Refrigerate at least 4 hours, up to overnight.
• When you are ready to make the sandwiches, heat olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. When oil is hot, add marinated chicken, and sear until golden brown on both sides and no longer pink in the centers, 8 to 10 minutes, depending on thickness of the chicken pieces.
• While the chicken is cooking, combine Greek yogurt, lemon juice, garlic, dill, garlic powder, and salt in a bowl or small resealable container, stir well to blend. Taste and adjust seasonings if desired.
• Once chicken is cooked and sauce is prepared, assemble sandwiches by dividing meat, lettuce, cucumber, and tomatoes between your pita. Add a generous smear of the yogurt sauce (to your taste preference).

CHICKEN SHAWARMA WRAP

Steps:

• For the shawarma: Whisk together the oil, cumin, paprika, turmeric, allspice, chili powder, cinnamon, garlic, lemon zest and juice and 2 teaspoons salt in a container until combined. Add the chicken, cover and marinate, refrigerated, for 12 to 14 hours.
• For the tomato-cucumber relish: Mix together the oil, vinegar, tomatoes, cucumbers, lemon juice, onion, parsley and some salt and pepper in a bowl.
• For the tahini sauce: In a medium bowl, combine the tahini, oil, lemon juice and 1/4 cup water. Season with salt.
• Prepare a grill for medium heat and oil the grill grates.
• Remove the chicken from the marinade, sprinkle with salt and place on the hot grill. Grill skin-side down until the skin starts to brown and crisp, 4 to 6 minutes. Flip and grill the other side for another 4 to 6 minutes. Flip again and grill until the skin is super crispy and the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F, about 5 minutes more. Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes, then slice into 1/4-inch pieces.
• For the wrap build: First, spread tahini sauce on the tortillas, then top with shredded romaine, then the relish, then the chopped chicken. Add some pickled peppers, roll up tight and eat!

CHICKEN SHAWARMA

Steps:

• For the chicken: Toss the chicken thighs with olive oil, lemon zest and juice, coriander, paprika, allspice, cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, crushed red pepper, grated garlic, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Cover and marinate in the refrigerator for 2 hours. Remove to room temperature 30 minutes before cooking .
• For the fillings: Meanwhile, put the turnips and beets in a bowl or storage container. Combine the vinegar, bay leaf, sliced garlic, 2 teaspoons salt and 1 1/4 cups water in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil and simmer 1 minute. Pour over the turnips and beets to cover. Let cool and refrigerate, 1 hour. It should be ready to eat within an hour.
• Whisk together the mayonnaise, yogurt, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, 1 finely grated garlic clove and a pinch of salt in a medium bowl. Reserve.
• Whisk together the tahini, the remaining 2 tablespoons lemon juice and grated garlic clove, 3/4 teaspoon salt and 1/3 cup water in another medium bowl. Reserve.
• Preheat a grill or grill pan over medium-high heat. Lightly oil the grates. Remove the chicken from the marinade (discard the marinade) and grill the chicken until cooked through with dark grill marks and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the center registers 170 degrees F, 6 to 8 minutes per side. Remove to a cutting board and slice very thinly across the grain. Place in a bowl and toss with 1/2 teaspoon salt.
• Lightly warm the pitas on the grill, about 10 seconds per side.
• Assemble the wraps: Have 8 sheets of aluminum foil or parchment paper ready. On a pita round, smear a heaping tablespoon of garlic mayonnaise along the middle, then top with a heaping 1/3 cup sliced chicken, a couple of pickled turnip batons, a heaping tablespoon tahini sauce, hot sauce (if using), diced tomato, shredded lettuce, and chopped parsley. Roll the pita tightly around the filling. Wrap with a sheet of foil to hold the roll together. Repeat with the remaining pitas.

GRILLED CHICKEN WRAPS

Steps:

• Slit open each chicken breast. Cut each sausage link in half lengthways, then cut to the length of the chicken breast. Place a halved sausage link inside each chicken breast, then add jalapeno peppers to taste, onion and garlic and seal the chicken with toothpicks.
• Season the outside of each chicken breast with Cajun spices/seasoning. Wrap each breast with 2 slices of bacon and secure with toothpicks. Place on a barbecue grill over medium coals and grill until done, about 30 minutes each side. Enjoy!