This article explores a delicious and healthy take on the classic chicken shawarma, tailored to fit a ketogenic lifestyle. Inspired by Middle Eastern flavors, this recipe offers a flavorful and satisfying meal without the carb-loaded naan bread typically associated with shawarma.
What is Authentic Shawarma?
Traditional shawarma consists of seasoned meats slow-roasted on a vertical spit. Thin slices of meat are shaved off and commonly served in soft naan bread as a wrap. Toppings often include vegetables, tahini, and hummus, but these can vary depending on the preparation and region.
Keto Chicken Shawarma: A Healthier Twist
This keto chicken shawarma recipe recreates the essence of the traditional dish while minimizing carbohydrates. Instead of using a vertical spit, the chicken is grilled or baked, making it a simple meal to prepare at home. The recipe uses a bed of cabbage instead of naan bread, and a creamy roasted garlic tahini sauce that elevates the flavors of the dish.
Inspiration
This recipe draws inspiration from Falafel King, a restaurant known for its traditional shawarma and falafel. While not an authentic replica, this keto version aims to capture the essence of that favorite meal, but with a healthier approach.
Two-Step Cooking Process
This recipe is relatively simple to make in two steps. First, roast the vegetables, then grill the chicken while the vegetables are roasting. Finally, spend a few minutes to make the roasted garlic tahini sauce. Assemble everything on a plate and enjoy it with olives, dill pickles and red pepper flakes.
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Ingredients and Preparation
Here's how to prepare this mouthwatering keto chicken shawarma:
Preparing the Vegetables
- Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Slice bell peppers vertically into long strips, and onions vertically into thin wedges. Cut zucchini into bite-sized pieces.
- Cut a thin slice off the top of a garlic head to expose the cloves.
- Arrange the vegetables on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a baking mat.
- Drizzle about two tablespoons of olive oil over the vegetables, ensuring they are evenly coated. Season with salt and pepper.
- Pour one teaspoon of olive oil on top of the garlic head, allowing the oil to seep into the cloves. Place the garlic on the baking sheet.
- Roast the vegetables and garlic for approximately 20 minutes, until the vegetables are slightly browned and charred.
Preparing the Chicken
- In a medium bowl, combine coconut cream with shawarma spices.A note about the coconut cream: you can purchase cans of coconut cream or use the coconut cream that's at the top of a can of full-fat coconut milk. If you're using coconut milk, it is not recommended to use Trader Joe's - it's not as thick as other brands. Thai Kitchen or Native Forest are good options.
- Cut each chicken thigh in half. Stab each piece with a fork, then dip it into the coconut cream and spice mixture, ensuring even coating.
- Heat a grill to medium heat, then reduce slightly to medium-low.
- Place the coated chicken pieces on the grill and cook for 7-10 minutes per side, or until cooked through.Alternatively, skip the grill and roast the chicken along with the vegetables. Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 25-30 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked.
- Remove the chicken from the grill (or oven) and set aside.
Making the Roasted Garlic Tahini Sauce
- Once the vegetables and garlic are roasted, let them cool briefly.
- Carefully pull out 4-5 cloves of roasted garlic.
- Blend the roasted garlic with tahini, warm water, lemon juice, and salt. Adjust the ingredients to taste, adding more garlic or salt as needed, or water to thin the sauce.To increase the fat content, add 1-2 tablespoons of olive oil or MCT oil to the tahini sauce.
Assembling the Keto Chicken Shawarma Plate
- Slice the cabbage into thin strips.
- Serve each shawarma plate with 1-2 handfuls of cabbage as a base.
- Top with the grilled chicken and roasted vegetables.
- Drizzle generously with tahini sauce.
- Add toppings like kalamata olives, dill pickles, and red pepper flakes.
Tips for Maximizing Flavor and Fat Content
- To increase the fat content of this low-carb chicken shawarma plate, use plenty of tahini and olives.
- Limit the amount of bell peppers and onions, as they contain more carbs and natural sugars.
- Drizzle olive oil onto the vegetables just before serving.
Serving Suggestions
Chicken Shawarma is most often served as a wrap inside some sort of flatbread. You can serve it with salads, a keto tortilla, cauliflower rice, and with some sour cream sauce. You can also serve it with keto tortilla chips, or cauliflower rice.
Why This Recipe Works
This keto chicken shawarma recipe offers a satisfying and flavorful alternative to traditional shawarma while adhering to a low-carb lifestyle. It is customizable to fit your dietary needs. The combination of grilled chicken, roasted vegetables, and creamy tahini sauce creates a delicious and balanced meal that is perfect for any occasion. The ease of preparation and the ability to incorporate more fat make it a staple in any keto kitchen.
Nutritional Information
Nutritional information is approximate and calculated without suggested toppings such as olives and pickles.
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