National Shawarma Day

Made from deliciously seasoned meat that is slow-roasted and thinly sliced, shawarma can be made from many types of meat, including lamb, chicken beef, or turkey. Traditionally roasted on a vertical rotisserie, the name shawarma comes from a Turkish word that means ‘turning’.

National Shawarma Day invites everyone to celebrate this unique dish that is so simple and delicious that the recipes have hardly changed in hundreds of years!

History of National Shawarma Day

Shwarma is a dish that originated at least a couple of centuries ago in the Ottoman Empire, which is modern-day Turkey.

Easy to eat on the go in a pita or as a sit-down meal with dozens of fixings, shawarma is a delicious and healthy food that deserves to be celebrated.

National Shawarma Day was founded in 2020 through the efforts of Osmow’s Shawarma, which is a chain of restaurants located mostly in the area near Toronto, Canada but with a couple of outliers situated in the United States.

Each year during this event, people are brought together in unity through this popular Middle Eastern street food!

How to Celebrate National Shawarma Day

Enjoy this beautiful food on National Shawarma Day and celebrate in all sorts of ways, including some of these:

Enjoy Eating Shawarma

People who have enjoyed shawarma in the past will certainly look forward to National Shawarma Day with the hope of eating some of this delicious dish.

Those who haven’t tried it before need not fear, as it can be compared to something like its own version of Greek gyros, but most versions will be a bit spicier than gyros.

Those in Toronto or another city that is lucky enough to have an Osmow’s restaurant can stop by there, the founders of this event.

Folks in other places can do a little research to find out which Middle Eastern restaurants in town serve shawarma and head on over!

Try Making Shawarma at Home

Though it’s a recipe that requires a bit of planning, shawarma is not that difficult to make. Several recipes can be found online, but the best ones will require the meat to be marinated for several hours (overnight is best!).

Use spices such as cumin, paprika, turmeric, and cardamom, as well as cinnamon, coriander, and the tiniest bit of cayenne for a kick. Lemon, olive oil, and fresh garlic will also be part of the marinade.

Serve the meat with flat wraps or pita bread, along with vegetables like cucumbers, red onions, and tomatoes.

And don’t forget the sauces! With options like lemon yogurt or tahini sauce, these white creamy sauces just pull the whole dish together.

Head to the Birthplace of Shawarma

Get into the spirit of this event by going back to where it all began! Diehard fans of National Shawarma Day might want to hop on a plane and head to Turkey, whether in Istanbul, Antalya, Cappadocia, or another city.

Make it a shawarma tour by taking a tasting tour through the country!