Description
Chicken Shawarma Crispy Rice Salad is a bold and satisfying fusion dish that combines spiced, juicy chicken shawarma with crispy rice, fresh herbs, crunchy vegetables, and a tangy yogurt dressing. It’s a vibrant and textural salad perfect for lunch or a light dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups cooked rice (preferably day-old)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 lb boneless chicken thighs, sliced
- 2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 2 teaspoons ground paprika
- 1 teaspoon turmeric
- 1 teaspoon ground coriander
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 1 tablespoon tahini (optional)
- 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1/2 cucumber, diced
- 1/4 cup red onion, thinly sliced
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
- 2 tablespoons fresh mint, chopped
Instructions
- Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a nonstick skillet over medium heat. Spread rice in an even layer and press down lightly. Cook undisturbed for 5–7 minutes or until the bottom is golden and crispy. Flip or stir for more crispiness if desired. Set aside.
- In a bowl, toss chicken with cumin, paprika, turmeric, coriander, cayenne, salt, and pepper.
- Heat remaining oil in a skillet and cook chicken over medium-high heat for 6–8 minutes until browned and cooked through. Set aside.
- In a small bowl, mix yogurt, lemon juice, garlic, and tahini to make the dressing. Adjust salt to taste.
- Assemble salad by combining crispy rice, tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, parsley, and mint. Top with chicken and drizzle with yogurt dressing.
- Serve immediately, warm or at room temperature.
Notes
- Use day-old rice for the crispiest texture.
- Swap chicken for tofu or chickpeas for a vegetarian version.
- Add pickled onions or olives for extra tang and flavor depth.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 460mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 95mg
Keywords: chicken shawarma, crispy rice salad, shawarma bowl, healthy chicken salad, Middle Eastern fusion