Lamb Shawarma + Tutorial {Low Carb, Gluten Free}
This Lamb Shawarma recipe is simple to prepare, yet full of bold and complex Middle Eastern flavors. Suitable for Low Carb and Gluten Free diets. Post include Weight Watchers points.
Delighted to have teamed up with Try Lamb to bring you this recipe. Although it is a sponsored partnership, all opinions are my own.
Peeps, I just looooove cooking lamb. I happen to think it is one of the most flavourful meats there is. Plus lamb is quite simple to prepare, and it is so incredibly versatile. If you’ve been following my blog, then you know I have done everything with lamb from stuffing and roasting lamb, to making slow cooker lamb stews and even whipping up an entire Instant Pot lamb shoulder.
But what just might be my new all-time favourite preparation is this recipe for lamb shawarma. Bold and complex, this is delicious lamb that is cooked to absolute perfection on the grill or barbecue. So. Much. Yum.
What is Lamb Shawarma?
Shawarma is a popular Middle Eastern street food that is made with lamb, chicken, turkey or beef. The traditional preparation is to stack very thin slices of marinated meat on a vertical rotisserie. The rotisserie slowly rotates around the heat source for several hours to cook the meat. As the outer surface cooks that portion of the meat is shaved off which enables the next layer to cook.
As most of us do not have a vertical rotisserie in the middle of their kitchen (although how awesome would that be?!), I prefer to make lamb shawarma by marinating cubes of lamb, threading them onto wooden skewers and then grilling until deliciously charred on the outside and juicy on the inside.
And about that marinade. It may seem like an awful lot of spices to add, but you must trust me and do not skimp. After all, it is this lovely spice marinade that makes this a ‘shawarma’ and gives your lamb all that amaaaaaazing Middle Eastern flavour. 
So, are you ready to learn just how easy it is to make Lamb Shawarma? Gather up your ingredients and I will show you…..
How to Make Lamb Shawarma
Lamb Shawarma Marinade Ingredients:
- lamb leg steaks or lamb shoulder, cubed
- vegetable oil
- garlic purée
- pomegranate molasses
- oregano
- cinnamon
- cumin
- coriander
- kosher salt
- allspice
Lamb Shawarma Cooking Instructions:
- Place all the marinade ingredients in a large, shallow bowl. Add the lamb, toss to coat, cover and marinate in the fridge for up to two hours, or overnight if time allows.
- Soak 6 wooden skewers in cold water for 30 minutes.
- Thread pieces of lamb onto the skewers.
- Cook under a preheated grill or on prepared barbecue for 12-16 minutes, turning occasionally or until any meat juices run clear.
- Meanwhile, make a tahini sauce by combining equal parts light tahini paste and water with 2 – 4 tablespoons of lemon juice and salt, to taste. Mix together until smooth and creamy.
- Serve your lamb shawarma with the tahini sauce, and hummus or some minty greek yoghurt.
Lamb Shawarma Tips
- Make a double batch of the spice marinade and then store the unused half in the fridge for later in the week.
- Serve your lamb shwarma on a bed of rice, or with a green salad. I like to pair it with tahini sauce, hummus, some pickled veg and then wrap it all up with flatbread.
- Following a low-carb eating plan? This Lamb Shawarma recipe is great with a side of riced cauliflower.
Which Cut of Lamb Is Best For Shawarma?
There are six main sections of lamb that provide the various cuts of meat. Some of the most common cuts available on the market are lamb chops (or rack of lamb), leg of lamb, lamb shank and lamb shoulder.
Lamb shoulder
This cut is well suited for pressure cooking, slow roasting and adding to stews. It is a great choice for marinades. For maximum flavour, cook bone-in lamb shoulder until the meat is fork tender and easily falls off the bone.
Chops/Rack
Lamb chops and rack of lamb are taken from the ribs. Quicker cooking methods such as the grill or barbecue yield the best results. The most expensive cuts, rack of lamb and lamb chops and are quite delicate and tender.
Leg of lamb
A versatile and lean cut with good flavour, leg of lamb is a great choice for grilling, pressure cooking and roasting.
