Two words: Shawarma Platter! Picture a large platter piled with homemade chicken or beef shawarma and all the sides laid out so guests can build their own wraps or bowls. It’s an easy way to serve a crowd and reduces your work—let others assemble their plates.
Table of Contents
- Shawarma Sauces and Toppings
- Shawarma Bases and Starches
- Shawarma Sides and Salads
I’ve divided this guide into three main sections—sauces and toppings, bases and starches, and sides and salads—so you can mix and match to build a memorable shawarma platter. Below are essentials like rice, pita and sauces, plus ideas to elevate your spread.
- Sauces and Toppings
- Bases and Starches
- Sides and Salads
First, start with a simple homemade shawarma. I roast spiced chicken on a large baking sheet and serve everything family-style so people can assemble wraps or bowls.
Homemade Lebanese Chicken Shawarma Recipe (Wrap or Bowl)
You don’t need a vertical spit to make authentic-feeling Lebanese chicken shawarma. This oven method is straightforward, ideal for weeknights, and comes together quickly. Serve with vermicelli rice or pita and finish with garlic sauce, tahini, pickled turnips, and chiles.
Chicken Shawarma Recipe!
Shawarma Sauces and Toppings
Classic shawarma toppings include shredded romaine, thinly sliced red onions, diced tomatoes, and fresh herbs like mint, scallions, and parsley. Sliced bell peppers are optional. Many toppings are quick to prepare, though some—like pickles—benefit from a short prep or overnight brine.
Popular sauces to pair with shawarma are lemon tahini (a nutty, creamy sauce) and yogurt-based dips such as tzatziki or Turkish cacik. These sauces bring acidity and creaminess that balance the spice of the meat.
Lebanese Pickles (Pickled Turnips)
Pickled turnips—often called shawarma pickles or pink pickles—add bright color and a sweet-sour snap to wraps and bowls. They’re a staple in Levantine street food and a lovely contrast to rich meats.
Pickled Turnips Recipe!
Sumac Onions (Turkish Marinated Onion Salad)
Sumac onions are thinly sliced onions marinated with lemon and sumac. They come together quickly and add tangy brightness that pairs beautifully with grilled meats and shawarma.
Sumac Onions Recipe!
How to Make Lemon Tahini Sauce (Authentic and Easy)
Lemon tahini is a classic Middle Eastern condiment for shawarma, falafel, and grilled vegetables. Rich and nutty, this sauce is simple to make—usually just tahini, lemon, garlic, water, and salt.
Lemon Tahini Sauce Recipe!
Mint Yogurt Sauce (with Garlic and Lemon)
This mint yogurt sauce is bright and cooling, perfect alongside shawarma and other rich mains. It takes minutes to make with yogurt, lemon, garlic, and fresh mint.
Mint Yogurt Sauce Recipe!
Cacik (Turkish Cucumber Yogurt Dip Recipe)
Cacik is a refreshing cucumber-and-yogurt dip, similar to tzatziki. It pairs well with rice dishes and grilled meats and is quick to prepare.
Cacik Recipe!
Shawarma Bases and Starches
Shawarma can be served in wraps using Lebanese-style pita or Greek pita, or plated over rice for bowls. Vermicelli rice (toasted pasta cooked with basmati) is traditional and flavorful; plain steamed rice or cauliflower rice are also good options.
Below are some base recipes and starch pairings that work especially well with shawarma, from flatbreads to aromatic rice.
Lebanese Pita Bread (Traditional Khubz)
Lebanese pita is a soft, pocket-style flatbread ideal for wraps. It’s surprisingly easy to make at home and can be cooked three ways depending on your equipment.
Lebanese Pita Recipe!
Vermicelli Rice
Vermicelli rice is made by toasting thin pasta in butter (often with a cinnamon stick) and cooking it with basmati. The result is fluffy, fragrant rice that complements shawarma and other grilled proteins.
Vermicelli Rice Recipe!
Homemade Greek Pita Bread Recipe
Greek pita is slightly thicker and chewier than Lebanese khubz. This homemade version is easy and rewarding—perfect for wraps, dips, and sandwiches.
Greek Pita Recipe!
How to Make Saffron Rice (Middle Eastern Recipe)
Saffron rice is fragrant and elegant—perfect for special occasions or when you want an aromatic side to lift your meal. It pairs well with stews and roasted or grilled meats.
Saffron Rice Recipe!
Shawarma Sides and Salads
To complete a sharing platter, include sides like fries or roasted potatoes, and fresh salads. Spicy Lebanese potatoes (Batata Harra) are a favorite, while chopped salads like Jerusalem salad or fattoush add brightness and texture.
Batata Harra (Spicy Lebanese Potatoes)
Batata Harra is a bold, herby, and spicy potato dish that works great as a side for shawarma or as part of a mezze board. It’s easy to prepare and very satisfying.
Batata Harra Recipe!
Jerusalem Salad (Cucumber Tomato Salad)
A simple chopped salad of cucumber, tomato, and herbs, Jerusalem salad is light and refreshing—ideal alongside richer mains.
Jerusalem Salad Recipe!
Authentic Lebanese Fattoush Salad
Fattoush is a crunchy, tangy salad made with toasted pita, mixed greens, and a lemony-sumac dressing. It adds texture and acidity to a shawarma platter.
Fattoush Salad Recipe!
Tahini Salad (Levantine Salata with Cucumber and Tomato)
This tahini-based salad is quick to make and pairs especially well with grilled proteins. It’s adaptable—add herbs or adjust lemon to taste.
Tahini Salad Recipe!
Levantine Pickled Cauliflower (Refrigerator Pickle)
Pickled cauliflower is an easy refrigerator pickle that adds color and tang. It’s a fun addition to a shawarma platter and a great way to introduce pickled vegetables to kids.
Pickled Cauliflower Recipe!
If you try any of these recipes, please rate and review them where they’re posted—feedback helps other cooks. For more recipes and ideas, follow your favorite food channels or subscribe to recipe updates.