Food talk
Slice of Lebanon

Shawarma has been called one of the greater pleasures of life- a tasty, well balanced meal with many tantalizing flavours released by myriad ingredients that are included in the recipe. It's very easy to prepare and lends itself to literally infinite improvisations and innovations. We had always enjoyed it at the 'Arabian Nights' a popular eatery in the vicinity of JNU where we once dwelt but what blew us over was a 'meal on the go' beloved son Guni aka Vick organised for us in Toronto. The Lebanese shopkeeper loved his job and his food. We were treated to a masterpiece. But why pine for distant hills and valleys when its possible to tickle the palate without much effort and expense with ingredients on the food-mart shelves.

Ingredients

Chicken (boneless, from chest 500 g
and thighs)

Thick curds 1cup

Tahini sauce (sesame paste with 1cup
lime juice and olive oil)

Hummus (ready made or prepared  1/2 cup
at home in a blender with boiled
Kabuli chana, crushed garlic cloves
and little olive oil)

Vinegar 1/2 cup

Black pepper (freshly ground) 1 tsp

All-spice powder 1 tsp

Cloves of garlic (crushed) 3-4

Tomatoes (washed and eyelets 150 g
removed then sliced with or
without skin, in rounds)

Onions (peeled and sliced round) 100 gm

Cucumbers (washed well and 100 gm
sliced or chopped

Pickles and relishes (Dill pickle, 1
Gherkins, Jalapanos whatever
suits your fancy)

Lemon (juice) 1/2 cup

Flat Pita breads (Roomali roti or 4 large
Lebanese bread can be substituted)

Olive oil 1/2 cup

Salt to taste

Method

Prepare a marinade mixing curds, salt, pepper, paprika and other powdered spices along with Vinegar, garlic and cardamoms in a bowl and place the chicken in it overnight. Cook the chicken-boil, grill or roast or in a pot on medium flame in its own juices basting it with little Olive oil. Slice in strips or shred or cut in bite- sized chunks.

Line the bread with a generous layer of Hummus and Tahini sauce and place a portion of mixed vegetables and relish in one half of the bread. Then place a portion of chicken on the other half. Wrap in a roll or packet and dig in!

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