Here’s a fantastic, easy Keto Beef Shawarma Recipe that is ready in under 30 minutes. With cabbage, homemade shawarma spice, and a little ground beef, you can put a fantastic keto dinner on the table in under half an hour.
What Makes Keto Beef Shawarma So Great?
- Low Carb . Only 6 net carbs per serving.
- Fast. Authentic tasting food ready in less than 30 minutes .
- Easy. Add the spice mix to the ground beef, steam the cabbage, and serve.
- Delicious. Absolutely packed with flavor when you add your own homemade spice mix.
True, there’s no such thing as ground Beef Shawarma . But there is this deliciousness that tastes like shawarma—minus all the work and time. The key to this recipe is the shawarma mix .
I can tell you that it’s ALL about that freshly ground spice mix. In a recipe with so few ingredients, you want to amp up the taste by using the best quality spices that you can.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Olive oil
- Lean Ground Beef
- Onion
- Shawarma Spice
- Kosher Salt
- Cabbage slaw mix
- Lemon Juice
- Chopped Parsley
What Is In Shawarma Spice Mix?
If you’re unfamiliar with a shawarma spice mix , the spices aren’t anything you haven’t heard of before. This spice mixture contains:
- Oregano
- Cinnamon
- All Spice
- Cumin
- Coriander
- Cayenne
As mentioned, to make this spice mix the best it can be, it’s important to use quality spices. If you’re unsure of how to go about this, check out my spices video .
This recipe can be reheated once, but it will not freeze well. Then again, with those macros, you could eat it for dinner and take it to lunch the next day.
What Is Beef Shawarma?
Have you seen those big, tall, slabs of meat on a pole (doner kebab) that people will shave the meat off? It’s roasted meat that’s commonly cooked on a spit and then shaved off a bit at a time to serve with meals. It has a deliciously, slow-cooked flavor and is a classic.
What Is The Difference Between Shawarma And Gyro?
Both shawarma and gyros are very similar. They’re both served with toppings and similar meat. The biggest difference between the two is the meat and toppings.
Both of these terms refer to the doner kebab the meat is cooked on which is the spit or pole that has the large slab of meat on it that slowly turns and roasts the meat all day.
Gyro Meat
Gyro is a Greek word for “turn.”
A gyro is often lamb or beef and sometimes a mixture of the two. The meat is roasted and wrapped in a thin pita and topped with tomatoes, onions, and a Greek yogurt sauce called tzatziki .
Shawarma Meat
Shawarma is an Arabic word for “turning.”
The shawarma meat cone is made from packed-down slices of meat—often chicken, sometimes lamb, and occasionally even goat. Shawarma meat is often marinated for longer periods, with a wider variety of seasonings. You have a little more room to play with toppings for shawarma–but traditionally, tzatziki is not used. I mean I use it and have never been arrested by the Shawarma police, so you do whatever works for you.
Bottom Line? They’re two delicious things. You should make them both.
How To Make Lamb Shawarma
Traditionally, beef shawarma is roasted meat pieces but, in this Beef Shawarma recipe , I’m using ground beef to make it much quicker and easier. You also may have noticed that I’m using a pre-cut cabbage slaw mixture.
This is also to make the recipe easier and quicker. However, you’re more than welcome to cut up your own cabbage if that’s what you prefer.
If you’re wanting to make lamb shawarma, you will simply swap the ground beef out for ground lamb.
Another great option that we use every once in a while is ground chicken. You can use just about any ground meat in this recipe since it’s the seasoning that gives the dish its overall flavor.
How To Make Beef Shawarma
So here’s a breakdown of the process of making Beef Shawarma . You start by adding all of the shawarma spice mix ingredients into a bowl and mixing them together until well incorporated.
You really MUST use a freshly ground spice mix when making this recipe. My Shawarma Spice Mix recipe gives you all the necessary steps to make your own!
Once the shawarma spice mix is ready, heat a 12 inch sauté pan on the stove on medium heat. Once it is hot, add the oil and let it heat up. Then add the ground beef to the hot pan, making sure to break up the meat clumps as it cooks.
Once the beef is browned, raise the temperature to high heat and add the onions. Once the onions have become translucent, add the shawarma spice mix and mix until well incorporated.
Add the cabbage slaw mix and the water to the pan, place the lid on the pan and allow it to steam for about a minute.
Once the cabbage is steamed, simply add the salt, lemon juice (if desired) and garnish with parsley.
And that’s it!
Tips to Make the Best Beef Shawarma
- Use any sort of ground meat that you prefer
- Use a pre-shredded bag of coleslaw mix to make this go even faster
- Don’t forget to make the shawarma spice mix . You can double or triple the recipe, as long as you use it all up within a few weeks.
- Once the beef is cooked, the cabbage takes very little time, so don’t overcook it. Otherwise, you will have mush.
- Many people prefer to double the spice in this recipe. Try it as written. If you want a stronger flavor, add the spice, and heat once again while mixing well.
