Print Post - The Difference between Shawarma and Kebab (1/2)

About this post

Post Description:

No matter where you live, you most likely have a local fast-food restaurant serving delicious Turkish kebabs or shawarmas. If you have ever wondered what makes these very similar dishes different then this article if for you.

So, what is the difference between shawarma and kebab? While both are native to Turkish cuisine, these two sizzling meat dishes differ in the preparation and cooking methods. As opposed to kebabs that are mostly cooked on skewers, shawarma meat is grilled on a rotisserie. Doner kebab is the only kebab variety that resembles shawarma and is the inspiration behind this dish.

Read this article to learn all about these popular meat dishes and what makes them similar and different at the same time.

What Is Kebab?

You may have heard people use the word ‘kebab’ to refer to any dish that consists of small meat cubes cooked on skewers. However, while this may resemble authentic kebabs, the latter has a rich history and many varieties depending on the country where it is cooked.

How kebab is made differs from country to country. From ground meat to big chunks on large skewers called shish, kebab has a variety of preparation methods.

With this being said, the general idea behind the dish kebab is meat either cut into pieces or ground, cooked on bamboo or metal skewers.

However, it should be noted that some kebab varieties, such as Shammi kebab and Galauti kebab popular in India, are not cooked on skewers.

For these varieties, pounded meat is used. The meat is shaped into round patties and fried.

Kebab Varieties

Because kebab is a widely known dish, many countries in the Middle East region and the Muslim world have their take on this dish.

While many countries make kebab with their own twists, the birthplace of this dish is the Ottoman Empire (Turkey). Thus, there are numerous kebab varieties in Turkish cuisine. Here are some of the most popular ones.

Chicken Adana. This kebab variety is made of minced chicken. The poultry is seasoned with herbs and spices. It is cooked on metal skewers in a traditional kebab shape.

Adana kebabs may also be made with minced beef and lamb.

Shish Kebab. Also called Turkish sis kebab, this is perhaps the most well-known kebab variety, especially for those who are not from the Middle East countries.

This kebab type is exactly what foreigners know kebab to be – cubes of meat on skewers. When used in North America, the word kebab is generally used to refer to shish kebab.

To make shish kebab many types of meat can be used, such as lamb, poultry, beef, and fish.

Doner Kebab – Doner kebab is another popular kebab variety. For this dish, the meat is sliced thinly, stacked onto each other in an upside-down cone shape, and cooked on a vertical rotisserie.

The outer layer of the sizzling meat is shaved off and served either in bread or on a plate with various vegetables, sauces, and bread.

The well-known gyros are the Greek take on a doner kebab.

Mexican tacos al pastor is also inspired by doner kebab. It originated when Lebanese immigrants took the Middle Eastern cuisine to Mexico.

What Is Shawarma?

Shawarma is a popular dish in the countries of the Middle East and the Arabian Peninsula. It is known for its unique method of grilling the meat horizontally on a rotisserie. Hence the name shawarma, which means ‘turning’ from Turkish.

The cooking technique of shawarma originated in the Ottoman Empire (currently Turkey), where the spinning grilling method was used to make doner kebab.

In a word, shawarma is a kebab variety that has evolved into a separate dish and is widely popular in many countries of the world.

Is Shawarma the Same as Doner Kebab?

Shawarma and doner kebab are similar in the way the meat is cooked. And it doesn’t come as surprise as doner kebab is the ‘inspiration’ behind the Arabic shawarma.

For both dishes, slices of meat are skewered on a long rod. The meat is cooked while the tall skewer rotates.

The fact that brings forth a lot of confusion between shawarma and doner kebab is that the meat is prepared on a rotisserie for these two dishes. It is then shaved and served in bread with various toppings.

The difference lies in the origin of these dishes. Doner kebab is one of the many varieties of Turkish kebab, while shawarma comes from the Arab-Middle East region and is derived from doner kebab.

Shawarma is a popular street-food in Egypt and other countries of the Eastern Mediterranean region. It is also popular in the Arabian Peninsula. In the majority of these countries, shawarma is not considered a kebab.

Another key difference between shawarma and doner kebab is the seasoning. The latter is more mildly seasoned than shawarma.

Spices used for shawarma are cumin, turmeric, cinnamon, cardamom, all of which give the dish its pronounced Middle Eastern flavors. Baharat, a Middle Eastern spice blend, is also popular in making shawarma.

When it comes to kebab, there is one place that matters in Auburn. Sahan Mezopotamian Street Food is the place where you can get a wide range of kebabs. From Adana Kebab, Shish Kebab, to Iskender Kebab. We also serve mixed plate of kebab for those who want to have a special meal. Order our kebab ASAP!

Source: Foods Guy