Name: Mushroom Shawarma
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 16 ounces portobello mushrooms (, destemmed & sliced about 1/4" thick); 1 medium red onion (, thinly sliced); 3 tablespoons olive oil; 2 tablespoons lemon juice (, fresh-squeezed, more to taste); 1.5 tablespoons tamari (or soy sauce, low sodium); 2-3 teaspoons agave nectar ( or maple syrup); 2 teaspoons smoked paprika; 1.5 teaspoons ground cumin; 1 teaspoon allspice; 1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric; 2 cloves garlic (, minced); 1/2 teaspoon fresh ground pepper; 1/2 teaspoon salt (, more to taste); 1/4 cup tahini; 2-3 tablespoons lemon juice (, fresh-squeezed); 1 small clove garlic (, minced (or 1/2 tsp granulated garlic)); 1 teaspoon agave nectar (or maple syrup (*optional)); 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin; 1/4 teaspoon salt (, more to taste); 3-4 tablespoons cold water; 4 pitas; 1/2 cup hummus ((optional)); Sliced pickles; Shredded romaine lettuce (or red cabbage); Sliced tomatoes; Fresh-cut mint (or parsley)

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Add some bold flavor to your weekly menu with this savory Mushroom Shawarma recipe. It takes just 30 minutes from start to finish — just marinate and roast the mushrooms, then serve with warm pita, fresh or pickled veggies, and a zesty tahini sauce.

overhead view of a fully assembled mushroom shawarma wrap with a side of potato chips and tahini sauce. — *Yes, this delicious meal can be yours in just 30 minutes!*

This Mushroom Shawarma is an easy meal to put together and it'll please everyone's taste buds. It's fun to customize with all the various toppings and the whole family will love it!

What is Shawarma?

It's a popular Middle Eastern street food consisting of deeply marinated meat that is placed vertically on a spit and slow-roasted, then it's cut into thin slices. It's typically served in a warm pita with various fillings such as hummus, pickled veggies, tomatoes, cucumbers, and a drizzle of tahini sauce.

This Mushroom Shawarma recipe is just a veganized twist on the classic dish and it's in no way authentic. However, it's filled with lots of warm flavors that are downright addictive.

Ingredients, Notes, and Substitute Ideas

🌟 This is a quick overview with step-by-step photos. For the complete ingredient amounts and instructions, scroll down to the recipe card below.

All ingredients to make Mushroom Shawarma on a stone table top. — *This is everything you'll need to make the recipe, but the filling ideas are all optional. Silly me, I forgot to put the pita bread in the photo. You don't want to skip that!*

Portobello Mushrooms - they are extra meaty and flavorful, but you can use any mushrooms you have on hand. Cooking time may vary though.
Red Onion - white or yellow will work too.
Lemon Juice - this is essential for the tahini sauce, but you can replace it in the mushrooms with apple cider vinegar or red wine vinegar. I would use less though so it's not too tangy.
Tamari - soy sauce is a perfect substitute but you can also use vegan Worcestershire sauce for extra umami flavor.
Agave Nectar - maple syrup or any sweetener will work here.
Smoked Paprika - chili powder is a nice substitute or you can use regular sweet paprika.
Ground Cumin - if you don't have it, you can use ½ teaspoon ground coriander and 1 teaspoon chili powder.
Allspice - you can replace it with ½ teaspoon of cinnamon, ¼ teaspoon nutmeg, and ¼ teaspoon of ground cloves.
Turmeric - adds a warm, earthy flavor. You can omit it if you don't have it though.
Garlic - fresh is best, but you can also use granulated garlic instead (1 teaspoon for the mushrooms and ½ teaspoon for the tahini sauce).
Tahini - this is an important ingredient if you're making the tahini sauce. If you don't like tahini sauce, you can also use Vegan Tzatziki in its place.
Pita Bread - if you don't have it, you can use flatbread, naan, tortilla wraps, gorditas, or lettuce wraps for a low-carb option.

How to make Mushroom Shawarma

Six process photos of making the marinade, roasting the mushrooms and making the tahini sauce. — *It takes just 6 easy steps to make this delicious meal!*

Whisk together the marinade for the mushrooms and onions.
Place the mushrooms and onions on a baking sheet and pour the marinade on top. Toss to coat everything well. Let it sit for 15 minutes.
In a small bowl, whisk together the tahini, lemon, agave, garlic, cumin, and salt.
Slowly pour the water in to thin it out
Now whisk until creamy and smooth. Add more water as needed.
Spread the marinated mushrooms out in an even layer on the baking tray and place them in the oven. Let them roast for 10-15 minutes until tender and golden. Place the pitas on the oven rack to warm up for 1-2 minutes.

Overhead view of assembling shawarma and drizzling tahini sauce on top. — *Now it's time to customize the shawarma to your liking. Look how easy it is to assemble!*

Success Tips

Ensure the mushrooms' weight is fairly close to 16 ounces or you might have too much/little flavor with the marinade.
To clean the mushrooms, it's best to dry brush them or use a lightly dampened paper towel to wipe them clean. Mushrooms are like sponges and will absorb water which can result in a mushy texture when cooked. If the gills are holding dirt, you can just use a spoon to remove them.
If you want to marinate the mushrooms/onions longer, just place them in an airtight container and store them in the fridge for 1-3 hours. If you have room for the baking tray, you can just leave the mushrooms on there, but cover with cling wrap or foil.

Additional Filling Ideas

Feel free to get creative and customize your shawarma to make your taste buds happy. Here are more ideas to try:

Sliced radishes
Pickled veggies
Sliced red onion
Diced or sliced cucumber

Serving Suggestions

This Mushroom Shawarma is a meal all by itself, but if you'd like to add something on the side for fun, here are some ideas:

Basmati Rice
Salad
French Fries
Grilled Veggies
Cucumber and Tomato Salad
Potato Chips
Tabouleh

Holding a mushroom shawarma wrap up close. Potato chips, fresh veggies and tahini sauce on the side. — *Now wrap it up and enjoy!*

More mushroom recipes to try

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