McDonald's McArabia (Copycat)

8.9community · 4 votes8.5BM score

8.9

Slide to rate

About

This is a home version of the McArabia from McDonald's, rebuilt from scratch rather than reheated out of a box. Chicken changes the rules — it needs longer in the pan and a coating or a marinade to keep it from drying out. The shopping list that matters: ground chicken, white onion, salt and black pepper. The step that decides how it turns out: let's make the signature spiced patties. There is a separate garlic sauce to mix before anything hits the pan, and it keeps in the fridge for a few days if you make it ahead. It scored 8.5 out of 10 here, and readers have voted on it 4 times since. The full method runs to 6 steps below, with the ingredient list above it. Read the whole thing once before you start: a couple of the steps overlap and it saves a burnt batch.

Ingredients

0 / 15

Ground chicken1 pound (450g) ground chicken
White onion1/2 medium white onion, finely grated (squeeze out excess water)
Salt1 teaspoon (5g) salt
Black pepper1/2 teaspoon (1g) black pepper
Garlic powder1 teaspoon (3g) garlic powder
Cumin1/2 teaspoon (1g) ground cumin
Olive oil1 Tablespoon (15ml) olive oil for the pan

garlic sauce

Mayonnaise1/2 cup (120ml) mayonnaise
Garlic1 large clove garlic, finely minced (or 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder)
Lemon1 teaspoon (5ml) lemon juice
SaltPinch of salt

assembly

Flatbread4 soft Arabic flatbreads (or large, soft, pocketless pitas)
Iceberg lettuce1 cup (50g) shredded iceberg lettuce
Tomato1 medium tomato, thinly sliced
Red onion1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced into rings

Recipe

1
Let's make the signature spiced patties. In a large bowl, combine the ground chicken, grated onion, salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and cumin. Mix it gently with your hands until just combined. Don't overmix or the meat gets tough.
2
Divide the chicken mixture into 8 equal portions. Form them into thin, flat, oval-shaped patties. The McArabia uses two oval patties per sandwich to fit perfectly inside the folded bread. Place them on parchment paper.
3
Whip up the garlic sauce. It's incredibly simple but vital to the sandwich's authentic flavor. In a small bowl, mix the mayonnaise, minced garlic, lemon juice, and a pinch of salt. Cover and refrigerate while you cook the meat.
4
Heat a large skillet or grill pan over medium-high heat and add a little olive oil. Grill the oval chicken patties for 3 to 4 minutes per side until they have a nice golden-brown sear and are cooked entirely through (165°F / 74°C internal).
5
Warm your flatbreads in a dry skillet for 10-20 seconds per side. This is crucial — if the bread isn't warm and pliable, it will crack when you try to fold it.
6
To assemble: lay a warm flatbread flat on your cutting board. Spread a generous layer of your garlic sauce all over the bread. On the lower half, layer a handful of shredded lettuce, a few slices of tomato, and some red onion rings. Lay two hot chicken patties side-by-side on top of the veggies. Fold the top half of the bread over the meat like a taco, and serve immediately.