Easy Beef Shawarma Bowl

Our Easy Beef Shawarma Bowls feature tender, perfectly spiced beef, nutritious veggies as accompaniments, and creamy tahini sauce drizzled over them. With each bite, you will savor the yummy flavors of Lebanese cuisine! It’s an easy and delicious meal, perfect for any weeknight dinner.

A dear Lebanese friend of ours kindly taught me how she makes shawarma for her family. She not only shared the recipe but also demonstrated how it’s all done, so I saw exactly how it’s all made!

I have decided to add the recipe to the blog to avoid losing it and forgetting how to do it. This way, I can always return to it when I fancy having a healthy and nutritious Mediterranean-inspired food, such as this tasty Lebanese shawarma meal!

I have made this Lebanese-style beef shawarma recipe several times already and even served it to friends who all loved it. They loved how the meat came out so tender and tasty. It is perfectly paired with fresh vegetables like tomatoes, red onions, cucumbers, salad greens, and fresh parsley – the usual filling for a beef shawarma wrap! It’s so nutritious, too, that you won’t feel guilty eating a lot—and I must confess, I often do when I make this!

The BONUS: I include the recipe for a delicious Tahini sauce here courtesy of our family friend, too. For me, beef shawarma won’t be complete without it. It just adds another layer of deliciousness when I have perfectly spiced beef strips with some tahini sauce drizzled all over!

The Perfect Beef Shawarma

The star of this dish is undoubtedly the beef. To achieve the best results, start with 3-4 pounds of sirloin steak, sliced into thin strips. The key to authentic shawarma flavor lies in the spice mix. Use 3-4 tablespoons of shawarma seasoning or Lebanese 7 spice mix, which typically includes aromatic spices like allspice, cumin, coriander, paprika, and cinnamon. This spice blend, combined with salt, diced onions, oil, and vinegar, creates a marinade that infuses the meat with incredible flavor.

For the best taste, marinate the beef for at least 3 hours, or even better, overnight. This allows the flavors to penetrate the meat deeply, resulting in a more authentic shawarma experience. When it’s time to cook, slow-roasting the beef in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for about 2 hours ensures tender, juicy meat that’s packed with flavor.

Ingredients for Easy Beef Shawarma Bowl

• Sirloin Steak: This lean cut of beef provides the main protein source and texture for the shawarma, offering a tender and flavorful base when cooked. Its lean nature helps keep the dish relatively low in fat.
• Shawarma or Lebanese 7 Spice Mix: This blend of aromatic spices like cumin, coriander, paprika, and cinnamon adds a rich, authentic Middle Eastern flavor to the beef, defining the dish’s cultural taste profile.
• Salt: Used to enhance flavors and balance the spices, salt ensures that all the ingredients meld together harmoniously.
• Onions: Both diced and sliced onions contribute to the marinade and final presentation, adding sweetness and depth to the dish as they caramelize during cooking. They also help tenderize the meat as it cooks.
• Oil: The oil helps to keep the meat moist during the marinating and cooking process, ensuring it stays tender and juicy.
• White Vinegar (or Rice Vinegar): Vinegar adds a tangy flavor and helps to tenderize the meat, balancing out the richness of the spices.
• Garlic: Used in the tahini sauce, garlic adds a pungent flavor that complements the nutty tahini and enhances the overall savory taste of the dish.
• Tahini Paste: This creamy paste forms the base of the tahini sauce, providing a rich, nutty flavor that complements the spiced beef and fresh vegetables.
• Water: Added to the tahini sauce, water helps achieve the desired consistency, making the sauce smooth and pourable.
• Lemon Juice: The acidity in lemon juice adds brightness and helps to thicken the tahini sauce slightly, balancing its richness.
• Tomatoes, Cucumbers, and Fresh Parsley: These fresh vegetables add crunch, color, and freshness to the dish, providing a refreshing contrast to the warm, spiced beef and creamy sauce.

Step-by-Step Instructions to Make this  Easy Beef Shawarma Bowl

For the Beef Shawarma

Sprinkle the spice mix over the meat in a large dish or baking pan. Add the salt and diced onions. Drizzle both the oil and vinegar all over. Using your bare hands, gently mix all the ingredients, distributing the salt and spices all over the meat. Top with the sliced onion rings (the latter may be added to the mixture just before baking, too). Marinate for at least 3 hours or overnight for more flavor absorption.

Preheat the oven to 350 F. Place the meat mixture into the oven and bake for 2 hours or until the meat is tender. Remove the onion rings on top, return the beef back to the oven, and bake for another 15 minutes to evaporate some of the liquid in the dish. Alternatively, you can drain the meat of the sauce and either dry fry it quickly on the stovetop or broil it briefly in the oven so the meat dries up a little bit.

For the Tahini Sauce

Add garlic, salt, tahini paste, and water to a food processor. Process until smooth. You can add extra water, depending on the consistency or thickness you like. Add the lemon juice and blend until incorporated. Make sure to add the lemon juice last because it will thicken the sauce more.

Assembling the Beef Shawarma Bowl

In a bowl, place the cooked beef. Add the rice, greens, and a combo of onions, tomatoes, cucumbers, and chopped fresh parsley (the usual fillings for a shawarma wrap). Drizzle with tahini sauce. Enjoy.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs about Beef Shawarma)

Can I use a different cut of beef for this recipe?
While sirloin steak is recommended for its tenderness and flavor, you can use other cuts like flank steak or ribeye. Just ensure you slice the meat thinly against the grain for the best texture.

Is it possible to make this recipe in a slow cooker?
Yes! Place the marinated beef in a slow cooker and cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours until tender.

Can I make the tahini sauce without a food processor?
Absolutely. You can whisk the ingredients together by hand, though it may require a bit more effort to achieve a smooth consistency.

What can I serve with the shawarma bowl besides rice?
Pita bread, flatbread, or even cauliflower rice are great alternatives to traditional rice. For an even more authentic Middle Eastern meal, serve it with a side of hummus or tabbouleh.

How spicy is this dish?
A: The level of spiciness depends on your shawarma spice mix. Most are mildly spicy, but you can adjust the amount to suit your taste preferences.

This Easy Beef Shawarma Bowl recipe brings the flavors of Middle Eastern street food right to your kitchen. With its tender, spice-infused beef, creamy tahini sauce, and fresh vegetables, it’s a delicious and satisfying meal that’s perfect for any day of the week.