Watch the Video to make Keto Shawarma
Another fantastic dish that uses shawarma spice is my Air Fried Green Beans with Shawarma Spice . It’s a light and flavorful side dish that can be made right in your Air Fryer in only 15 minutes!
So if you’re wanting to try a delicious international dish, that’s also low carb and keto-friendly, then I can’t wait for you to make this Beef Shawarma recipe!
Keto Beef Shawarma
Equipment
- 12 inch Skillet
Ingredients
- ▢ 2 tablespoons olive oil
- ▢ 1 pound Lean Ground Beef
- ▢ 1 cup Onion , sliced
- ▢ 1 Shawarma Spice , (see recipe here:https://twosleevers.com/shawarma-spice-mix/)
- ▢ 1 teaspoon Kosher Salt
- ▢ 8 oz cabbage slaw mix , or 3 cups of shredded cabbage
- ▢ 1 tablespoon Lemon Juice , (optional)
- ▢ 1/4 cup Chopped Parsley
Instructions
- Heat a 12 inch sauté pan on the stove on medium heat. When the pan is hot, add oil. To the hot oil, add the ground beef and break up the clumps.
- Raise to high heat. Add onions and sauté until the onions are translucent, about 3-4 minutes.
- Add shawarma mix and salt, and stir well. Mix in the shredded cabbage or slaw mix.
- Add 2 tablespoons of water, and place a lid on the pot. No need to stir at this point.
- Allow the cabbage to steam for about 1 minutes. Open the lid, and stir well.
- Sprinkle in lemon juice if using. Garnish with parsley and serve with a side of Tzatziki if desired.
Watch The Video
- Use any sort of ground meat that you prefer
- Use a pre-shredded bag of coleslaw mix to make this go even faster
- Don’t forget to make the shawarma spice mix . You can double or triple the recipe, as long as you use it all up within a few weeks.
- Once the beef is cooked, the cabbage takes very little time, so don’t overcook it. Otherwise, you will have mush.
- Many people prefer to double the spice in this recipe. Try it as written. If you want a stronger flavor, add the spice, and heat once again while mixing well.
Get support & connect with our community on Facebook!
Nutrition
Don’t forget to check out my other Ketocookbooks.
Keto Instant Pot, Keto Fat Bombs, Sweets, & Treats , and Easy keto in 30 minutes.
If you already signed up, you should have received an email with a password to give you unlimited access to our FREE Printable Library. The password is case sensitive. Enter it below and get printing!
Password:
Keto Beef Shawarma
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 pound Lean Ground Beef
- 1 cup Onion sliced
- 1 Shawarma Spice (see recipe here:https://twosleevers.com/shawarma-spice-mix/)
- 1 teaspoon Kosher Salt
- 8 oz cabbage slaw mix or 3 cups of shredded cabbage
- 1 tablespoon Lemon Juice (optional)
- 1/4 cup Chopped Parsley
Instructions
Heat a 12 inch sauté pan on the stove on medium heat. When the pan is hot, add oil. To the hot oil, add the ground beef and break up the clumps.
Raise to high heat. Add onions and sauté until the onions are translucent, about 3-4 minutes.
Add shawarma mix and salt, and stir well. Mix in the shredded cabbage or slaw mix.
Add 2 tablespoons of water, and place a lid on the pot. No need to stir at this point.
Allow the cabbage to steam for about 1 minutes. Open the lid, and stir well.
Sprinkle in lemon juice if using. Garnish with parsley and serve with a side of Tzatziki if desired.
Use any sort of ground meat that you prefer
Use a pre-shredded bag of coleslaw mix to make this go even faster
Don’t forget to make the shawarma spice mix . You can double or triple the recipe, as long as you use it all up within a few weeks.
Once the beef is cooked, the cabbage takes very little time, so don’t overcook it. Otherwise, you will have mush.
Many people prefer to double the spice in this recipe. Try it as written. If you want a stronger flavor, add the spice, and heat once again while mixing well.
Keto Beef Shawarma https://twosleevers.com/beef-shawarma-recipe/
Once you make your own Dukkah Seasoning Mix, you will come up with 100 uses for this sweet, savory, nutty, versatile spice mix.
I am obsessed with spices. Not in a freaky kind of way.
Okay maybe in a freaky kind of way.
Spice mixes, especially freshly made spice mixes can make all the difference between a dish tasting mediocre, and a dish making your taste buds absolutely sing with joy.
It’s hard to find spices in the store, ready to go, that are as good as the spice mixes at home. Ground spices just don’t last very long.
Make Your Own Spice Mixes
I have an old video above on this that I REALLY need to redo, but that’s because it is too dark. The content on it, however, is what you will need to better educate yourself on why making freshly ground mixes is so important.
Many store-bought seasonings can be left for ages in your cabinet and still be somewhat usable (if they were ever really that usable). However, homemade seasoning mixes like this, if done correctly will have a much shorter shelf life, so take note of that.
In a nutshell, whole spices typically last for a year. Ground spices start to loose aroma as soon as you grind them. Within a few weeks, they are barely effective.
