Bold, bright, aromatic, and delicious, this quick and easy shawarma spice blend recipe is a great all-around Middle Eastern seasoning mix that takes minutes to make.
Shawarma is a popular Middle Eastern street food that traditionally includes meat. However, the seasoning mix, which is naturally vegan, can be added to a number of dishes, including roasted cauliflower shawarma, a marinade or dry rub for crispy tofu, as a substitute for curry powder in red lentil dahl, or seasoning a simple meal of chickpeas and vegetables.
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Homemade Spice Blends
Homemade spice blends are one of the easiest ways to get creative in the kitchen and save time because they’re ready to roll in one bottle. Plus, you get to be the master of the ingredients. Salt-free, extra spicy, hold the cayenne pepper—you put the stamp on your bottle. That's one reason why I routinely make homemade chili powder, chipotle spice blend, and garam masala.
Ingredients and Notes
This homemade shawarma spice mix requires 9 ingredients. Here are a few with notes and substitutions.
Cumin. Cumin is a main ingredient in shawarma spice. It's earthy and slightly sweet.
Coriander. This is the most uncommon spice on the list. Grind coriander seeds if the ground spice isn't available. Look for it at Asian or Indian specialty stores.
Paprika. I used sweet paprika, but you can also use smoked or a mix. If your paprika is hot, adjust the cayenne pepper if needed.
Cayenne Pepper. If you don't like the extra kick of cayenne pepper, use white or black pepper.
Allspice. You can substitute a combination of cloves and nutmeg or, in a pinch, pumpkin pie spice.
Please see the recipe card at the bottom of this post for the complete list of ingredients, measurements, and instructions.
How to Use Whole Spices
If you use whole spices, grind them in a spice grinder and measure them first. In general, use 1 ¼ tablespoons of whole spices for 1 tablespoon of ground.
How to Make Shawarma Seasoning
- Measure and mix the spices in a small dish or add them to an airtight jar or container and shake. Make sure there's enough room in the jar to easily blend the spices.
- Label and date your homemade shawarma spice blend. I can't tell you how many times I've skipped this step only to be stumped and ask, ' What's in that jar?'
Denise's Pro Tip: Double-check that the mixing spoon, dish, and storage container (and lid) are completely dry. Even a drop of moisture can cause your yummy spice mix to get hard and clumpy.
How to Use Shawarma Spice as a Vegan Marinade
Cube or tear 14-16 ounces of tofu (or steamed tempeh) into bite-sized pieces. Add ¼ cup lemon juice, ¼ cup soy sauce, and 1 -2 teaspoons shawarma seasoning blend. Marinate for 1 hour or overnight. Bake, air fry, or pan fry.
More Serving Suggestions
Use this warming spice blend in soups or stews. Switch up the flavor of tomato pomegranate salad or Lebanese Fattoush salad, using shawarma instead of zaatar seasoning mix. I recently modified Misir Wot (Ethiopian lentils) using leftover shawarma instead of homemade Berbere spice, creating an entirely new recipe.
Storage
- Store shawarma in a cool, dry place away from the stove or steam from an Instant Pot. In general, the potency of spice blends depends on the shelf life of the date of each individual spice.
- To keep shawarma spice fresher for longer, freeze it for up to a year. Freeze in an airtight container to prevent moisture from building up. I usually bag the freezer container in a freezer bag for double protection.
Frequently Asked Questions
Shawarma seasoning is a staple in Middle Eastern cooking. It's a unique combination of spices such as cumin, turmeric, paprika and aromatics like cinnamon and allspice. It is bright, bold, and flavorful.
Garam masala and shawarma spice mix share similar spices like cumin and coriander; however, they have distinctive flavor profiles. This is why I don't recommend substituting one for the other.
Like many spice blends, the ingredients in shawarma seasoning reflect different regions, traditions, and preferences. When you make your own spice mixes, you have the opportunity to customize them by adjusting amounts and making a few modifications if desired.
More Homemade Spice Blends
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👩🏻🍳 Recipe
Shawarma Spice Blend Recipe
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Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon ground cumin
- 1 tablespoon ground coriander - see notes for using whole spices
- 1 tablespoon paprika - sweet or smoked
- 1 tablespoon turmeric powder
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- ½ teaspoon allspice
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger
Instructions
- Add the ground spices to a small dish, airtight container, or jar. Measure the spices, then mix or shake them to blend.
- Label the storage container with the name of the blend and date.
- Makes about 5 ½ tablespoons.
Notes
- Nutrition is based on 1 teaspoon per serving.
- If you substitute whole spices like cumin seeds, coriander seeds, or allspice berries, grind them first. As a general rule, you'll need 1 ¼ times the whole spices as ground. For example, grind 1 ¼ tablespoons of coriander seeds for 1 tablespoon of ground.
- Store the shawarma spice blend in an airtight container or jar in a cool, dry place. It stays at its fullest potency based on the oldest date of the individual spices you use.
- For longer storage, freeze spice blends in an airtight container, then bag the container in a sealed freezer bag. I don't recommend refrigerating spices because they accumulate too much moisture.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is an estimation only.
Denise Perrault
Great information here - thanks for reading this post.