Shawarma

Shawarma (Hebrew: שווארמה, Shvarma; Arabic: شاورما, Shāwarma; Turkish: Döner kebap; Persian: شاورما, Shāvarmā) is a popular Middle Eastern dish consisting of marinated meat—typically lamb, chicken, turkey, beef, or veal—stacked on a vertical spit and slow-roasted from top to bottom. The meat is shaved off the spit as it cooks, traditionally by rotating the spit and carving the outer layer with a sharp knife. Shawarma is often served in pita or flatbread, accompanied by garlic sauce, tahini, hummus, pickles, and various vegetables. The dish is widely consumed across the Middle East, Mediterranean, and beyond, with regional variations in preparation and serving styles. Its origins are often traced back to the Ottoman Empire, where similar dishes like döner kebab were popularized.