Indian Chicken Shawarma
Photo: Karen Laårk Boshoff on Pexels
Indian-Middle Eastern Fusion

Indian Chicken Shawarma

चिकन शावर्मा

Indian Chicken Shawarma has taken over every food court, weekend market, and fast-food strip in urban India since the 2010s. The Middle Eastern original was adopted, Indianised (with tandoori-spiced chicken and green chutney replacing tahini), and made into something uniquely local. Marinated in a bold mix of yoghurt, Kashmiri chilli, cumin, coriander, and warming spices, the chicken is grilled or charred on a griddle until smoky and juicy, then sliced and stuffed into a warm, grilled Arabic bread (or pita/roti) with shredded cabbage, pickled onions, fries, and a generous drizzle of garlic sauce and schezwan chutney.

Total
50 min
Serves
4
Level
Medium

Prep 30 min · Cook 20 min

Ingredients

4 servings

Method

  1. Marinate chicken: Combine yoghurt, Kashmiri chilli, cumin, coriander, garam masala, garlic paste, lemon juice, oil, and salt. Coat chicken thighs thoroughly. Marinate minimum 30 minutes (ideally overnight refrigerated).

    About 30 min

    Tip: Overnight marination transforms the chicken — the spices penetrate deeply and the yoghurt tenderises the meat significantly.

  2. Grill chicken: Heat a cast iron griddle or barbecue to very high heat. Grill chicken thighs 6–7 minutes per side until cooked through, charred in places, and slightly smoky. Rest for 5 minutes, then slice thinly across the grain.

    About 15 min

    Tip: The char marks and slightly crispy edges are essential to Indian shawarma. Do not use a non-stick pan for this — you need real searing heat.

  3. Assemble: Warm the flatbread on the griddle. Spread garlic sauce generously. Add shredded cabbage, pickled/raw onion, then sliced chicken. Drizzle more garlic sauce. Optional: add a few hot fries. Roll tightly. Press on the hot griddle for 1 minute to seal. Serve wrapped in foil, cut in half.

    About 5 min

    Tip: Pressing the assembled shawarma roll on the griddle seals it and adds a satisfying crunch to the bread exterior.

Nutrition per serving (estimate)

Calories
560
Protein
38 g
Carbs
50 g
Fat
22 g
Fibre
3 g
Sugar
4 g
Sodium
920 mg

Contains: gluten, dairy

All Fusion recipes

Recipe by Boon Tools.