If you've eaten a lamb shawarma from a Mediterranean restaurant, you might think it's too complicated to make at home. I'm here to convince you otherwise! Every component of these pita bread sandwiches is simple to make and delicious on its own, but combine them and you'll have a spectacularly delicious meal.
Imagine your own homemade pita bread (made with this easy pita bread recipe), warm from the oven, stacked high with crunchy lettuce, silky homemade tzatziki sauce, sweet tangy pickled red onions, tender slices of cumin lamb (or homemade gyro meat) and creamy feta. Is your mouth watering yet?
I love the versatility of lamb shawarma components; serve each item separately and let everyone build their own creation. Some people will tear off a bite of pita bread and top it with tzatziki sauce and a sprinkle of pickled red onion. Their next bite might be pita bread topped with lamb and feta. Or they'll skip the pita bread and wrap lamb, tzatziki and pickled onions in a big lettuce leaf. You get the idea: anything goes. And some creamy white bean hummus, Baba Ganoush, and a big Greek Salad would be at home in this spread too.
How to Make Lamb Shawarma
To prepare this meal easily, you need a game plan.
One day before:
- Make your pita bread dough (10-15 minutes) and refrigerate overnight to rise.
- Strain yogurt and cucumbers overnight for your tzatziki sauce. (10 minutes)
- Make quick pickled red onions. (5 minutes)
The day of:
- Roll out and bake homemade pita with this easy pita bread recipe. (15-20 minutes) Note: Let covered dough come to room temperature before rolling it out.
- Finish making tzatziki sauce. (5 minutes)
- Prepare Easy Cumin Lamb. (25 minutes)
- Make White Bean Hummus (optional but recommended!) (5-10 minutes)
Recipe Video
Lamb Shawarma
Ingredients
- 4 pita breads
- 4 large green leaf lettuce leaves
- 1 recipe Tzatziki Sauce
- 1 recipe Quick Pickled Red Onions
- 1 recipe Easy Cumin Lamb
- 4 ounces feta cheese crumbled
Instructions
One Day Ahead:
- If making homemade pita bread, make dough and refrigerate.
- Drain yogurt and cucumber as directed in steps 1 and 2 of Tzatziki recipe.
- Make Quick Pickled Red Onions.
The Day Of:
- Roll out and bake pita breads as instructed in recipe.
- Finish Tzatziki sauce.
- Prepare Easy Cumin Lamb.
To Assemble Lamb Shawarmas:
- Place one lettuce leaf on a pita bread. Spread with a generous amount of tzatziki and top with several rings of pickled red onion. Top with ¼ of the cumin lamb and sprinkle with ¼ of the feta cheese. Repeat with remaining pita breads and serve.
I swear lamb is the most underrated meat! It's so delicious and not gamey at all, despite some people's preconceived notions. Right?!? Anyways, I loooove this shawarma! Talk about flavor!!! I wish we were neighbors because I'd be over stealing all your food! 😉 Until I figure out how to pick up our house and relocate it right next to yours (I'm creepy, I know), I'll have to get in the kitchen and whip this together.. then proceed to stuff my face, because YUM!! Cheers!! Xoxo
Eeks, almost forgot- pinned!
Everything looks wonderful. I am going to have to try your lamb shawarma.
Thank you, Dawn! I'd love that... 🙂
Oh, my gosh! What a feast!! I'm in awe of your fabulous pitas and the amazing lamb filling.Can't wait to try it out!
Awww...thank you so much, Liz!
These sound absolutely delicious Marissa! I love each component to the sandwich! Need to get these on my must try list!
Thanks, Mary! It's fun when all of the components are good on their own and great together too!
This, my friend, is what foodie dreams are made of!!! This is seriously SO good! You know I have to make this one and hubby will love too. I already told him about it 😉 Pinned, of course! Have an awesome week! XO
Thank you, my dear!! We have got to get together for dinner some time, don't you think - dinner and a movie that is. 😉
Oh, I am all about this post, Marissa! I see that you have had a strategy to all of these delicious posts lately...and it comes together for this shawarma post. I love it! Laura and I enjoy going out for Mediterranean food, so I'm thinking I need to try my hand at making this one at home now. Looks and sounds delicious, my friend!!
haha, you're on to me, David! It was fun to figure out the order of the posts to this ta da!! 🙂
This looks fantastic. I am def going to make your pita bread and love love love tzatziki sauce. I like the rest here but have to find a vegetarian substitute on the meat.
Hi Ben! Thank you. Grilled or pan seared portobello slices seasoned with the cumin lamb spices would be great in this! Or maybe cumin spiced and roasted slabs of cauliflower or zucchini. 🙂
Hi Marissa. My mouth is not watering, I'm drooling!! All of these components make a perfect meal for me! The only thing that would make this meal better is if we were sitting down with you and Keith to enjoy it. I will bring wine 🙂
Dorothy, you crack me up! I agree 100% - would only be better enjoyed at a table with you and Gary!
I haven't had a shawarma for a looong time. Also, I am even not sure I've ever had a lamb one. Simple yet scrumptious! And never ever hummus can be an optional thing. Well done, Marissa!
haha, I agree about the hummus! 😉 Thanks, Ben.
Drooling. Shawarma is toooooo good. I could make a meal out of all the toppings alone 🙂
Right? Me too... 🙂 Thanks, Kelsie.
I HAVE to make this!! We love shawarma! You make it look so easy. I just know my husband and I would devour these.
I'm so excited for you to try it, Katherine!