Shawarma Bowls
Shawarma seasoning is an aromatic and flavorful spice blend commonly used in Middle Eastern cuisine. It typically includes warming spices such as turmeric, cumin, paprika, coriander, cardamom, and cinnamon.
Check out my Chicken Shawarma Bowl recipe at the end of the blog.
Breaking Down Each Spice
Shawarma seasoning blend is popular for its rich flavor and versatility in meals. The satisfying and comforting spices of turmeric, cumin, paprika, coriander, cardamom, and cinnamon are great when added to bowl-style dinners such as chicken shawarma bowls. But, these spices pack more than a flavor punch–they have surprising health benefits!
Here is a breakdown of how these spices support our health:
Turmeric: Widely known for its beautiful golden-orange color, turmeric has been used in Southeast Asian cooking, Ayurvedic medicine, and traditional Chinese medicine for centuries and continues to be a principal spice. The natural compound in turmeric, curcumin, is a polyphenol. Polyphenols have immense benefits to the body including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. In fact, a 2020 study found that curcumin was associated with not only having anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits, but also found to contain anticancer, antidiabetic, antidiarrheal, antimicrobial, and antiviral properties!
Cumin: Cumin is commonly described as having an earthy and naturally nutty flavor. In traditional Chinese medicine, cumin is used as a digestive aid. Cumin increases the release of bile from the liver which helps digest certain nutrients in your gut. Beyond digestion, cumin has been known to potentially help treat diabetes, improve blood cholesterol, have antimicrobial properties, and help fight inflammation. Naturally high in iron, cumin is a great way to fill extra micronutrient gaps in your diet. One tablespoon of ground cumin contains 4 mg of iron or 22% of the recommended daily intake!
Paprika: Paprika comes in a variety of ways: sweet, smoked, and hot to name a few. Rich in antioxidants belonging to the carotenoid family (including beta carotene and capsanthin) the spice is rich in Vitamin A–one tablespoon containing almost 20% of your daily recommendation. Paprika also contains vitamins E and B6 and has traces of iron. Because of its antioxidant properties, compounds, and micronutrient values, paprika has been known to promote healthy vision, reduce inflammation, may have anticancer benefits (by fighting off oxidative stress), and may help aid in blood sugar control.
Coriander: The coriander plant produces both fresh and dried seeds. In the fresh form, it is commonly referred to as cilantro, while the dried seeds are what is known as coriander. Interestingly, cilantro has a bright and somewhat citrusy flavor while coriander seeds are sweeter with an added nuttiness. Coriander has been known as a healing spice for thousands of years and is believed by Chinese culture to even counteract food poisoning. The health benefits of coriander include lowering blood sugar, decreasing blood pressure, fighting off poisoning, helping with urinary tract infections, supporting menstrual cycles, and may help protect against neurological inflammation and disease.
Cardamom: Popular for its sweet aromatic flavor, cardamom has been used both in cooking and as a medicine. The oil from cardamom seeds has been shown to kill several different types of bacteria and fungi due to its ability to damage certain bacteria cells. Cardamom’s ability to fight bacteria in the body extends to oral health: a study found that cardamom extract was effective in disrupting bacteria in the mouth, preventing bad breath, cavities, and gum disease. Studies reviewing the health effects of cardamom suggest that it also may help metabolic health–decreasing the chances of health conditions such as obesity, high blood sugar, hypertension, and high cholesterol.
Cinnamon: I recently wrote a blog post on cinnamon’s impact on blood pressure with a deeper dive into how cinnamon benefits the body. To reiterate some of the benefits, cinnamon supports blood sugar levels by reducing a blood sugar spike, supports blood glucose by improving gut health, reduces inflammation from being rich in polyphenols, and aids in balancing hormones. Check out the blog post and read more by clicking here!
Chicken Shawarma Bowls
Time: 30 minutes | Servings: 4
This bowl is so versatile. The staples are seasoned protein, parsley basmati rice, and a hefty salad—top with your favorite Middle Eastern toppings, like hummus, tzatziki, and feta. Here is how I built my bowl:
The Villa Jerada Shawarma seasoning is a staple in my spice cabinet.
Ingredients:
For the Rice:
1 cup Basmati rice
1 and 3/4 cups water
2 tbsp parsley, finely chopped
Salt
For the Chicken:
1.5 lbs chicken breast or thighs (I used thinly sliced chicken breast)
4 tbsp Shawarma seasoning (this is the one I used)
Salt and pepper
For the Salad:
3-4 Persian cucumbers, chopped
1/4 cup parsley, chopped
1/4 red onion, chopped
1/4 cup olives, coarsely chopped
4 cups/ handfuls mixed greens
1/3 cup shredded carrots
Dressing: juice of one lemon, 2 tbsp red wine vinegar, 4 tbsp olive oil, small clove of grated garlic (or 1 tsp garlic powder)
Salt and pepper to taste
For Serving: Hummus, Tzatziki, feta cheese, pickled red onion, or favorite pickles
Directions:
To cook the rice: Begin by making the rice. Cook accounting to package instructions. When finished, fluff rice with a fork and add parsley.
To cook the chicken: While the rice is cooking, prepare and cook the chicken. Slice chicken breasts in half horizontally or pound to make them thinner. Evenly coat the chicken on both sides with the shawarma seasoning, salt and pepper. Check if your seasoning already contains salt before salting the chicken. Heat a large pan over medium-high heat. Add the chicken to the pan and cook 4-5 minutes per side or until the chicken is cooked through. Rest for 5 minutes then cut into strips for serving.
To assemble: Combine all the ingredients for the salad in a medium bowl. Assemble the shawarma bowls by placing about 1/2 cup cooked rice in the bottom of a serving bowl. Top with sliced shawarma chicken, salad, hummus, feta, pickled onion, and any other toppings of choice.