• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to footer navigation
  • Skip to privacy navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Fit Mitten Kitchen

balanced baking and real food recipes

Subscribe to receive my FREE Healthy Nut Butter eBook!
Free eBook!
  • Recipes
    • Course
      • Breakfast
        • Egg Dishes
        • Oatmeal & Granola
        • Pancakes & Waffles
        • Scones
        • Smoothies
      • Desserts
        • Bars & Brownies
        • Cakes & Cupcakes
        • Candy
        • Cookies
        • Ice Cream & Frozen Desserts
        • PIes, Tarts & Crisps
        • Cinnamon Rolls
      • Healthy Drinks
      • Lunch & Dinner
        • Appetizers
        • Bowls
        • Salads
        • Sandwiches & Wraps
        • Sides
        • Soups & Chili
      • Snacks
        • Bars & Balls
        • Muffins & Breads
        • Nut & Seed Butters
    • Dietary
      • Dairy Free
      • Gluten-Free
      • No Added Sugar
      • Nut-Free
      • Oil-Free
      • Paleo
      • Vegan
      • Vegetarian
      • Whole30
    • Method
      • Food Processor & Blender
      • Freezer
      • Grill
      • Instant Pot
      • No-Bake
      • Oven
      • Slow Cooker
      • Stovetop
    • Protein
      • Chicken
      • Plant Based
      • Pork
      • Seafood
      • Turkey
    • Recipe Videos
  • About
    • Meet Ashley
    • Work with Me
      • Partnerships
    • Contact
  • Lifestyle
    • Real Talk
    • Travel
    • Workouts
  • Shop
Home Recipes Chickpea Shawarma Bowls
GF Gluten-Free DF Dairy Free V Vegan VG Vegetarian NF Nut-Free

Chickpea Shawarma Bowls

Jump to Recipe Rate Recipe
Posted:4/18/22
Updated:6/22/22

Chickpea Shawarma Bowls are an easy plant based recipe that is ready in about 30 minutes. They’re great for lunch or dinner and perfect for meal prep, too. Vegan and gluten free friendly.

chickpea shawarma bowl

New favorite bowl recipe alert! We’re doing a plant-based take on a shawarma recipe using roasted chickpeas, then throwing it all together with romaine lettuce, quinoa, cucumbers, red onion, tomatoes and a simple lemon tahini dressing.

If you get stuck on the same flavors and haven’t tried Middle Eastern spices in a while, I highly recommend.

What is Shawarma?

Traditionally, shawarma is a Middle Eastern dish using thinly sliced cuts of meat and seasoned with various spices like turmeric, cinnamon, coriander, cumin, etc. But we’re veganizing the traditional dish and coating chickpeas in shawarma spices instead to make a flavorful plant based recipe.

Shawarma Style Spice Blend

A homemade shawarma spice blend is easy to make and includes various spices you likely already have on hand.

  • cumin
  • coriander
  • cinnamon
  • ginger
  • turmeric
  • paprika
  • black pepper
  • salt

Of course, there can be some variation of spices in there depending on who you ask. But generally speaking those are the main ones for an Americanized version.

chickpea salad in bowl with sauce

If you don’t already have these spices stocked in your pantry, they’re great to have on hand.

Trust me, you’ll want them to make endless chickpea shawarma recipes!

cucumbers, quinoa, tomatoes onion romaine lettuce on board

Simple Ingredients with Big Flavor

You don’t need much to make these chickpea shawarma bowls. Simple ingredients come together to make one heluva good dish..

Here’s what you need:

  • chickpeas
  • shawarma spice blend
  • quinoa (or your choice of grain)
  • romaine lettuce (or pick your favorite salad green)
  • cucumbers
  • red onion
  • tomatoes

The roasted spiced chickpeas, plus the addition of a lemon tahini dressing…

DELICIOUS.

Making Vegan Shawarma at Home

Making these vegan shawarma inspired bowls at home is super easy. This recipe is a great way to get more plants in and enjoy a vegan meal!

