Lebanese · main
Shawarma
Shawarma reads sourness 5.9, richness 5.4 and citrus 5.4 on Palate's 0–10 flavor X-ray — a Lebanese main, about 5 hr 40 min. Measured from the recipe itself: ingredients and technique.
The flavor X-ray — six axes, 0–10
- Umami & Savory — 4.5 / 10
- Sweet & Fruity — 2.3 / 10
- Sour & Bright — 7.5 / 10
- Bitter & Earthy — 2.5 / 10
- Rich & Fat — 6.6 / 10
- Aromatic & Spice — 4.0 / 10
The measured notes (of 18)
Sourness 5.9 · Richness 5.4 · Citrus 5.4 · Nutty 4.2 · Umami 4.0 · Allium 3.6 · Funk & Ferment 3.0 · Salinity 2.9 · Warm Spice 2.4 · Earthy 2.2 · Herbaceous 1.8 · Fruity 1.8 · Sweetness 1.8 · Bitterness 1.5 · Floral 1.1
What's in it (14)
- 2 lbs chicken thighs
- 1/2 cup yogurt
- 3 tbsp lemon juice
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp coriander
- 1/2 tsp turmeric
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp paprika
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 4 pita
- 2 tomatoes, sliced
- 1/2 cup pickles
- 1/2 cup toum
Time & effort: about 5 hr 40 min (40 min active) · effort: medium
Nutrition (per 100 g, engine-estimated): 168 kcal, 11.8 g protein, 6.9 g fat, 15.3 g carbs
Dietary: Contains meat · Contains dairy — engine-derived; double-check anything allergy-critical.
How it's cooked (3 steps)
- Marinate meat in spiced yogurt for several hours or overnight.
- Roast or grill until cooked through and slightly charred, then slice or shred.
- Serve wrapped in warm pita with tomato, pickles, and a generous spread of toum.
Dishes with a similar flavor shape
- Shish Taouk — Lebanese
- Chicken Shawarma Meal Prep Bowls — Middle Eastern
- Harissa Chicken Meatballs with Garlicky Yogurt Sauce — Middle Eastern
- Sumac Lemon Chicken Pasta with Pine Nuts — Mediterranean
- Fondue Moitié-Moitié — Swiss
Keep reading: what sourness, richness, citrus mean in the flavor lexicon · the world's cuisines, by flavor.
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Every number above is Palate's engine-measured estimate, computed from this recipe's ingredients and techniques — not human-tasted ratings or reviews.