Chickpea Shawarma Recipe (Vegan, Gluten Free)

One of our favorite things to eat when we go up to Canada is shawarma! There is a fantastic place near where Brett’s mom lives that makes the best shawarmas, falafels, and wraps.  I made this chickpea shawarma recipe to recreate the magic in our own kitchen. I tossed some cooked chickpeas with pantry-staple spices, baked them for 30 minutes, and filled up a pita.  Served with a side of tabbouleh salad, and bring the shawarma home.

• Cooked Chickpeas: I used dried California Beans brand chickpeas for this shawarma, that I cooked up in the Instant Pot in 30 minutes beforehand.  I love these dried California Beans chickpeas because they have a fantastic flavor, and I know exactly where they come from. As a former California gal myself, I love supporting fresh and amazing farms out west.
• Smoked Paprika: give an additional depth of flavor to these chickpeas.
• Za’atar: a fantastic Middle Eastern spice blend of garlic, lemon, sumac, and sesame. It has a deep citrusy flavor, with a slightly herbal finish. Similar to oregano, this za’atar spice blend has a bright and bold flavor – absolutely perfect for this chickpea shawarma. If you’re looking for an exotic new spice to add to your cabinet, I can’t recommend this za’atar enough!
• Chili Powder: for a really nice flavor in this dish – the chili powder isn’t spicy but will give you a rich and bright flavor.
• Olive Oil: I like to use this fruity Zoe olive oil which has a fantastic flavor and deep color- it’s really inexpensive online here, so I keep a few liters stocked up in my pantry.  For the quality of oil you get, it’s an excellent value, I would highly recommend!
• Pink Himalayan Sea Salt: I like to use a pink Himalayan Sea Salt in my kitchen, which has more natural minerals than plain processed table salt.  It’s fairly inexpensive, so I’d recommend this salt if you’re looking for an easy way to level up your spice pantry.
• Tellicherry Black Pepper: Like the salt, it’s amazing the flavor difference you can get with really good tellicherry black pepper.  This pepper is the same price is buying pre-ground, and has a million times more flavor!  I use these really great tellicherry peppercorns, which I would definitely recommend. 
• Garlic Powder: Also a major pantry staple ingredient that get used in our house daily! I love this garlic powder and add it to a lot of recipes that I would use fresh garlic in too.
• Cinnamon: which gives this shawarma a classic spice-y flavor!  I love to add just a hint.
• Pita Bread
• Toppings: I like topping my shawarma with homemade tzatziki, cucumber, hummus, and of course with a side of tabbouleh.

One of the BEST Pantry Staple Chickpea Recipes

This garbanzo bean shawarma recipe is a fantastic pantry-staple meal!  It uses almost all ingredients you would have in your dry pantry or cupboards.  You probably have a lot of these ingredients on hand. Keeping a well-stocked pantry makes it easy to come up with delicious and healthy meals using a few staples you can rotate.  I made a list of my Top 125 Plant-Based Pantry Staples that always keep on hand. And you can check out all my favorite pantry staple recipes on TheHerbeevore.com here.  By stocking up on healthy whole ingredients you can cook delicious recipes without a trip to the store!

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
2. In a large bowl, add the drained and rinsed chickpeas. Add the olive oil, paprika, za’atar, chili powder, black pepper, garlic powder, salt, and cinnamon. Toss well to combine.
3. Place the chickpeas on the baking sheet, and spread out onto an even layer.  Bake for 30 minutes, flipping halfway during cooking.
4. Place your pitas on a plate. Add 1/2 cup chickpea filling to each pita, and add topings of choice.  Enjoy!

What Should I Serve with Vegan Shawarma?

5-Ingredient Tzatziki Sauce (Vegan, Gluten Free, Non Dairy)

Healthy Mediterranean Yellow Rice Recipe (Vegan, Gluten Free)

Beet Hummus Recipe (Vegan, Gluten Free, High Protein)

Simple Lemon Quinoa Salad (Vegan, Gluten Free)

Instant Pot Baba Ganoush (Vegan, Paleo, Whole30, Gluten Free)

If you’re looking for amazing chickpeas, get California Beans! Grown on the west coast, California beans are a fantastic and protein-packed addition to your pantry.

As always, if you make this vegan and gluten free sheet pan hash browns recipe be sure to leave me a comment, rate this recipe, and tag me @theherbeevore on Instagram so I can feature you.  I love seeing all your photos of my recipe recreations!

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