Beef Shawarma with Cucumber Yogurt Sauce

The most flavorful beef shawarma you’ll ever have! Yogurt, lemon, and warm spices tenderize the meat to create a delicious and succulent Middle Eastern dish. 

In my Middle Eastern family, we are no strangers to adding spices such as cinnamon and nutmeg to savory meat dishes. In fact, these warm spices are one of the many reasons I love Lebanese food so much! Today I’m sharing my version of the street-side classic: beef shawarma. Lean sirloin gets a major flavor boost from a marinade full of various warm spices, plenty of lemon and garlic, and of course plain yogurt to ensure a tender, delicious meat.

Ingredients

• Beef sirloin: A sirloin steak is a cut of beef that isn’t very fatty, but has enough marbling to still add great flavor. You could also use skirt steak or flank steak!
• Plain yogurt: Yogurt slowly and gently tenderizes meat, making for steaks that you can almost pull apart.
• Lemons: The acidity aids in tenderizing the meat, while also adding bright flavor.
• Cinnamon: Warm, sweet, and also spicy flavor, a little goes a long way in balancing out rich flavors.
• Allspice: Also known as Jamaican pepper, it’s a warm spice that is often compared to that of nutmeg, fennel, cloves, and cinnamon.
• Nutmeg: Another warm and nutty spice that blends well with the others to create a delicious, savory flavor.
• Garlic: Spicy and nutty, garlic goes well with anything and adds delicious, pungent flavor to the meat.

How to Make Beef Shawarma with Cucumber Yogurt Sauce

Start your beef shawarma by cutting your sirloin into thin strips.

Then in a medium to large bowl, mix the yogurt, fresh lemon juice, cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, garlic, and salt & black pepper.

Once yogurt marinade is mixed well, add the sirloin. Cover and let marinate for at least two hours in the fridge, but preferably overnight. You could also put it all into a resealable bag.

Once you’ve let the beef marinate, either grill or pan-fry over medium-high heat.

While the beef is marinating or cooking, mix up your cucumber yogurt sauce.

Serve together garnished with parsley, paired with some pita bread or pickled red onions, and enjoy your Beef Shawarma with Cucumber Yogurt Sauce!

Shake Things Up

• Serve with a different sauce. If the cucumber yogurt sauce isn’t your jam, then try serving it with a tahini sauce instead!
• Change the protein. This marinade works great on chicken, lamb, or shrimp as well.

Frequently asked questions

More Lebanese Recipes

• Lebanese Stuffed Kousa Squash
• Hummus with Ground Beef
• Lebanese Green Beans with Tomatoes
• Shish Tawook Chicken
• Lebanese Rice Pilaf

Eat it, Like It, Share It!

Did you try this shawarma recipe? The next time you make it, snap a picture and share it to your socials! Tag @thelemonbowl and #thelemonbowl so we can admire and share your meal.

An easy dish to prepare days in advance, or make day of, my Beef Shawarma is sure to please you and your family.

Your fork is waiting.