Dutch Oven Shawarma Sandwiches

What better than to mix campfire cooking with a dutch oven and exotic spices? One of the things that I miss most about Israel, is the wonderful spices you can get at the shuk (local outdoor markets). I usually have my sister bring me over spices whenever she visits, because they are so hard to find here in the US, especially the spice blends. Because Israel is so rich with Middle Eastern culture, it is also home to many spice blends, that have been passed down from generation to generation. It is so hard to recreate these authentic blends and believe me I have tried.

I then decided that the only way that I could get authentic tasting Israeli food or spices, was to go to Israel. And I don’t think my sister could fill her bag with all of the mouth-watering Israeli dishes that I love. No more Yemenite soup, no more Iraqi koobah and no more shawarma. Shawarma is a local street sandwich- lamb or beef slow cooked for hours on a rotisserie, sliced thin and then stuffed in a pita with hummus and a simple salad. Food is almost as important to me as being outdoors, and the food is what I miss most about the Middle East. So when I found Pereg Gourmet, I don’t think people can truly understand how excited I was. **These spices were sent to me as a courtesy free of charge. All opinions are my own and I only review products that I love.

Pereg Shawarma Mixed Spices and Koobah Mixed Spices

The origin of most Israeli food is based on cooking over a fire so it seemed fitting to try to make shawarma this way. It is simple and easy and because of Pereg Gourmet, it tasted just like the real thing. I used Pereg’s Shawarma Seasoning, a spice blend containing paprika, garlic, cumin, turmeric, allspice, coriander and salt. Pereg Gourmet only uses the highest quality for all of their spice mixtures. You can also make this on the stove top in a cast iron skillet.

Dutch Oven Shwarma Sandwiches
5 from 6 votes
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Dutch Oven Israeli Shawarma Sandwiches

An easy dutch oven recipe for campfire cooking that uses exotic flavors to create a simple and easy meal

Please note, this post may contain affiliate links. By clicking on those links, I may earn a small commision at no cost to you.
Course Campfire Meal, Lunch, Main Course
Cuisine Israeli, Mediterranean, Middle Eastern
Keyword Cast iron, Dutch oven, Israeli, Shwarma
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Servings 4
Author admin

Ingredients

  • 1 lb beef preferably chuck or rump roast
  • 1 onion
  • 3 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 tbsp Pereg Shwarma Mixed Spices
  • 1 large tomato
  • 1 medium cucumber
  • 1 lemon
  • 1/2 purple onion
  • Himalayan pink salt to taste
  • ground black pepper
  • 4 pita pockets
  • 1 8-12 oz hummus of your choice

Instructions

  1. Build a campfire and allow the fire to burn until it has accumulated a bed of coals. While fire is burning, prepare the meat. Slice the meat and onions thinly.

  2. Add all but 1 tsp. of the olive oil to the dutch oven. Add the beef, yellow onion, Pereg Shwarma Mixed Spices and salt and pepper to taste.

  3. After fire has been reduced to coals, carefully set the dutch oven of top. Use leather gloves to carry the dutch oven. Set timer for 20 minutes.

  4. Dice the tomato, purple onion and cucumber. Add reserved olive oil, and the juice from the lemon. Add salt and pepper to taste. Optional- add some diced cilantro for additional flavor.

  5. After twenty minutes, remove dutch oven from fire, stir thoroughlyouglyly and return to the on new coals for an additional 20 minutes.

  6. Cut pita bread in half. Spread hummus inside each half and add 2 tablespoons salad to each half.

  7. Remove dutch oven from fire. Keep dutch oven out of reach because it is extremely hot. Let cool for 10 minutes.

  8. Spoon 2-4 tbsps meat into each pita pocket half. Serve warm.

  9. For stovetop, cook the meat on medium heat stirring frequently and use only 1 tbsp. olive oil. Takes about 15-20 minutes on the stove. You can also cook this using a dutch oven in the grill at 425 degrees and with the same directions as if you are making it over a fire.

You can also use Pereg’s Shawarma Mixed Spices as a rub for BBQ or grilled meat. It is also delicious on roasted vegetables. Pereg Gourmet has a lot of different mixes as well as individual spices associated with the Middle East. Two of my favorites are the Zaatar which I like to sprinkle over hummus with olive oil and dip warm pita, and the Koobah blend that is great for rice or meat kebabs. You can find more of their spices on Amazon or at Pereg-gourmet.com. Pereg Gourmet also has a large selection of alternative flours, ancient grains and gluten-free products. All products are kosher too.

Make sure that if you are using a dutch oven, that it is seasoned properly. When cooking over a fire with a dutch oven, more oil than normal is needed to prevent sticking but the cast iron cooks it off. When cooking over a fire, make sure that you have leather gloves when handling the dutch oven because it can get extremely hot.

