Chicken Shawarma Salad Tahini (Printable Version)

Spiced chicken on fresh tomato, cucumber, and onion salad with creamy tahini dressing.

# The Ingredients You'll Need:

→ Chicken

01 - 1.1 lbs 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

# Step-by-Step Instructions:

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

# Additional Tips::

01 -
  • Ready in under 40 minutes, with most of that being hands-off cooking or marinating time.
  • The tahini dressing is so creamy and rich that you'll forget there's no cream or butter involved.
  • Naturally gluten-free and dairy-free without any compromise on flavor or satisfaction.
  • Works beautifully for meal prep since the components hold up separately until you're ready to eat.
02 -
  • The tahini dressing will seize and become thick if you add lemon juice too quickly—whisk slowly and deliberately, almost meditation-style.
  • Overcooked chicken thighs are almost impossible to achieve, but undercooked ones are risky; use a thermometer if you're uncertain.
  • The salad will weep if dressed too far in advance, so make it just before serving or dress it separately.
03 -
  • Grill the chicken over charcoal if you can—it transforms the whole dish into something that tastes authentically street-vendor crispy.
  • Make the tahini dressing thinner than you think you need it to be; it will continue to thicken as it sits and cools slightly.
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