The main source of protein we’re using in these bowls: chickpeas.

How to Roast Chickpeas

If you’ve never roasted chickpeas before… Well, I won’t lie to you – it’s not my favorite thing in the world. Simply because there are a couple of necessary steps to make sure you get the best texture. And those steps are slightly more time consuming compared to roasting say, cauliflower.

The two main steps to ensure delicious crispy roasted chickpeas:

  • Make sure the chickpeas are very dry – that means rolling them around in a clean towel.
  • It’s best to rub the little skins off – this can take a while but I also find it kind of cathartic…

All you need to do then is toss the dry chickpeas in a bowl with olive oil, add spices, transfer to baking sheet and bake at 400ºF for about 30 minutes.

chickpeas in bowl with seasoning and on pan

Make Quinoa

Start on the quinoa after you get the chickpeas in the oven. I typically use my Instant Pot because it’s hands-off and takes about 15 minutes or so.

Prep Veggies

While the quinoa is cooking and the chickpeas roasting, prepare the veggies – chop romaine, slice the cucumbers, halve the cherry tomatoes and dice the red onion.

Make the Dressing

The lemon tahini dressing is truly so delicious. If you’re asking me “What is tahini?” it’s just ground sesame seeds. It can be a little bitter to some, and possibly an acquired taste for others, but when paired with lemon juice it makes for a delicious dressing. Highly recommend it here!

Assemble Chickpea Shawarma Bowls

Now all that’s left is to throw it all together!

I like to start with the romaine then add cooked quinoa. Next layer on the roasted shawarma chickpeas, sliced cucumber, thin slices of red onion, halved tomatoes and drizzle it with a generous serving of tahini sauce.

up close of roasted chickpeas with sauce in bowl

Meal Prep This!

An inspired shawarma recipe like this one with roasted chickpeas is an awesome way to meal prep. The veggies, quinoa and dressing can be prepped a 2-3 days ahead as needed.

The roasted chickpeas are best enjoyed fresh, but can also be stored at room temperature up to one day in advance.

You can even prep this recipe in mason jars for easy storage.

More Vegan Bowls

  • Mediterranean Quinoa Bowl with Tzatziki Dressing
  • Thai Tempeh Nourish Bowl with Cashew Curry Dressing
  • Southwest Quinoa Power Bowl with Honey Lime Dressing
  • Roasted Veggie Spring Power Bowl with Turmeric Tahini Dressing

Let me know if you make this recipe by leaving a comment and rating below! It helps others learn more about the recipe too! Xx Ashley

Print

Chickpea Shawarma Bowls

overhead shot of chickpea shawarma bowl topped with chickpeas, tomatoes, cucumbers, red onions, and quinoa
Print Recipe
Pin Recipe

★★★★★

5 from 1 reviews

These Chickpea Shawarma Bowls are so simple yet so delicious! An easy plant based recipe with roasted chickpeas in shawarma inspired spices and lemon tahini dressing. Ready in about 30 minutes and perfect for meal prep, too. Vegan and gluten free friendly.

  • Author: Ashley
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 20 minutes
  • Total Time: 30 minutes
  • Yield: 2 1x
  • Category: Entree
  • Method: Oven
  • Cuisine: Middle Eastern Inspired
  • Diet: Vegan

Ingredients

Scale

roasted chickpeas

  • 1 (15 ounce) can chickpeas, drained, dried well and loose skins removed
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • 1/2 heaping teaspoon ground coriander
  • 1/2 heaping teaspoon turmeric
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

For the bowl

  • 1 medium cucumber, thinly slices
  • 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 4 cups chopped romaine lettuce
  • 2 cups cooked quinoa

lemon tahini dressing

  • 1/4 cup tahini
  • 3 tablespoon fresh squeezed lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
  • 1–2 tablespoons non-dairy milk, for thinning as needed
  • 1 teaspoon minced garlic
  • 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt, to taste