That’s why I absolutely love making my own spices like this Dukkah Seasoning Mix. Not only is it easy to make your own seasoning mixes and spice blends, you’ll notice the huge difference in flavor when you do. #trusturvashi
There is ZERO comparison between store-bought and home-made mixes.
What Is Dukkah? Egyptian Spice & Nut Blend
According to Wikipedia, " The word is derived from the Arabic for “to pound” [6] [7] since the mixture of spices and nuts is pounded together after being dry roasted to a texture that is neither powdered nor paste-like."
According to Urvashi, it’s pure Deliciousness : )
This Dukkah Seasoning Mix is a great recipe to learn a few steps I talk about in that video. This recipe doesn’t just involve tossing some seasonings together, it involves both toasting the spices first, and then grinding them.
The one shortcut I used here was to use pre-roasted nuts so that I didn’t waste time doing that. But of course, you can start with raw nuts and toast them in oil if you’d rather do that.
Dukkah Seasoning Mix is an Egyptian spice and nut blend that pairs deliciously with many dishes.
It can have various spellings such as duqqa, do’a, etc. However, it’s all pronounced the same way and is referring to the same thing.
This seasoning has been commonly used to dip bread in as an appetizer of sorts although it can be used for many other purposes as well.
I have used Dukkah Seasoning Mix many times in my homemade hummus and even used it as a type of crust for fish.
I promise that if you follow this recipe, you will be thrilled with this Dukkah Seasoning Mix just as much as I am.
Uses for Dukkah Seasoning Mix
Once you taste the dukkah, you will have a lot of different ideas on how to use it. But let me start you off with some uses.
- Dukkah is traditionally served with bread or raw vegetables and olive oil for dipping. But don’t limit yourself to that!
- Mix into hummus
- Add a little oil, make a paste, and coat some strips of flank steak with it. Either air fry or grill those.
- Spread some tahini on flatbread, sprinkle with dukkah, toast lightly and enjoy.
- Steam vegetables , add butter and dukkah and toss together.
- Slather it onto seafood , using a little mayonnaise for binder, and air fry or bake that fish. SO YUMMY!
- Lamb burgers with dukkah are heaven on a bun (or lettuce wrap)
- Mix panko breadcrumbs with dukkah and bread some chicken tenders that way.
- Sprinkle on deviled eggs.
Other Spice Mixes You May Enjoy
- Egyptian Dukkah
- Lebanese 7 Spice
- Cajun Spice Mix
- Sambhar Masala
- Kafta Kabab Spice Mix
- Ras Al Hanout Spice
- Shawarma Spice Mix
- Dry Sesame Garlic Chutney
- Ethiopian Berbere
- Maharash Trian Goda Masala
- Garama Masala
- Punjabi Garam Masala
- Apple Pie Spice
As I said before, this recipe is a great choice for learning how to do more with your spices and get the most out of them. You’ll be impressed with the differences and you’ll never want to go back.
? DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE? DON’T FORGET TO GIVE IT A STAR RATING BELOW! JUST CLICK ON THE STARS IN THE RECIPE CARD TO RATE.
Dukkah Seasoning Mix | Egyptian Spice Mix
Ingredients
- ▢ 1/3 cup ( 45.67 g ) Roasted Mixed Nuts
- ▢ 1 tablespoon ( 1 tablespoon ) Coriander Seeds
- ▢ 1 tablespoon ( 1 tablespoon ) sesame seeds
- ▢ 1.5 teaspoons ( 1.5 teaspoons ) Cumin seeds
- ▢ 1/2 teaspoon ( 0.5 teaspoon ) Kosher Salt
- ▢ 1/4 teaspoon ( 0.25 teaspoon ) Ground Black Pepper
Instructions
Heat a small skillet over a high flame. Once it is hot, turn the flame down to medium and toast coriander, cumin and sesame for 4-5 minutes. Note that as the seeds toast, the sesame seeds will start to leap out and attack you. Stir consistently at this point, and remove from the pan once the seeds have browned, about-5 minutes. Allow them to cool for 5 minutes.
Place roasted mixed nuts and the toasted seeds into the bowl of a food processor or spice grinder and pulse to get a rough chop. Add salt and pepper and stir well. You should have about 1/2 cup of dukkah. Store leftovers in a tightly sealed container in the refrigerator. It’s great sprinkled on roasted vegetables.
Dukkah is traditionally served with bread or raw vegetables and olive oil for dipping. But don’t limit yourself to that!
Mix into hummus
Add a little oil, make a paste, and coat some strips of flank steak with it. Either air fry or grill those.
Spread some tahini on flatbread, sprinkle with dukkah, toast lightly and enjoy.
Steam vegetables, add butter and dukkah and toss together.
Slather it onto seafood, using a little mayonnaise for binder, and air fry or bake that fish. SO YUMMY!
Lamb burgers with dukkah are heaven on a bun (or lettuce wrap)
Mix panko breadcrumbs with dukkah and bread some chicken tenders that way.
Sprinkle on deviled eggs
