What is the Difference Between Kebab and Shawarma?

Kebab and shawarma are both popular Middle Eastern dishes, but they have some distinct differences:

• Meat: Kebab is a combination of ground meat, flour or bread crumbs, and various spices, cooked on a frying pan, grill, or tandoor. Shawarma, on the other hand, is a variant of kebab and is prepared from meat that is roasted vertically.
• Cooking Method: Shawarma is made by stacking seasoned meat into a cone-like shape and grilling it on a rotisserie. Kebabs can be cooked using various methods, such as roasting over an open flame, baking in an oven, or frying in a pan.
• Origin: Both dishes have their origin in the Middle East, but they differ in regional variances. Shawarma is from the Arab-Middle East region, while doner kebab, a type of kebab that closely resembles shawarma, is from Turkey.
• Health: Kebab has fewer calories than shawarma, making it the healthier choice between the two.

Some similarities between kebab and shawarma include:

• They are both meat dishes.
• They are cooked in similar ways, roasted on a skewer.
• They both originated in the Middle East.
• They originally contained lamb or mutton, but have since expanded to include other types of meat.
• They can both be served with vegetables, are seasoned with spices, and are popular street foods.
• They are both served hot.

Comparative Table: Kebab vs Shawarma

Here is a table comparing the differences between kebab and shawarma:

In summary, while kebabs and shawarmas share some similarities, such as being meat dishes that can be served in bread, they differ in their cooking methods, flavors, and origins. Kebabs have a variety of cooking techniques and can contain various types of meat, while shawarmas are specifically grilled on a rotisserie and typically consist of thinly sliced meat stacked in a cone shape.