Vegan Shawarma (Wrap or Plate)

The best vegan shawarma, boasting big vibrant flavors. Made of spices mixed through cooked mushrooms, which are combined with fresh vegetables, pickles and a garlic sauce. A wonderful feast in a sandwich or bowl.

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Jump to:

• 😋Why you’ll love this recipe
• 🥙What Is Shawarma?
• 🥘Ingredient Notes
• 🌿Spices in Shawarma
• 🔪How To Make Vegan Shawarma
• 🍟Serving Suggestions
• ⭐Pro Tips
• 🍳Variations
• 🥘Related Recipes
• Best Vegan Shawarma

Everywhere you go in Lebanon there is a shawarma shop filling the streets with amazing aromas, which are reminiscent of my childhood.

I really love a good shawarma roll and am so excited to be able to enjoy this vegan version of Lebanese street food.

In this recipe, I will be showing you how to make a mouthwatering vegan wrap, or if you prefer, a vegetarian shawarma plate (as they call it in the Middle East) which is gluten-free. 

This recipe was inspired by a lovely lady called Nuha within the Plant Based Folk Community Group on Facebook, feel free to join and share your wonderful food pics, questions, or just chat.

😋Why you’ll love this recipe

• The flavors are out of this world
• It’s a healthier option (no animal-fats and deep fried potatoes)
• The whole family will love eating veggie shawarma, it will probably make a weekly appearance in your meals
• It’s not hard to make
• Gluten free option

🥙What Is Shawarma?

Shawarma, pronounced as “sha-warr-mah” in Arabic, is a quintessential Lebanese street food typically made with chicken, beef, or lamb which is vertically roasted on an automatic kebab gyrator.  

It is usually accompanied by fresh and pickled vegetables rolled in Lebanese pita bread.

🥘Ingredient Notes

Mushroom - I prefer to use white cups, portobello, king, oyster or brown flats. Choose fresh mushrooms. You might find this quick-read article interesting - are mushrooms vegan?

Shawarma sauce - homemade garlic sauce called toum boasts the best flavoring, however, if don’t have time to make this, store-bought toum can be purchased from here*

I do suggest trying to make toum, as it stores well for months in the fridge which you can use anytime. You can also use this shawarma sauce made from tahini which is also super delish with this recipe.

Lebanese flatbread - is the best & authentic option for making a veggie shawarma roll.

Lebanese flatbread* needs to be fresh, otherwise, it will crack when attempting to roll it.

If you can’t get your hands on this type of bread, you can turn this into a plate or just use your preferred pita bread.

Pickles - typically paired with two types of "kabees" (pickles) one being "lifit", which is pickled pink turnip* and the other being "matayeh" which is pickled Armenian cucumber*.

These can be store-bought, just note to wash off excess salt with water and pat dry before using.

Batata - which means potato, is always served with a veggie shawarma rolls in the form of french fries or hot chips (unless you opt out).

I like to make mine from scratch using an air fryer, you can use my air fryer french fries recipe for this. These are so good!

Alternatively, ramp up the taste with spicy potatoes called batata harra.

Oil - extra virgin olive oil* can be used instead of avocado oil*

Vegetables - all veggies should be the freshest you can find for maximum flavour.

🌿Spices in Shawarma

Shawarma contains quite a few aromatic spices, this veggie shawarma recipe calls for the following to be used:

• Allspice* is an actual plant called Pimenta - it is not a mixture of many spices, contrary to the name suggestion
• Ground Coriander*
• Ground Cumin
• Sumac* is a gorgeous red spice that is sour, it is heavily used throughout Middle Eastern cooking
• Turmeric - gives the mushrooms a lovely golden yellow coloring
• Salt - use this to taste
• Cracked Black Pepper - use this to taste

I always have a jar of shawarma spice mix in my pantry ready to go.

🔪How To Make Vegan Shawarma

Prepare mushroom

Step 1 - In a large bowl, mix sliced mushrooms with all the spices, fresh coriander (cilantro), oil, and garlic. Cover and allow to marinate for at least 30 minutes in the fridge.

Prepare vegetables

Step 2 - Thinly slice tomato and onion. Chop iceberg lettuce to fit in a sandwich or plate. Set these aside. Drain pickles and set them aside.

Prepare Air Fryer French Fries and Mushrooms

Step 3 - Make air fryer french fries and set them aside.

Whilst the fries are cooking, cook mushrooms in a frypan over medium heat until mushrooms have completely wilted. Drain any excess water and set mushrooms aside.

Assembly

Step 4 - Separate the Lebanese flatbread (each piece has two connected pieces) and layer on top of each other.

Smear garlic sauce or tahini sauce all over the bread and add a little bit of everything.

Wrap the roll and enjoy.

Or, for a plate, simply add a bit of every ingredient on a bed of lettuce and with a dollop of sauce. Squeeze fresh lemon on top.

🍟Serving Suggestions

Vegan shawarma as a roll or plate already boasts a variety of both cooked and raw vegetables, pickles, and sauces.

You can serve with air fried cauliflower or tabouli (Lebanon's national salad) if you’d like.

I also love to drink homemade Lemonana a lemon mint juice, it's so refreshing.

⭐Pro Tips

Drain excess juice from the cooked mushrooms to avoid a soggy sandwich.

Prepare all the cold ingredients before making the warm ingredients. Place everything in a production line so that you can add assemble everything in a fashionable order.

When rolling a wrap, place the filling off-center, then use the edge of bread closest to filling to start rolling, and then fold the small flap to make an end enclosure.

Wrap the vegan shawarma rolls with thin parchment paper to help the roll hold together by twisting the end like a bonbon wrapper. This makes for easier handling.

Squeeze fresh lemon juice on top of the veggie shawarma plate

🍳Variations

Add thinly sliced capsicum (bell pepper) with the mushroom to cook them up

Not a fan of garlic sauce Use Tarator instead, it's another shawarma garlic sauce that is versatile.

Make it into vegetarian shawarma if you please, add your favorite grated cheese (such as salty mozzarella)

🥘Related Recipes

If you love this recipe then you will definitely love my tantalizing vegan shish tawook sandwich.

Or for more mushrooms, try this super easy raw mushroom salad.

Did you enjoy making this vegan shawarma I would love to hear from you, leave me a comment below and give me a rating. This will help me sustain Plant Based Folk. 

Alternatively, did you happen to take a photo of your meal? Tag me @plantbasedfolk on Instagram to be featured via stories. If you love sharing your vegan food pics, join the PBF community group. If you’re into fast cooking vids, join me on Tiktok.