Chicken Shawarma Tahini Salad (Printable)

Spiced chicken paired with a fresh tomato, cucumber, and onion salad drizzled in creamy tahini dressing.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Chicken

01 - 1.1 lb boneless, skinless chicken thighs
02 - 2 tbsp olive oil
03 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 1 tsp ground cumin
05 - 1 tsp ground coriander
06 - 1 tsp smoked paprika
07 - 1/2 tsp ground turmeric
08 - 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
09 - 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
10 - 1/2 tsp salt
11 - Juice of 1 lemon

→ Salad

12 - 3 medium tomatoes, diced
13 - 1 large cucumber, diced
14 - 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
15 - 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
16 - 1 tbsp olive oil
17 - Juice of 1/2 lemon
18 - Salt and pepper, to taste

→ Tahini Dressing

19 - 1/3 cup tahini
20 - 3 tbsp fresh lemon juice
21 - 2 tbsp water, plus more as needed
22 - 1 clove garlic, finely minced
23 - 1/2 tsp salt

# Directions:

01 - Combine olive oil, garlic, cumin, coriander, paprika, turmeric, cinnamon, black pepper, salt, and lemon juice in a bowl. Add chicken thighs and coat thoroughly. Refrigerate for at least 15 minutes or up to 8 hours.
02 - Heat a large skillet or grill pan over medium-high heat. Cook the chicken 5 to 7 minutes per side until cooked through and charred. Let rest 5 minutes, then slice into strips.
03 - In a large bowl, toss tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, and parsley. Drizzle with olive oil and lemon juice. Season with salt and pepper to taste and set aside.
04 - Combine tahini, lemon juice, water, garlic, and salt in a bowl. Whisk until smooth. Add additional water as needed to achieve a pourable consistency.
05 - Divide the salad among plates, top with sliced chicken, and drizzle generously with tahini dressing. Garnish with extra parsley if desired. Serve immediately.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The warm spice blend hits different when the chicken is still hot and the salad is cool and crisp.
  • Tahini dressing tastes creamy without any cream, making it feel indulgent and virtuous at the same time.
  • It's gluten-free and dairy-free without tasting like you're missing anything.
02 -
  • Don't skip the rest period after cooking the chicken—it seems small, but those five minutes make the difference between slices that stay tender and slices that shred apart.
  • If your tahini dressing breaks or looks curdled while whisking, it just means it needs more water and gentler whisking; it always comes back together, so don't panic and start over.
03 -
  • Marinating the chicken overnight transforms it—the spices penetrate deeper and the meat becomes impossibly tender, so plan ahead when you can.
  • Fresh lemon juice makes a measurable difference throughout this recipe; it's not a luxury, it's the ingredient that makes everything sing.
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