If you’re wondering what to serve with your shawarma, you’ve come to the right place.
In this article, I list 39 of the most popular side dishes for shawarma.
In a rush? Here’s the short answer.
The best dishes to serve with shawarma are pita bread, mujaddara, tabbouleh salad, chickpea salad, and falafel. You can also serve marinated feta, lamb koftas, and roasted Greek lemon potatoes. For healthier options, you can serve grilled veggie skewers, dolmeh falafel, or pickled red cabbage.
Ready? Let’s jump right in.
Mediterranean classics
Complete your Mediterranean feast with these classic dishes!
Lamb koftas are always a must-have, but you can also try grilled halloumi skewers for a fun, modern twist.
Marinated feta
Marinated feta is the easiest side dish you can put together to go with your shawarma.
It’ll only take you five minutes to prep – but you’ll have to plan slight ahead because you want the cheese to sit overnight.
I like to marinate my feta in olive oil with herbs like parsley and thyme.
I also add red chili pepper to get a spicy kick that complements the creaminess of the feta.
Get creative and use your favorite herbs in your marinade. The possibilities are endless!
Featured recipe
Feta marinated with herb and chili
Make it dairy-free
Vegan tofu feta
Make it crispy
Fried feta with honey and sesame seeds
Lamb kofta
Serving shawarma at your next barbecue?
Don’t forget to grill some lamb koftas to go along with it.
Lamb kofta is a spiced meat mixture formed into logs, patties, or balls. It’s usually served on skewers, which makes it an instant crowd-pleaser.
And they only take 15 minutes to cook, so your guests can keep coming back for more.
Pro tip: follow Taming Twins lead and whip up a quick yogurt dip for your lamb koftas. You can also use the yogurt dip for your shawarma!
Featured recipe
Lamb koftas
Make it meat-free
Veggie kofta balls
Another classic
Lebanese kibbeh balls
Halloumi fries
For days when you want a crispy side dish that doesn’t involve potatoes, try these halloumi fries instead!
Halloumi is a cheese that has a tangy and salty flavor.
It only melts at extremely high temperatures, so you can fry or bake it like you would regular fries.
Whether you bring the sticks out as an appetizer or a side dish to go with your shawarma, these halloumi fries will be a massive hit among your guests.
And don’t forget the dipping sauce, I like a spicy mayo dip.
Featured recipe
Halloumi fries
Skip the fryer
Grilled halloumi
Add veg
Grilled corn and halloumi salad
Falafel
Falafels are an excellent finger food that you can bring out alongside your shawarma wrap.
They’re light, crisp, fluffy treats made with chickpeas, spices, and fresh herbs.
And have I mentioned they’re completely vegan? (Hey, vegan shawarma lovers!).
Traditional, falafel is deep-fried, but if you don’t want to deal with deep-frying – don’t worry!
You can cook your falafels in the air fryer instead.
These air fryer falafel balls are quick and easy to make – you can have them ready at your table in just 15 minutes. And here are some more suggestions on what else you can have with falafel.
Featured recipe
Air fryer falafel
Make it different
Waffle falafel
Add more veg
Roasted butternut squash falafel
Starches
Shawarma meat is typically served in pita bread, but why not think outside of the box with other starchy sides?
I love a creamy mash for a delicious contrast to the shawarma’s bold spices. But you can also go the zesty route with roasted Greek lemon potatoes.
Pita bread
One of the most common ways to serve shawarma is with soft pita bread.
You can either cut the pita bread open and create a pocket for your shawarma…
Or you can keep it simple by topping the pita and rolling it over itself.
Pita bread is readily available in grocery stores, but fresh homemade pita bread is unmatched.
And the best part?
It’s really easy to make – you only need five ingredients.
After making this delicious homemade pita bread, you’ll never look at the store-bought stuff again.
Featured recipe
Homemade pita bread
Skip the yeast
Flatbread
Go low-carb
Keto egg wrap
Mujaddara
Another way to serve shawarma is over a bed of rice, like mujaddara.
Mujaddara is a classic Middle Eastern comfort food. It features lentils and rice that have been seasoned with warm, flavorful spices and fried onions.
It’s fragrant, flavorful, and packed to the brim with good-for-you fiber, protein, and vitamins.
Comforting and healthy – my favorite combination!
Psst.. make lots of crispy onions to go with your mujaddara for more crunch!
Featured recipe
Mujaddara
A classic
Lebanese rice with vermicelli
Make it simple
Saffron rice
Homemade fries
Fries go well with absolutely anything – including shawarma, of course.
Making fries at home is a piece of cake.
And you don’t even need to deal with deep-frying them. You can get ultra-crispy fries by baking them in the oven with this recipe.
Plan ahead and prepare a double batch of these oven-baked french fries. They’re going to be popular (I know from experience).
