Easy Beef Wraps with Shawarma Spice- Delicious Pita Roll-Ups

Wraps are versatile and great for quick and tasty lunch or light dinner. You can get creative and use your favorite protein, veggies, and healthy fats. Beef wraps with Shawarma spice are irresistibly delicious and packed with flavor. Get inspired to create your version of middle eastern street food at home. The shawarma spice mix is warm and aromatic and has a well-rounded flavor profile. No one can resist this delicious wrap of spiced meat with fresh veggies and drizzle with a delicious tahini garlic yogurt sauce. The beef shawarma wrap is one of the most requested ones at home, and my kid loves this so much. It is simple and can be prepared in advance. It is the best weeknight dinner, and the leftovers are great for lunches. Your family will love this every time you make it!

What is Shawarma?
Shawarma is a favorite fast food, a popular sandwich in the Middle East. It is similar to Turkish döner kebab and Greek gyros. The filling for the Shawarma is well-marinated meat and fat layered on a vertical rotisserie or spit. It is cooked and slow-roasted as the vertical pit turns around. Meat is cooked in its juices and fat and is very flavorful. Thin layers of meat are shaved off and served in pita bread, with sliced vegetables and tahini sauce. You can use beef, mutton, or chicken. It is hard to replicate street foods at home. The closest you can get to that version at home is making a good marinade and thinly slicing the meat. You can use a grill pan or roast in the oven.

How to make beef shawarma at home?
To make beef shawarma wrap at home, you need a robust and flavorful spice mix or the shawarma spice mix. It is a savory, tangy spice mix. You can easily buy shawarma spice mix from the Mediterranean or Middle Eastern specialty stores. But it is always good to make your fresh spice blend at home.

For the spice blend, you will need

Paprika
Cumin
Coriander
Turmeric
Cardamom
Cinnamon
Black pepper
Red pepper flakes
Sumac.

Sumac is an important spice of middle eastern cooking with bright red color and a tartness. It enhances the taste of seafood, meat, and salads. Sumac has a very inviting fruit tart flavor which you will love, but if you do not have sumac, you can very well substitute it with lemon.

To make the sauce, you will need tahini. Tahini is another staple of Middle Eastern and Mediterranean Cooking. Tahini is a creamy, savory paste of roasted sesame seeds with a mild nutty flavor. Continue reading for an easy step-by-step recipe to make this delicious wrap!

Easy Beef Wraps with Shawarma Spice- Delicious Pita Roll-Ups

Ingredients
Pita bread-3- 4 ( I used store brought ones)

Marinade for beef
Beef- 1 1/2 lb
Onion- 1/2 cup
Olive oil- 3 tbs
Salt and pepper to taste
Minced garlic -4 -5 cloves
Cumin- 1/2 tsp
Turmeric- 1/8 tsp
Coriander- 1 tsp
Paprika- 1 tsp
Spices-cinnamon-1 inch piece, clove-2 nutmeg- a small piece,
black pepper- 1/2 tsp, cardomon-1 (Make this into a fine powder)
Sumac- 1 tsp
Lemon juice- 1/2 lemon

To Make Sauce
Tahini- 1/2 cup
Yogurt- 3 tbs
salt to taste
lemon juice- 1/2 lemon
Garlic minced- 2 tsp

For garnish
Onion- 1/2 finely chopped
Sumac-1/2 tsp
Salt and pepper
Tomato -1 finely chopped
Chopped parsley- a hand full
Cucumber pickle or any vegetable pickle (optional)

Cut beef against the grain into thin bite-sized slivers or thin strips. Put all the spices in a blender and make a fine powder. In a large mixing bowl, add the meat and chopped onions. Mix the spice powders, minced garlic, salt and pepper, sumac, olive oil, and lemon juice. Mix well and cover with a cling wrap for at least an hour. For best results, marinate overnight in the refrigerator. If marinating overnight, allow the beef to sit out at room temperature for half an hour before cooking.

Heat a large cast-iron grill pan or skillet over high heat and add the marinated meat. Spread evenly and cook over medium-high heat for about 12- 15 minutes, until the meat gets cooked. Flip the beef, and make sure that both sides are slightly crisp. If your pan is not large enough, cook the beef in batches.
To make a grilled beef wrap- Marinate the beef for at least an hour. Heat an outdoor grill or grill pan over medium-high, and brush with oil. Cook over medium-high heat for about 10-12 minutes or until done to your liking. Allow the grilled meat to sit for a bit before slicing it.
To bake in the oven, place the marinated sliced beef in a single layer on a large pan or sheet pan. Bake at 400 degrees F for 25-30 minutes.
To make the sauce.
Add tahini, yogurt, minced garlic salt, and lemon juice, into a food processor. Blend till nice and smooth. Set this aside.
For garnish- slice the onions, tomatoes, cucumber, and parsley. You can also add thinly sliced pickled vegetables of your choice. Add a pinch of salt, pepper, and 1/2 tsp of sumac and set aside. You can also use your favorite Mediterranean salad blend to bring a contrast of textures and flavors.
To make the wrap- place pita bread flat on a plate and spread a little of the sauce. Place little chopped vegetables, pickle, and grilled meat. Drizzle a little bit of sauce, and tightly roll it. You can crisp it up before serving. Enjoy!