Shawarma Chicken & Currant Rice with Zucchini & Lemon Mayo
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Shawarma Chicken & Currant Rice

with Zucchini & Lemon Mayo

40 MIN
2 Servings
Wellness at Blue Apron
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Vegetarian
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Carb Conscious
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600 Calories Or Less
Coming in at 600 calories or less per serving, these recipes are ideal for those choosing to monitor their caloric intake without sacrificing flavor. The US Food & Drug Administration uses 2000 calorie daily intake for general advice. The 600 calorie cap equates to 30% of the total 2000 calories per day based on 3 meals per day with 200 calories remaining for snack or beverage.
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From the Test Kitchen

For dynamic flavor, we’re coating bites of chicken with warming spices like cumin and coriander, then cooking it alongside tender zucchini, onion, and crunchy almonds. We’re serving it over a hearty bed of rice which you'll crisp up in the pan before serving to create delicious layers of contrasting texture.
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  • Nutrition
    PER SERVING
  • Calories
    770 Cals (est.)
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fresh
ingredients
Shawarma Chicken & Currant Rice with Zucchini & Lemon Mayo
Title
  • 10 oz Boneless Chicken Breast Pieces
  • ½ cup Long Grain White Rice
  • 2 Tbsps Dried Currants
  • 1 Zucchini
  • 1 Lemon
  • 1 Yellow Onion
  • 1 Tbsp Shawarma Spice Blend (Ground Coriander, Cumin Seeds, Garlic Powder, Smoked Sweet Paprika & Ground Turmeric)
  • 2 Tbsps Sliced Roasted Almonds
  • ¼ cup Mayonnaise
time-saving
tips & techniques
Cook the rice
1 Cook the rice

Carefully rinse the rice (sifting through for any impurities). Drain thoroughly. In a medium pot, combine the rice, a big pinch of salt, and 1 cup of water. Heat to boiling on high. Once boiling, reduce the heat to low. Cover and cook, without stirring, 13 to 15 minutes, or until the water has been absorbed and the rice is tender. Turn off the heat and fluff with a fork.

Prepare the ingredients
2 Prepare the ingredients

Meanwhile, wash and dry the fresh produce. Halve, peel, and thinly slice the onion. Quarter the zucchini lengthwise; cut crosswise into ¼-inch pieces. Roughly chop the almonds. Using a zester or the small side of a box grater, finely grate the lemon to get 1 teaspoon. Quarter and deseed the lemon. In a bowl, combine the currants and the juice of 2 lemon wedges.

Cook the chicken
3 Cook the chicken

Pat the chicken dry with paper towels; place in a bowl. Season with salt, pepper, and enough of the spice blend to coat (you may have extra). Toss to coat. In a medium pan (nonstick, if you have one), heat a drizzle of olive oil on medium-high until hot. Add the seasoned chicken in an even layer. Cook, without stirring, 3 to 4 minutes, or until lightly browned. Continue to cook, stirring occasionally, 3 to 4 minutes, or until browned and cooked through. Leaving any browned bits (or fond) in the pan, transfer to a large bowl.

Cook the vegetables & finish the chicken
4 Cook the vegetables & finish the chicken

In the pan of reserved fond, heat a drizzle of olive oil on medium-high until hot. Add the sliced onion; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, 5 to 6 minutes, or until lightly browned and slightly softened. Add the zucchini pieces; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, 3 to 4 minutes, or until softened. Reserving the bowl, add the cooked chicken and chopped almonds; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, 30 seconds to 1 minute, or until thoroughly combined. Transfer to the reserved bowl. Wipe out the pan.

Crisp & finish the rice
5 Crisp & finish the rice

In the same pan, heat a drizzle of olive oil on medium-high until hot. Add the cooked rice in an even layer. Cook, without stirring, 3 to 4 minutes, or until slightly crispy. Turn off the heat; stir in the dressed currants (including any liquid). Taste, then season with salt and pepper if desired.

Make the lemon mayo & serve your dish
6 Make the lemon mayo & serve your dish

Meanwhile, in a bowl, whisk together the lemon zest, mayonnaise, the juice of the remaining lemon wedges, and 1 teaspoon of water. Taste, then season with salt and pepper if desired. Serve the finished chicken and vegetables over the finished rice. Drizzle with the lemon mayo. Enjoy!

Tips from Home Chefs

Cook the rice
1 Cook the rice

Carefully rinse the rice (sifting through for any impurities). Drain thoroughly. In a medium pot, combine the rice, a big pinch of salt, and 1 cup of water. Heat to boiling on high. Once boiling, reduce the heat to low. Cover and cook, without stirring, 13 to 15 minutes, or until the water has been absorbed and the rice is tender. Turn off the heat and fluff with a fork.

2 Prepare the ingredients

Meanwhile, wash and dry the fresh produce. Halve, peel, and thinly slice the onion. Quarter the zucchini lengthwise; cut crosswise into ¼-inch pieces. Roughly chop the almonds. Using a zester or the small side of a box grater, finely grate the lemon to get 1 teaspoon. Quarter and deseed the lemon. In a bowl, combine the currants and the juice of 2 lemon wedges.

Prepare the ingredients
Cook the chicken
3 Cook the chicken

Pat the chicken dry with paper towels; place in a bowl. Season with salt, pepper, and enough of the spice blend to coat (you may have extra). Toss to coat. In a medium pan (nonstick, if you have one), heat a drizzle of olive oil on medium-high until hot. Add the seasoned chicken in an even layer. Cook, without stirring, 3 to 4 minutes, or until lightly browned. Continue to cook, stirring occasionally, 3 to 4 minutes, or until browned and cooked through. Leaving any browned bits (or fond) in the pan, transfer to a large bowl.

4 Cook the vegetables & finish the chicken

In the pan of reserved fond, heat a drizzle of olive oil on medium-high until hot. Add the sliced onion; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, 5 to 6 minutes, or until lightly browned and slightly softened. Add the zucchini pieces; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, 3 to 4 minutes, or until softened. Reserving the bowl, add the cooked chicken and chopped almonds; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, 30 seconds to 1 minute, or until thoroughly combined. Transfer to the reserved bowl. Wipe out the pan.

Cook the vegetables & finish the chicken
Crisp & finish the rice
5 Crisp & finish the rice

In the same pan, heat a drizzle of olive oil on medium-high until hot. Add the cooked rice in an even layer. Cook, without stirring, 3 to 4 minutes, or until slightly crispy. Turn off the heat; stir in the dressed currants (including any liquid). Taste, then season with salt and pepper if desired.

6 Make the lemon mayo & serve your dish

Meanwhile, in a bowl, whisk together the lemon zest, mayonnaise, the juice of the remaining lemon wedges, and 1 teaspoon of water. Taste, then season with salt and pepper if desired. Serve the finished chicken and vegetables over the finished rice. Drizzle with the lemon mayo. Enjoy!

Make the lemon mayo & serve your dish
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