Food Encyclopedia

shawarma; shawerma; shawirma

A Middle Eastern version of the gyro, shawarma consists of spiced, marinated lamb (sometimes chicken or veal) that has been molded around a vertical rotating spit and slowly roasted. Thin slices of the meat are shaved off as the spit keeps turning. The hot meat is wrapped in lavash or pita bread, spread with hummus or tahini and topped with shredded vegetables. In Turkey the shawarma is known as doner kebab.