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Chicken Shawarma with Tomato and Cucumber Salad

Lee - Smoke & Sear
Servings: 4 Total Time: 1 hr 5 mins Difficulty: Intermediate
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Smoky Chicken Shawarma with a Cool Tomato and Cucumber Salad
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Let’s get grilling with this knockout Chicken Shawarma recipe, using the Ninja Woodfire outdoor grill. The chicken is marinated in sour cream, spices, and lemon, then grilled to juicy perfection with that woodfire flavour we all crave. Paired with a cool cucumber and tomato salad and a punchy tahini sauce, this dish will have you feeling like you’re at a Middle Eastern street market—minus the passport! Trust me, after a bite, you’ll wonder why you didn’t fire up your grill sooner.

Chicken Shawarma with Tomato and Cucumber Salad

Prep Time 30 mins Cook Time 30 mins Rest Time 5 mins Total Time 1 hr 5 mins
Chicken
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Author: Lee - Smoke & Sear Cooking Method: Cuisine: Courses: , Recipe Keys: Family Friendly Family Friendly Quick Cook Quick Cook
Difficulty: Intermediate Cooking Temp: 200  C Servings: 4 Estimated Cost: £ 12 Calories: Approximately 450 per serving Best Season: Summer

Ingredients

For the Chicken:

For the Tomato and Cucumber Salad:

For the Tahini Sauce:

Instructions

  1. Marinate the Chicken:

    In a large bowl, mix together sour cream, olive oil, tomato puree, lemon zest and juice, garlic, cumin, coriander seeds, smoked paprika, salt, pepper, and Aleppo chili flakes. Add the chicken thighs and coat them thoroughly. Cover the bowl with clingfilm and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, but overnight is best for the flavours to really sink in.

  2. Prepare the Tomato and Cucumber Salad:

    In a medium bowl, combine the diced tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, red wine vinegar, olive oil, fresh parsley, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Set aside in the fridge until serving time.

  3. Make the Tahini Sauce:

    In a small bowl, whisk together the tahini paste, warm water, minced garlic, salt, cumin, parsley, lemon juice, and sweet paprika until smooth. Adjust seasoning to taste. If tahini isn't your thing, have some garlic mayo on standby for the less adventurous!

  4. Grill the Chicken:

    Set up your Ninja Woodfire Grill by filling the pellet box with the all-purpose blend, then select the 'Air Fry' function. Set the temperature to 200°C (390°F) for 20 minutes, and don’t forget to hit that 'Woodfire Flavour Technology' button for that smoky kick. Cook the chicken until it reaches an internal temperature of 80°C (175°F) and the outside is nicely crisp.

  5. Serve:

    Once the chicken is grilled, chop it up and serve with warmed flatbreads. Spread a generous layer of tahini sauce on the bread, pile on the chicken, and top with the tomato and cucumber salad. Drizzle with extra sauce if you’re feeling saucy!

Equipment

Affiliate Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. If you buy a product using these links, we get a commission at no extra cost to you. Your support helps keep the BBQ magic alive, and we thank you in advance!

Note

If you want to switch it up, garlic mayo or a yogurt-based sauce can be great alternatives to tahini.

Chicken thighs give the best juiciness, but if you're watching the calories, swap them for breasts.

Keywords: chicken shawarma, Ninja Woodfire grill, tomato cucumber salad, tahini sauce, BBQ chicken wraps, grilled shawarma
Lee Bishop - Smoke & Sear

smoke.sear

919 19,425

Today at 10:28am (Tuesday 22nd April 2025) I witnessed the best @typhoondisplayteam of the year — 100% the best I’ve seen!

Squadron Leader Nathan Shawyer absolutely smashed it over @rafconingsby

There I was . . . iPhone in one hand, Wren (the dog) strapped to my waist, being swarmed by flies (note to self: change aftershave), trying to capture the magic.

Worth every buzz and bite — turn your sound up and enjoy this beauty!

P.S. Don’t worry, the dog you can hear barking in the video occasionally wasn’t Wren . . .

Others had come out to watch the display with their lovely dogs too — one clearly less keen on the noise from the jets haha.

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Today at 10:28am (Tuesday 22nd April 2025) I witnessed the best @typhoondisplayteam of the year — 100% the best I’ve seen! Squadron Leader Nathan Shawyer absolutely smashed it over @rafconingsby There I was . . . iPhone in one hand, Wren (the dog) strapped to my waist, being swarmed by flies (note to self: change aftershave), trying to capture the magic. Worth every buzz and bite — turn your sound up and enjoy this beauty! P.S. Don’t worry, the dog you can hear barking in the video occasionally wasn’t Wren . . . Others had come out to watch the display with their lovely dogs too — one clearly less keen on the noise from the jets haha.

When the kids ask for smashburgers . . . who am I to argue?
And being kids, they like ’em just so. No greenery in sight – ha!

Toasted @stpierreuk brioche buns, a slather of @angusandoink Comeback sauce, double smash patties with properly melted cheese, topped off with our own bacon jam – made fresh, same way every single time. A proper house favourite. Bit of crispy onions on top and that’s it. Simple. Smashy. And they all leave with full bellies and big smiles – that’s what it’s all about.

All cooked on the mighty @blackstoneproducts griddle, and yep . . . even air-fried the chips while making the jam and burgers. We don’t mess about.

