Welcome back to I Made It So You Don’t Have To! This week’s recipe kind of snuck up on me. As with most college cooks, I did not have much time to plan ahead and think this one out. I think that this recipe is one where winging it will make it better.
It’s a recipe known for convenience, and it was certainly that. I thought it was a perfect meal that could be served for both lunch and dinner. Iron Man was onto something in “The Avengers” when he brought up his desire for shawarma.
I will admit the only reason the recipe initially caught my eye was because of that movie. However, I realized quickly from the combination of flavors and its preparation that I was in store for a delicious meal.
For a few days, set aside the overused ham sandwiches and under-seasoned salads for something that will revitalize your appetite for food. This week’s recipe is chicken shawarma wraps, thanks to Tik Tok chef @ice.karimcooks.
First, we start off by marinating the chicken. Put all the chicken thighs into a bowl. If some pieces seem to be too large compared to the others, just cut those into smaller parts. That will be important if you want every piece to cook evenly. I added all the spices and tomato paste in their measured amounts.
Slice up one whole onion into half-ring slices and add it to the bowl. Then, add about three tablespoons of olive oil, juice from half of a lemon and two tablespoons of tzatziki and feta dip as the binder so all of the spices can stick to the chicken. Set those aside and let them marinate at room temperature covered with cling wrap for about 25-30 minutes.
When the chicken is ready to cook, coat the bottom of a baking tray with olive oil and evenly spread out the chicken and onion mixture. Place it in the oven on high broil for 10 minutes and then flip each piece of chicken, followed by another 10 minutes of baking.
The recipe originally called for 15-17 minutes and flipping the chicken halfway through, but this did not cook it all the way through for me. You can start at that time and keep cooking until it is ready. Make sure to test just one piece before taking everything out to see if it is cooked. The chicken will be chopped afterwards anyway, so no harm done.
About 10 minutes into the prep of your chicken, chop up roughly 10 cherry tomatoes in half and drizzle olive oil, some lemon juice and a dash of salt. Add in the entire bag of French fries to the air fryer and cook until your desired level of crispiness has been reached. I knew this recipe would be good when I saw it used French fries.
When the chicken is done, skewer as many pieces as you can and transfer to a cutting board to just chop into slices. They do not have to be perfect, as this is not a recipe that draws on much finesse, but rather knowledge of how flavors fit together. Once all the chicken is cut, add it back to the pan and reincorporate the onions and leftover pan sauce.
Once the whole cooking process is done for each component, get your pita ready to start assembling. Hold the pita like a taco and line the bottom with the tzatziki and feta dip. Then, add some fries to the bottom. Next, generously add the mixture of onions and chicken. Top off with some cherry tomatoes and then pinch the top of the pita together.
This meal felt like putting things together that did not seem like they would work but then feeling immense satisfaction that the combination tasted good. The lightness of the pita and the tenderness of the chicken with the marinade and onions combined with the crunchiness of the fries, freshness of the tomatoes and tzatziki-feta dip was the balance I never knew I needed.
Definitely add this to the dinner rotation because it is a healthy, filling and delicious meal. This comfortably fed four people and was a cheap and easy meal without requiring much time laboring in the kitchen. In short, it’s perfect for a college student. Enjoy!
Ingredients:
2-3 lbs boneless/skinless chicken thighs
2 tbsp of tzatziki/feta Dip (Greek yogurt with garlic, salt, olive oil, oregano and feta also work)
3 tbsp olive oil, more for drizzles
1 tbsp salt
2 tsp pepper
1 tsp onion powder
2 tsp chili powder
1/2 tsp cumin
2 tbsp tomato paste
1 lemon halved
1 bag of frozen french fries
Cherry tomatoes
Authentic Lebanese pita
Rating: 4.9/5
Price: $19.46