Skip the Shawarma Stand, Make This Spice at Home
DIY shawarma spice you can make in minutes with pantry spices, an easy, fragrant blend that keeps for months and elevates simple dinners!
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When I first learned to make shawarma, the lesson didn’t begin with chicken or rice. It began with spices.
I was a teenager then, too young to board planes or wander far, but old enough to open the jars lined up in our kitchen and feel their pull. Cumin, coriander, cinnamon, cloves, these spices became my passport. I remember crouching on a little stool in front of the pantry, the afternoon sun filtering through the slats of the blinds, dust dancing in the air as I unscrewed lid after lid. Each jar released a puff of fragrance that seemed impossibly bigger than the small space I stood in.
It was alchemy. Mixing those spices together made me feel like I was holding a secret bigger than myself, one that had traveled across deserts, cities, and kitchen tables before finding its way into my hands. That blend was my first attempt at creating something that reached beyond borders, something I could carry with me even when I couldn’t go anywhere at all.
Back then, my experiments were small–a pinch over rice, stirred into lentils, rubbed onto vegetables. My parents would glance at my plate as I tasted the way cumin and coriander leaned into each other, how cinnamon and cloves trailed softly behind. Even now, I use the same mix, tucked into jars in my own kitchen, shared with F, and watched by Leo and Lin as they peek into the bowl with wide eyes.
The heart of shawarma isn’t only in the meat slowly turning on a spit or the sauce drizzled on top. It’s in the seasoning that threads everything together. Without that blend, shawarma is just grilled chicken. But with it, it becomes a story you taste.
Spicing Up the Everyday
As my cooking has grown with me, so has the way I’ve used this spice. When I pull together a weeknight dinner, it may end up dusted over roasted chickpeas or cauliflower, then tucked into pitas with tahini. On other nights, the spice makes its way into the dishes that started it all. A chicken shawarma, layered on rice with garlicky white sauce.
And when we have friends over, or when the kids are tumbling around and I need something quick for small hands, I remember the shawarma chicken and apple bites I first made one fall. Juicy apple wedges cradling strips of spiced chicken, a recipe that surprised me with how perfectly it bridged the gap between Middle Eastern seasoning and a North American orchard. It became part of our Rosh Hashanah table one year, a nod to the season and to the flavors that shaped me.
Those apple bites, though seemingly small, carry the same thread as every shawarma dish in our home: it always starts with this spice mix. And I can see the future meals it will season. A genius turkey shawarma made from a can, a recipe that feels improbable until you taste how the spice transforms something simple into something layered and satisfying. Or perhaps a vegan pita, stuffed with shawarma-spiced mushrooms and crisp vegetables, a recipe we’ve already fallen in love with on busier weeks like a vegan shawarma pita.
The beauty of shawarma spice is that it’s both anchor and bridge. It roots me in my earliest days of discovery and stretches forward into the meals I haven’t yet made. Whether folded into family traditions, holiday tables, or weekday lunches, it’s the same familiar jar I reach for. The same one I once leaned over with curiosity in a sunlit kitchen years ago.
Ingredients
- Cumin, Coriander, and Paprika – The foundation of shawarma spice. Cumin brings that earthy depth, coriander adds a citrus lift, and paprika gives warmth and color. If you’re out of paprika, smoked paprika can step in for a deeper, almost charred note.
- Cinnamon and Cloves – These spices add a subtle sweetness and fragrance that always remind me of my grandmother’s Russian cakes cooling on the windowsill. They also tie shawarma to the spice markets of the Middle East. If cloves aren’t in your pantry, a pinch of allspice can give a similar warmth.
- Cardamom and Nutmeg– Cardamom gives a citrusy brightness, while nutmeg deepens the mix. Without them, the blend feels flat. If cardamom isn’t available, allspice can fill in, though the flavor will lean spicier.
- Turmeric– This golden powder brings both color and grounding. If turmeric is hard to find, a small pinch of curry powder can add color and a similar earthiness.
- Ginger– A touch of heat and brightness that lingers quietly in the background. I often reach for the ground version when I’m short on time, but fresh grated ginger works beautifully if you’re making a marinade.
- Cayenne Pepper– The gentle fire of the blend. When I first made shawarma for F, I held back on the cayenne, but over the years he’s grown to crave its kick. Leo and Lin even like it in tiny amounts on roasted chickpeas. If you prefer a milder spice, swap in a bit of chili powder instead.
See the recipe card for full list and exact quantities.
How to Make Shawarma Spice Blend Recipe
If you’ve ever wondered how to capture the bold soul of shawarma at home, it starts here with a simple spice mix that’s as versatile as it is aromatic. This shawarma blend is easy to prepare and has a way of transforming even the most ordinary weeknight dinner into something layered and fragrant. Here’s how to make it:
Measure the Spices
Gather all the spices into small bowls or directly onto a plate. Taking a moment to smell each one as you measure helps you appreciate how they’ll work together.
Combine Everything
Transfer the spices into a small mixing bowl. Whisk until the colors merge into a rich, earthy blend with no streaks left behind.
Store the Mix
Pour the finished spice blend into an airtight jar or container. Keep it in a cool, dark spot in your kitchen, where it will stay fragrant for up to six months.
Season Generously
When ready to cook, use about two tablespoons of the shawarma spice for every pound of meat or vegetables. It works beautifully in marinades, sprinkled over roasting trays, or stirred into grains like rice and couscous.
Storage
Keep your shawarma spice mix in an airtight jar, tucked away from direct sunlight and heat. A simple glass container with a tight lid works best, it locks in the fragrance and keeps the colors vibrant. Stored this way, the blend will stay fresh for up to six months. I like to keep a jar right by the stove, ready to sprinkle over roasting vegetables or stir into a quick marinade. It’s the kind of mix that rarely lasts its full shelf life, though.
Top Tips
Toast for Depth – if you have whole cumin or coriander seeds, take a few minutes to toast them in a dry pan before grinding. The aroma fills the kitchen, and the flavor becomes richer and rounder, something I learned after leaving my first batch for too long and realizing patience really does pay off.
Adjust the Heat– I keep two jars on hand: one with the cayenne pepper toned down for the kids, and one with the full amount for F and me. It saves me from making the same mix twice and keeps everyone happy at the table.
Batch Wisely – this mix disappears quickly in our house, so I usually double the recipe. If you make a big batch, divide it into two jars, keep one by the stove for daily use and the other sealed tight in the pantry so it stays vibrant longer.
Recipe
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Shawarma Spice
Shawarma spice brings rich flavor to chicken, veggies, and rice
Prevent your screen from going to sleep
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon ground coriander
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon turmeric
- ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
- ¼ teaspoon ground cardamom
Instructions
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Spoon each spice into a small bowl. Take a moment to breathe in the aroma—this is the foundation of shawarma’s layered flavor.
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Using a small whisk or spoon, stir until the colors and textures are evenly blended. The mix should look rich and earthy, without streaks.
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Transfer the spice mix into an airtight jar or container. Label it so you’ll remember its purpose and keep it in a cool, dry place.
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For cooking, measure about 2 tablespoons per pound of meat or vegetables. Rub it directly onto chicken, beef, lamb, or toss with chickpeas and cauliflower before roasting. It also stirs beautifully into rice, couscous, or yogurt marinades.
Nutrition
Calories: 151kcalCarbohydrates: 26gProtein: 4gFat: 7gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gSodium: 7776mgPotassium: 562mgFiber: 11gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 1511IUVitamin C: 6mgCalcium: 210mgIron: 10mg
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