#smashburger #blackstonegriddle #familyfavourite #bbqfamily #baconjam #doublecheese #blackstonecooking #ukbbq #stpierreuk

125 22
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When the kids ask for smashburgers . . . who am I to argue? And being kids, they like ’em just so. No greenery in sight – ha! Toasted @stpierreuk brioche buns, a slather of @angusandoink Comeback sauce, double smash patties with properly melted cheese, topped off with our own bacon jam – made fresh, same way every single time. A proper house favourite. Bit of crispy onions on top and that’s it. Simple. Smashy. And they all leave with full bellies and big smiles – that’s what it’s all about. All cooked on the mighty @blackstoneproducts griddle, and yep . . . even air-fried the chips while making the jam and burgers. We don’t mess about. #smashburger #blackstonegriddle #familyfavourite #bbqfamily #baconjam #doublecheese #blackstonecooking #ukbbq #stpierreuk

First cook on the new Blackstone – had to break it in with a kid-friendly Full English!

Went with the classics: sausages, hash browns, bacon, beans, fried eggs, griddled tomatoes, fried bread and of course… potato waffles (because kids).

Set the Blackstone up with different zones for each bit – sausages and waffles in the hotter section, eggs and bread on the low zone. Used the integrated air fryer basket for the hash browns and the warm drawer came in clutch for holding bits while the rest cooked.

Cooking on the Blackstone is FAST.

You’ve got to juggle it all a bit, but it’s mad satisfying once you get into the rhythm. This wasn’t a fancy cook – just a proper hearty breakfast to get used to the griddle.

The kids? They rated it 10,000,000 out of 10, which either means I’m a breakfast legend or they need a maths lesson.

Either way, I’ll take it.

Plenty more cooks coming – this was just the start.

#BlackstoneGriddleUK #FullEnglishOnTheGriddle #BBQBreakfast #BlackstoneCooking #FamilyBBQVibes

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First cook on the new Blackstone – had to break it in with a kid-friendly Full English! Went with the classics: sausages, hash browns, bacon, beans, fried eggs, griddled tomatoes, fried bread and of course… potato waffles (because kids). Set the Blackstone up with different zones for each bit – sausages and waffles in the hotter section, eggs and bread on the low zone. Used the integrated air fryer basket for the hash browns and the warm drawer came in clutch for holding bits while the rest cooked. Cooking on the Blackstone is FAST. You’ve got to juggle it all a bit, but it’s mad satisfying once you get into the rhythm. This wasn’t a fancy cook – just a proper hearty breakfast to get used to the griddle. The kids? They rated it 10,000,000 out of 10, which either means I’m a breakfast legend or they need a maths lesson. Either way, I’ll take it. Plenty more cooks coming – this was just the start. #BlackstoneGriddleUK #FullEnglishOnTheGriddle #BBQBreakfast #BlackstoneCooking #FamilyBBQVibes

🍍🔥 Pineapple Express Pulled Pork — with shatter-crisp crackling so savage, you’ll hear it from three streets over.

Massive love to @villagebutchers for sending me this absolute unit of a pork leg (9kg of bone-in, rind-on beauty). Injected it with pineapple rum, spun it low ‘n slow on the rotisserie, then crowned it with crispy shards of crackling like some kind of BBQ king 👑

Cooked this beast on the @everdurebyhestonblumenthal Hub 2 — first time I’ve fired it up in ages. Truth be told, I was sent it back in May 2023 to review . . . but with the house move, life chaos and all that jazz, it’s been sat in the garage gathering dust. Good job I kept hold of it — it’s the only kit I own that could handle the sheer size and weight of this bad boy.

Wanna try it yourself? Full step-by-step recipe is live now:

👉 https://www.smokeandsear.world/BBQ-recipes/pineapple-express-pulled-pork-with-shatter-crisp-crackling/

#SmokeAndSear #PineappleExpressPulledPork #CracklingKings #RotisserieLife #BBQUK #EverdureHub2 #PulledPorkPerfection #OutdoorCooking #PineappleBBQ #BBQCrackling #BBQMad #MeatMatters #VillageButchers #BackyardBBQ #LowAndSlow #BBQGoals #BBQRecipe

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🍍🔥 Pineapple Express Pulled Pork — with shatter-crisp crackling so savage, you’ll hear it from three streets over. Massive love to @villagebutchers for sending me this absolute unit of a pork leg (9kg of bone-in, rind-on beauty). Injected it with pineapple rum, spun it low ‘n slow on the rotisserie, then crowned it with crispy shards of crackling like some kind of BBQ king 👑 Cooked this beast on the @everdurebyhestonblumenthal Hub 2 — first time I’ve fired it up in ages. Truth be told, I was sent it back in May 2023 to review . . . but with the house move, life chaos and all that jazz, it’s been sat in the garage gathering dust. Good job I kept hold of it — it’s the only kit I own that could handle the sheer size and weight of this bad boy. Wanna try it yourself? Full step-by-step recipe is live now: 👉 https://www.smokeandsear.world/BBQ-recipes/pineapple-express-pulled-pork-with-shatter-crisp-crackling/ #SmokeAndSear #PineappleExpressPulledPork #CracklingKings #RotisserieLife #BBQUK #EverdureHub2 #PulledPorkPerfection #OutdoorCooking #PineappleBBQ #BBQCrackling #BBQMad #MeatMatters #VillageButchers #BackyardBBQ #LowAndSlow #BBQGoals #BBQRecipe