BEEF SHAWARMA

I love Shawarma, I've been eating Shawarma all my life but because of its very elusive sauce I was never able to make it myself. Once in a while, whenever I remember, I try to do some research about it but never really found the right taste or ingredients. The sauce's taste was literally under my tongue, for it is both familiar and yet difficult to pinpoint. The easiest way to find out what the ingredients are was to buy a Shawarma franchise and sign a contract stating that you can't use or divulge the ingredients to anything or anyone other than the business, so it was not a choice. Finally, early this year I discovered how to make the sauce. It was accidental, I simply asked as I always do, and instead of the usual “sorry we cannot tell you” reply, the store owner blurted it out without thinking. There you go, I hope you enjoy this meal as it literally took me over 10 years to finally get it right.

INGREDIENTS:
4 cuts(approximately 200 grams each) – Beef Sirloin (T-Bone and Porterhouse can also be used)
1 can – Garbanzos (Chick Peas)
1 small block - Cheese
1 to 2 pcs – Cucumber (small)
1 to 2 pcs – Tomato (medium)
1 can – All-purpose Cream
1 small pack (around 25 grams) – Sesame Seeds
1 pack (6 to 12 pieces) – Shawarma wrappers (burrito wrappers can be used)
Worcestershire Sauce
Rock Salt

Rub a pinch of rock salt (about as much as a small spoonful) on both sides of a piece of steak. Do this to all 4 steak cuts. Then neatly lay all steaks on plates and slather Worcestershire sauce on both sides of each cut, not too much though, just enough to wet the entire surface. Saute for about half an hour.

Open a can of Garbanzos then drain to get rid of the water. Place all the Garbanzos in a blender or chopper, pour in the whole can of all-purpose cream and the pack of sesame seeds. Blend them all together until everything is puree'd. Pour the contents into a small bowl and set aside. This will be the secret sauce of your Shawarma.

Now cook the steak any way you want. I used my turbo broiler and set it to maximum heat for about 20 minutes. You can use an oven at 350 degrees and 20 minutes, or use charcoal and broil the steaks till cooked, or simply fry them on a skillet with vegetable oil. You can even boil them, but they will not be as flavorful. I'll leave that choice up to you.

Cut the steaks up into smaller than bite sized pieces and set the cutlets aside for later.

Slice the cheese, tomato and cucumber into very thin slices and set aside.

Microwave the pack of Shawarma or burrito wrappers and put them aside.

Lastly, take one wrapper from the pile and, using a spoon, scoop up some steak and place them on the wrapper. Add a few pieces of cucumber, tomatoes, and cheese. Apply generous amounts of secret sauce and fold close the wrapper.

Eat up!