Beef Shawarma

®This is a RAS Signature Recipe©

Total time is not inclusive of Marination(8 hours/overnight).

                                  Video is a slight variation of this recipe.

The Recipe Intro includes links to  Homemade Arabic Pickle recipe, Homemade Tahini recipe and Homemade Khubz recipe with video. Check it out.

Ingredients:

good cut of beef (suitable for frying/stir-frying)		1 kg / 2.20 lbs
thick yoghurt		1 cup
fresh lemon juice		2 Tbsp
vinegar		1 Tbsp
olive oil		1 Tbsp
hot sauce / tabasco sauce		½ tsp
garlic, crushed / pounded		4 large cloves
shallots, crushed/ pounded		1 Tbsp

Home made Beef Shawarma Spice Mix

nutmeg		¼ tsp
mace		¼ tsp
green cardamom		¼ tsp
cloves		¼ tsp
cinnamon		¼ tsp
black pepper corns		½ tsp
red chilli flakes / powder		½ tsp

For the Tarator Sauce with Yoghurt:

tahini /sesame seed paste(see my recipe)		½ cup
lemon juice		2 Tbsp
water		2 Tbsp
garlic, crushed to a paste		2 cloves
yoghurt		2 Tbsp
salt		To taste:

Other ingredients:

salt, black pepper powder and allspice to season		As needed:
chopped mint and parsley		As needed:
tomato wedges		As needed:
sliced onion		As needed:
Khubz / Pita breads (see my recipe)		8-10

Method:

1. Cut the beef against the grain into small, thin pieces.
2. Rinse well and drain. Pat dry with kitchen towel.
3. Grind all the spices for the Homemade Shawarma, together to a powder.
4. Add the beef to a bowl, along with the spice mix, yogurt, lemon juice, vinegar, hot sauce, olive oil, garlic, and shallots. Stir well or mix with hands to marinate the beef.
5. Cover and refrigerate 8 hours or overnight.

To make the Tarator Sauce with Yoghurt:

1. Mince or pound the garlic to a paste, with salt.
2. Add the lemon juice, tahini, and water.
3. Use a fork or whisk to beat it well, till it turns white.
4. Whisk in the yogurt till smooth.
5. Taste and add salt and lemon juice if needed. Or loosen with water if needed.
6. Add finely chopped parsley to this if you want to serve it separately.

Cook the beef:

1. Remove the beef from the refrigerator, 30 minutes before cooking. (It should come down to room temperature).
2. Add the beef and its marinade to a heavy bottomed skillet OR a deep non-stick pan with a tight lid.
3. Heat till the mixture comes to a boil. Reduce heat to low and continue to cook covered for about 40 minutes.
4. Don’t forget to stir occasionally. The juices should all evaporate.
5. Just before all the moisture is gone, add pepper, allspice and just a dash of salt.
6. Meat should be cooked tender. You can keep adding a little water at a time if the beef needs more cooking. You will also have slight char marks from stirring till all moisture.

Assemble:

1. Spread a little taratour sauce vertically, over the middle of the pita.
2. Cover it with a line of cooked beef.
3. Top with a few tomato wedges and some slices of onion.
4. Cover scantily, with the chopped herbs.
5. Drizzle more sauce over the top as you like.
6. Wrap in food-safe paper or aluminum foil and serve hot!

Home Made Beef Shawarma Recipe

Notes:

• The tahini paste used, should be nice and creamy. Stir well before adding to the sauce.
• If you don’t have allspice, use equal quantities of ground cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg.

Key Ingredients: Beef, Yoghurt, Spices, Herbs, Pita Bread, Tomato, Onion, Sesame Paste, Garlic, Shallots, Salt.

Let us know if you tried it – Beef Shawarma.