Lamb shank
Cut from the lower part of the back legs. This is an economical choice that is perfect for stews, pressure-cooking and slow roasting.
Slow Cooker Lamb Shawarma
I happen to looooove cooking this lamb shwarma on the grill or barbecue, but you can also prepare it using your slow cooker. Just add the marinated lamb to your slow cooker along with a cup of liquid (stock or water) and cook on low for 5-6 hours. 
Lamb Shawarma Serving Suggestions
Whilst this Lamb Shawarma is a pretty fantastic meal all on its own, it is also delicious served with:
The Creamiest Instant Pot Hummus
Roasted Carrot and Farro Salad with Tahini Sauce Yoghurt Dressing
Spiced Instant Pot Chickpeas Salad
Lamb Shawarma Weight Watchers Points
There are 4 Freestyle SmartPoints in one serving of this lamb shwarma recipe.
Try Lamb
As mentioned before, I have been a fan of cooking with lamb for quite some time. Not only is it quite simple to prepare, it is a super versatile meat that can be cooked in so many different and delicious ways. It is also a healthy choice for family meals, as it is a fantastic protein that is a great source of important nutrients such as vitamin B12, niacin, zinc and potassium.
And that is exactly why I am so pleased to be partnering with the folks at Try Lamb. They have put together a fantastic collection of all sorts of amaaaaazing lamb recipes that demonstrate how cooking with lamb truly is easy, affordable and oh so flavourful.
Hopefully this recipe, along with all the others on the Try Lamb website will inspire you to give lamb a try. And please do follow them on Instagram and Facebook to stay informed and get all the latest recipes.
Thank you for reading my Lamb Shwarma recipe post. And please come visit again as I continue dreaming up recipes, traditional African recipes, African fusion recipes, Sierra Leone recipes, travel plans and much more for you. Thanks for supporting Recipes from a Pantry, UK food blog.
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Lamb Shawarma
Ingredients
Lamb Shawarma Ingredients List:
- 450 g (1 lb) lamb leg steaks or lamb shoulder cut into 2.5cm (1 inch) cubes
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 tsp garlic purée
- 1 -2 tbsp pomegranate molasses
- 2 tsp oregano
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp coriander
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- ½ tsp allspice
Tahini Sauce Ingredients List:
- 64 g (1/2 cup) light tahini paste
- 125 ml (1/2 cup) water
- 2 - 4 tbsp lemon juice
- salt to taste
Instructions
Lamb Shawarma Cooking Instructions:
- Place all the marinade ingredients in a large, shallow bowl. Add the lamb, toss to coat, cover and marinate in the fridge for up to two hours, or overnight if time allows.
- Soak 6 wooden skewers in cold water for 30 minutes.
- Thread pieces of lamb onto the skewers.
- Cook under a preheated grill or on a prepared barbecue for 12-16 minutes, turning occasionally or until any meat juices run clear.
Tahini Sauce Instructions:
- Combine equal parts light tahini paste and water with 2 - 4 tablespoons of lemon juice and salt, to taste. Mix until smooth and creamy.
- Serve your lamb shawarma with the tahini sauce, and hummus or some minty greek yoghurt.
The lamb can be the basis for the preparation of any tasty dish. Using it as the main ingredient for shawarma is also optimal for obtaining an unusual taste.
This recipe looks so yummy!Can’t wait to try it out.
Lamb is one of my favorites! I love how you make this so simple and delicious.
Thanks Sharon 🙂
This recipe had me drooling all over my keyboard – such a delicious looking meal! Shawarma is the type of food you love to pick up from restaurant but never think to make at home. Cant wait to try it!
Delicious shawarma – time for me to make it at home. It is one of those recipes you always want to make but keep pushing for later. I should make it ASAP now 🙂
Please do let me know how it goes 🙂
I will have to go get some lamb and make this right away! I love the use of the lamb
Enjoy every mouthful
I’m so excited to make this at home now! We always go out and this would be so much more budget friendly for our family.
Pleased to have inspired you 🙂