Cauliflower Shawarma Bowls with Tahini Dressing

What is shawarma?

Shawarma is thinly sliced cuts of meat, like chicken, beef, lamb or turkey rolled into a large piece of flatbread or pita. This Middle Eastern “burrito” usually also features all kinds of delicious toppings, such as hummus, tahini, greens and pickles. It is similar to a gyro but not the same. While gyro is a Greek specialty, shawarma is a Middle Eastern dish and is prepared and served a little differently in different countries. For example, the Israeli shawarma is sometimes served with pickled mango sauce.

To make my version of cauliflower shawarma you will need:

• Cauliflower: use healthy looking fresh, firm and white cauliflower. It is the center of attention in this dish!
• Shawarma Marinade: made with olive oil, fresh garlic, juice from a whole lemon and aromatic spices: cumin, smoked paprika, cinnamon, turmeric, salt and pepper.

For the bowls:

• Mixed Greens: use any mixed greens you like. Spring Mix, spinach, arugula or Romaine lettuce will all work.
• Cherry Tomatoes: you can also use regular chopped tomatoes, if you prefer.
• Mini Cucumbers: also knows as Persian cucumbers. These are my favorite because they have more flavor than regular cucumbers and almost no seeds. If you can’t find mini cucumbers, use European or regular cucumber instead.
• Kalamata Olives: dark purple and briny, they add a nice salty punch to the bowls.
• Red Onions: to get rid of the sharp, “oniony” flavor (and onion breath after dinner), soak sliced red onions in cold water while you prepare the bowls. It takes the edge off and takes no extra time.
• Tahini Dressing: made with tahini paste , lemon juice, maple syrup (to add a little sweetness), garlic powder, salt and pepper.
• Everything But The Bagel Seasoning: this is totally optional but I like to sprinkle some on top to finish the bowls with something crunchy that provides an extra layer of flavor.

What to serve it with

The beauty of macro bowls is that you can customize the toppings according to your own preferences and what you currently have on hand. The base of these bowls are cauliflower, greens and tahini dressing but everything else can be easily swapped out.

Here are some toppings that would go well with cauliflower shawarma:

• Tomatoes & cucumbers
• Red or sweet onions
• Chickpeas - drained canned chickpeas or chickpeas roasted or sauteed with spices
• Pickled vegetables, especially quick pickles such as pickled red onions or carrots
• Any type of olives
• Roasted vegetables, such as zucchini, eggplant, peppers, onions, sweet potatoes, cherry tomatoes, brussel sprouts and asparagus
• Raw chopped bell peppers or pickled roasted red peppers
• Pepperoncini or other pickled hot peppers
• Hummus (try it with this Spiced Hummus) or Babba Ganoush
• Fresh herbs, such as parsley and dill
• Tahini lemon sauce works great but for more sauce inspiration, check out this list of Best Falafel Sauces - they will all pair well with cauliflower shawarma, too!

SUBSTITUTIONS & SPECIAL DIETS

These cauliflower shawarma bowls are naturally vegan, gluten and dairy free.
To make these bowls paleo, keto and whole30, skip the chickpeas and add more veggies.

STORAGE & MEAL PREP TIPS

These bowls are perfect for meal prep. Divide greens into airtight containers, top with completely cooled cauliflower, chickpeas and veggies, close the lids and store in the fridge for up to 3 days. Store the dressing separately and drizzle when ready to serve.

The cauliflower shawarma (without the greens and veggies) can be stored in an airtight container for up to 5 days. Tahini dressing will also keep well in the fridge in a mason jar for up to 7 days. Give it a good stir before using and add a little more cold water, if the dressing is too thick.

MORE EASY AND HEALTHY DINNER IDEAS:

• Greek Chickpea Salad
• Feta Baked Veggie Chickpea Pasta
• Spaghetti Squash with Spinach, Goat Cheese and Tomatoes Skillet
• Kale, Chickpeas and Barley Salad Bowl with Seared Salmon
• Easy Indian Tofu Curry

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