Shawarma (Arabic: شاورما or Hebrew: שווארמה, also spelled Chawarma, Shwarma, Shuarma, Shawerma, Shoarma or Shaorma) is a Middle Eastern-style sandwich usually composed of shaved lamb, goat, or chicken. Less commonly, it contains turkey, beef, or a mixture of meats. Shawarma is a popular dish and fast-food staple across the Middle East, and is consumed across the rest of the world as well. Shawarma is known as guss in Iraq; it is related to the gyros of Greece. Gyros, however, is typically made of pork meat, or less commonly chicken, although beef or lamb is usually used outside Greece and Cyprus. The classic shawarma combination is pita bread, hummus, tomato & cucumber, and of course the shawarma. The additional toppings include tahini and amba.
Recipe
2 lbs, finely sliced fillet mignon or tenderized beef ½ cup finely sliced onion 1/3 cup finely chopped green pepper (not required) 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil 3 cloves garlic minced 1/3 cup lemon juice 2 bay leaves 2 cinnamon sticks 3 cardamom beans (dry) or substitute with ¼ tsp ground cardamom 2 tsp. seven spices (can be purchased at Dede's Store) 1 tsp salt or to taste ½ tsp ground black pepper
Let all ingredients marinate for 4 hours or overnight. Place in 2 inch pan and cover with aluminum foil, place in 400 degree preheated oven for 40 minutes. Pour off excess liquid and remove foil, cook in oven for an additional 20 minutes. Serve with tahini sauce and rice.
Tahini sauce:
1 cup tahini paste 1 to 2 cloves garlic minced ½ cup lemon juice ½ tsp salt ½ cup water 1 finely chopped radish (not required) 1 tsp chopped fresh parley
Mix all ingredient except parsley, to your desired consistency, if to watery add some tahini, if to thick add some water. After mixing, sprinkle parley on top and serve with shawarma.