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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.

Easy recipes to make homemade lamb shawarma.
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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?

Homemade Pita Bread | Easy Cumin Lamb | Homemade Tzatziki Sauce | Quick Pickled Red Onion

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 hummusBaba Ganoush, and a big Greek Salad would be at home in this spread too.

Lamb Shawarma with homemade pita bread

How to Make Lamb Shawarma

To prepare this meal easily, you need a game plan.

One day before:

  1. Make your pita bread dough (10-15 minutes) and refrigerate overnight to rise.
  2. Strain yogurt and cucumbers overnight for your tzatziki sauce. (10 minutes)
  3. Make quick pickled red onions. (5 minutes)

The day of:

  1. 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.
  2. Finish making tzatziki sauce. (5 minutes)
  3. Prepare Easy Cumin Lamb. (25 minutes)
  4. Make White Bean Hummus (optional but recommended!) (5-10 minutes)

Lamb Shawarma

5 from 3 votes
Prep: 1 hour 15 minutes
Cook: 15 minutes
Total: 1 hour 30 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Calories: 688
Servings: 4 people
If you’ve eaten lamb shawarmas from a Mediterranean restaurant, you might think they’re 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.

Video

Ingredients  

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 1/4 of the cumin lamb and sprinkle with 1/4 of the feta cheese. Repeat with remaining pita breads and serve.

Nutrition

Calories: 688kcal | Carbohydrates: 46g | Protein: 31g | Fat: 41g | Saturated Fat: 17g | Cholesterol: 108mg | Sodium: 2663mg | Potassium: 597mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 1651IU | Vitamin C: 7mg | Calcium: 272mg | Iron: 6mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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21 Comments

  1. Cheyanne @ No Spoon Necessary says:

    5 stars
    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! ๐Ÿ˜‰ 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!

  2. Dawn @ Words Of Deliciousness says:

    5 stars
    Everything looks wonderful. I am going to have to try your lamb shawarma.

    1. Marissa says:

      Thank you, Dawn! I’d love that… ๐Ÿ™‚

  3. Liz says:

    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!

    1. Marissa says:

      Awww…thank you so much, Liz!

  4. Mary Ann | The Beach House Kitchen says:

    These sound absolutely delicious Marissa! I love each component to the sandwich! Need to get these on my must try list!

    1. Marissa says:

      Thanks, Mary! It’s fun when all of the components are good on their own and great together too!

  5. Dawn - Girl Heart Food says:

    5 stars
    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 ๐Ÿ˜‰ Pinned, of course! Have an awesome week! XO

    1. Marissa says:

      Thank you, my dear!! We have got to get together for dinner some time, don’t you think – dinner and a movie that is. ๐Ÿ˜‰

  6. David @ Spiced says:

    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!!

    1. Marissa says:

      haha, you’re on to me, David! It was fun to figure out the order of the posts to this ta da!! ๐Ÿ™‚

  7. Ben Myhre says:

    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.

    1. Marissa says:

      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. ๐Ÿ™‚

  8. Dorothy Dunton says:

    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 ๐Ÿ™‚

    1. Marissa says:

      Dorothy, you crack me up! I agree 100% – would only be better enjoyed at a table with you and Gary!

  9. Ben | Havocinthekitchen says:

    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!

    1. Marissa says:

      haha, I agree about the hummus! ๐Ÿ˜‰ Thanks, Ben.

  10. Kelsie | the itsy-bitsy kitchen says:

    Drooling. Shawarma is toooooo good. I could make a meal out of all the toppings alone ๐Ÿ™‚

    1. Marissa says:

      Right? Me too… ๐Ÿ™‚ Thanks, Kelsie.

  11. Katherine | Love In My Oven says:

    I HAVE to make this!! We love shawarma! You make it look so easy. I just know my husband and I would devour these.

    1. Marissa says:

      I’m so excited for you to try it, Katherine!