Instructions

  1. Roast Chickpeas: Preheat oven to 400ºF and line medium baking sheet with parchment paper. Make sure chickpeas are completely dry and loose skins removed. In medium bowl add oil, chickpeas, and spices. Mix to combine and transfer to baking sheet. Bake for about 25-30 minutes, until crispy. Remove pan from oven and allow chickpeas to cool.
  2. Meanwhile, prepare the quinoa and chop vegetables. 
  3. Make the dressing: in a food processor, small blender or using an immersion blender, combine all dressing ingredients until smooth. Add water or non-dairy milk (for creamier texture) to thin dressing as desired.
  4. Assemble bowls: Distribute romaine and quinoa into two bowls. Add roasted chickpeas, sliced cucumber, red onion, tomatoes and drizzle with a generous serving of lemon tahini dressing. Enjoy!

Keywords: chickpea shawarma recipe, vegan shawarma, vegan recipes for dinner

Did you make this recipe?

Tag @fitmittenkitchen on Instagram and hashtag it #fitmittenkitchen

About Ashley

"Ashley Walterhouse is the founder of Fit Mitten Kitchen, based in the Greater Lansing Area of Michigan, AKA “the Mitten.” Ashley grew up as a picky eater but later discovered that eating healthy was actually easy and fun. She started FMK in 2015 as a way to share her newfound love of developing healthier recipes for all to enjoy."

dressing bottle with homemade healthy greek yogurt ranch dressing, on wooden board next to greens, lemon and salad bowl in background
Previous Post
Greek Yogurt Ranch Dressing
stacks of greek yogurt waffles with strawberries, blueberries and lemon wedges on white plate
Next Post
Lemon Greek Yogurt Waffles

Reader Interactions

Rate this Recipe Cancel reply

Recipe rating ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆

  1. Carly says

    4/30/2020 at 11:41 pm

    I made this receipe for dinner tonight (with some modifications) and it was delicious! One of the best meals I have recently eaten. I cannot wait to make it again very soon! Delicious and healthy.

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      5/1/2020 at 9:51 am

      So glad you liked, Carly! Thanks for taking the time to comment and review 😀

      Reply
  2. Tina says

    5/9/2022 at 11:34 am

    I found a method of making crispy chickpeas in the air fryer that calls for using the air fryer first to dry them for 5 minutes, then you spritz them with oil, add spices, & continue cooking until crispy. Super easy & has never failed! If you don’t have an air fryer you could probably try using the oven to dry them.

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      5/25/2022 at 3:13 pm

      Sounds delish!

      Reply

Primary Sidebar

More for you...

31 Holiday Cookies for Your Cookie Exchange

baked gingerbread bundt cake

Gingerbread Bundt Cake

bowl of pear salad with fresh pomegranates and candied pecans and orange poppyseed dressing jar

Pomegranate Pear Salad

Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese

overhead view of honey glazed carrots on rectangle baking dish with fresh thyme

Honey Glazed Carrots

stacked gingerbread truffles on green plate next to red gingerbread cookie cutter and red towel in background

Easy Gingerbread Truffles

pieces of cranberry orange baked oatmeal on oval plate

Cranberry Orange Baked Oatmeal

mocha mini cheesecake with whipped topping on black plate and dessert forks

Mini Mocha Cheesecakes

Free recipe ebook!

Subscribe and get a FREE healthy nut butter ebook!

Thank you for subscribing!
Trending Now
butternut squash, feta and kale salad in bowl Lunch & Dinner
chai latte in mug with cinnamon and star anise Cozy Drinks
banana peanut butter cinnamon rolls on small white plates with banana slices Cinnamon Rolls
As Featured On
  • Browse by Diet
  • Gluten-Free
  • Dairy Free
  • Vegan
  • Paleo
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
Exclusive Member of Mediavine· © 2023 · All Rights Reserved · Site Credits Designed by Melissa Rose Design Developed by Once Coupled Back to Top

Subscribe & receive a free nut butter ebook!

Thank you for subscribing!
722 shares