Let us know if you try this on your next trip or at home. It is the prefect lunch or dinner when you are camping and are looking for something new to try. I was surprised how much the kids enjoyed it. Being on the other side of the world no longer keeps me from enjoying the cuisine that I love. Nothing should stop you from eating good food, or from being outside. Be outside with no limits. Love, Pauline

Comments

  • Angela Greven | Mean Green Chef

    5 years agoReply

    5 stars
    Absolutely love this recipe and the spices that helped create it, fresh spices and ingredients are key to a magic meal! Thanks for all of the other options for using the Shwarma spices in too I bet they’re great on veg too 🙂

  • Jennifer

    5 years agoReply

    This is so cool!! I love that you did this all over and open flame! Definitely going to give this a try!

    • admin

      5 years agoReply

      Thank you. I love cooking over fires.

  • Erika

    5 years agoReply

    5 stars
    Those spices look awesome. I’m going to have to get some myself. This looks wonderful.

  • Colleen / Bakes & Blunders

    5 years agoReply

    5 stars
    I’ve been wanting to try shwarma for awhile now. Perfect timing! This looks AMAZING! I’d be trying this one at home. Haven’t been camping since I was a kid.

    • admin

      5 years agoReply

      This is my favorite street food. Let us know if you try it.

  • Robin Frields

    5 years agoReply

    I’m definitely trying this the next time we go camping! Thank you so much for sharing!!!

  • angela

    5 years agoReply

    The spice blend sounds fantastic, my favorites all in one shake. This one item can add so much flavor.

  • Morgan

    5 years agoReply

    5 stars
    This looks absolutely delicious!! I bet it’s so full of flavor!!

    • admin

      5 years agoReply

      These spices are amazing. It’s so hard to get great spices here.

  • Tricia Snow

    5 years agoReply

    If I ever make it to Montana you HAVE to cook for me! Love this!

  • Joanne

    5 years agoReply

    I will have to give this recipe a try!

  • April Aleman

    5 years agoReply

    As a camper I can’t wait to try this out on my dutch oven.

  • Jennifer L Markell

    5 years agoReply

    Looks great. I will have to try this with tempeh, tofu or seitan since I am vegan. I love anything stuffed in a pita! 😀

  • Karla

    5 years agoReply

    The recipe looks wonderful. What caught my eye in this piece is the obvious joy when you found the spices that you love. It made me feel warm all over.

  • Suzan

    5 years agoReply

    Love that you can now have a taste of Isreal once more! Thank you for all the suggestions of how to use this spice as well!

  • Holly Bird

    5 years agoReply

    Wow what a great sandwich idea! I had not heard of this before! Thank you for the recipe and the info about Shawama sandwiches!

  • Haley Kelley

    5 years agoReply

    These look amazing! Saving!

  • Alexandra

    5 years agoReply

    very interesting. thank you for sharing

  • Shirley

    5 years agoReply

    We LOVE cooking over an open fire. I WILL be trying this recipe! Thanks so much for sharing!

  • Lisa Manderino

    5 years agoReply

    That looks so delicious! I want to try food from Israel!

  • Stacey

    5 years agoReply

    Looks yummy! It’s always fun to find more things you can make while camping!

  • Lina

    5 years agoReply

    This looks delicious! I will have to grab some shawarma. I have never heard of it. Thanks for sharing.

  • Kendra

    5 years agoReply

    5 stars
    I love shawarma seasoning. Love this idea for camping. We’re always looking for new camping recipes! Yum!

  • Laura Lee

    5 years agoReply

    I’ve never heard of this, but I was in the Navy for 15 years and learned to try the local cuisine so this is definitely something I can see myself trying!

  • T.M. Brown

    5 years agoReply

    Oh, this is great!! My boys have been all about wanting to try “schawarma” since the first Avengers movie. LOL!! This looks good and I’m going to have to see if I can find that seasoning somewhere. Thanks for sharing!

    • admin

      5 years agoReply

      You can find it on Amazon or on their website.

  • Nicole

    5 years agoReply

    Looks really good and very doable for a just okay cook like myself!

  • Kim

    5 years agoReply

    5 stars
    This looks delicious! I have wanted to try schawarma but we cant find it around here. Now I can try making it myself!

  • Liz

    5 years agoReply

    This looks great! I don’t go camping much, but I’ll have to keep this in mind.

  • Heather

    5 years agoReply

    The way you feel about spices is how I feel about the balsamic vinegar and Olive Oil we brought home from Florence, Italy. Thank goodness they ship! I have seen a lot of recipes using a dutch oven. My brother in law uses one all the time. I may need to invest in one.

  • Maria

    5 years agoReply

    This looks not only delicious, but now I’m hungry!!

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