Featured recipe
Oven-baked French fries
Another favorite
Baked potato wedges
Make it effortless
Baked potato
Dolmeh felfel
Dolmeh felfel is the Persian version of stuffed peppers.
It’s a hearty dish that features peppers stuffed with rice and beef and then everything is cooked until the peppers are soft.
Serve them alongside your shawarma meat for an eye-catching dish worthy of an Instagram post!
They take time to make, but trust me – they’re worth the wait.
Psst… use sturdy green bell peppers for best results.
Featured recipe
Dolmeh felfel
Skip the rice
Greek orzo stuffed red peppers
Ditch the oven
Sauteed peppers and onions
Roasted Greek lemon potatoes
You’ve never had roasted potatoes quite like this.
Unlike your typical roasted potatoes, they don’t come out extra crispy, but their flavor more than makes up for this.
The potatoes come out of the oven soft and fluffy with a punchy, lemon-herb flavor that’ll knock your socks off.
They go superbly with shawarma.
Featured recipe
Slow-roasted Greek lemon potatoes
Make it creamy
Buttery herbed mashed potatoes
Make it fun
Hasselback potatoes
Vegetables and salads
Shawarma wraps can be a meal on their own, but you can never go wrong serving them alongside a hearty veggie side or a crisp salad for an added nourishing boost.
Tabbouleh is a must-try because it’s oh-so-light and healthy, but you can also go with roasted veggies if you want something warm.
Tabbouleh salad
Tabbouleh salad is the epitome of fresh salads.
It’s a Levantine salad that features bulgur, tomatoes, cucumbers, lots of parsley and mint, all dressed in a vibrant lemon dressing.
The fresh flavors provide a refreshing contrast to your shawarma’s warm and bold flavors.
Psst… tabbouleh is best when chilled, so prepare it ahead of time and allow it to cool in your fridge for at least 20 minutes.
Featured recipe
Tabbouleh salad
Skip the bulgur
White bean tabbouleh
Keep it simple
Shirazi salad
Grilled veggie skewers
Since you’re already firing up your grill for your shawarma, go ahead and toss on a couple of veggie skewers for a delicious and healthy side dish.
Grilling your veggies releases their natural sugars and adds a lovely smoky flavor that goes perfectly with your shawarma.
Vegetables that are best for grilling include:
- Zucchini
- Onions
- Bell peppers
- Mushrooms
- Corn
Whip up a quick sauce to drizzle over your skewers, and you’re good to go.
Featured recipe
Grilled vegetable skewers
Skip the grill
Summer sheet pan roasted vegetables
Go Greek
Briam
Pickled red cabbage
Take your shawarma to the next level with this pickled red cabbage.
It’s a simple and flavorful dish that adds an extra oomph to your main dish. Just imagine the sweet-tangy flavors melting with the warm spices of your shawarma?
It’s heaven in a bite.
Another great thing about pickled red cabbage?
The bulk of the work lies in letting your cabbage mixture sit in your fridge and develop its flavors.
So you can chill out and relax while you wait for your pickled red cabbage to be ready.
Featured recipe
Pickled red cabbage
Another favorite
Pickled red onions
Go Asian
Vietnamese pickled vegetables
Middle Eastern chickpea salad
Not a fan of chickpeas?
Well, this chickpea salad may just change your mind.
The key lies in tossing the chickpeas in a mix of cumin, allspice, and cardamom, then pan-frying them.
They’ll transform into tasty little morsels that you can’t get enough of (I like saving some to have as a snack the next day).
This salad also features a perfectly balanced, zesty lemon dressing that ties the whole dish together.
Featured recipe
Middle Eastern chickpea salad
Add more beans
Zesty three-bean salad
Add leafy greens
Lebanese fattoush salad
The best side dishes for shawarma
- Marinated feta
- Lamb kofta
- Halloumi fries
- Falafel
- Pita bread
- Mujaddara
- Homemade fries
- Dolmeh felfel
- Roasted Greek lemon potatoes
- Tabbouleh
- Grilled veggie skewers
- Pickled red cabbage
- Middle eastern chickpea salad
What To Serve With Shawarma (39 Ideas)
Ingredients
- 1 portion pita bread
- 1 portion tabbouleh
- 1 portion marinated feta
- 1 portion roasted Greek lemon potatoes
- 1 portion grilled veggie skewers
- 1 portion mujaddara … and more
Instructions
- Prepare your shawarma according to your favorite recipe.
- In the meantime, choose one of the following sides to serve alongside it.
- Side dishes include: pita bread, mujaddara, homemade fries, middle eastern chickpea salad, falafel, grilled veggie skewers, marinated feta, pickled red cabbage, tabbouleh salad, lamb kofta, dolmeh felfel, roasted greek lemon potatoes, and halloumi fries.
- Serve immediately and enjoy.
![25 Delicious Ways To Enjoy Matcha [Sweet And Savory]](https://pantryandlarder.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Matcha-recipes-200x200.jpg)
