Lemon Chicken Pita Burgers With Spiced Yogurt Sauce Recipes

ROUND 2 RECIPE - PITA PILE ON WITH SPICY YOGURT SAUCE

Steps:

• For the spicy yogurt sauce: In a small bowl, stir the yogurt together with the hot sauce and mint. Season with salt and pepper and set aside. For the pita: In a small pot over low heat, combine the reserved chicken and vegetables and cook until warmed through. Place the pitas on 2 plates. Top each with the chicken and vegetables, the chopped romaine and then drizzle with the spicy yogurt.
• For the spicy yogurt sauce: In a small bowl, stir the yogurt together with the hot sauce and mint. Season with salt and pepper and set aside. For the pita: In a small pot over low heat, combine the reserved chicken and vegetables and cook until warmed through. Place the pitas on 2 plates. Top each with the chicken and vegetables, the chopped romaine and then drizzle with the spicy yogurt.
• In a large zip-top bag, mix together the flour, paprika, garlic powder and some salt and pepper. Add the chicken and toss to coat completely.
• In a large saucepan over medium heat, heat the canola oil. Add the chicken and brown on all sides, 3 to 4 minutes per side. While the chicken is cooking, to a slow cooker add the tomatoes, peppers and onions. Top with the chicken thighs.
• In same skillet used to brown the chicken, add the tomato paste and cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Add the chicken broth and bring to a simmer, stirring to scrape any browned bits off the bottom of the pan. Pour over top of the chicken in the slow cooker. Cook on low for 4 hours, or until the chicken is extremely tender.
• In a medium pot, combine 2 cups water, the rice, red pepper flakes, lemon zest, juice of half the lemon and a pinch of salt. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer and cook, covered, until the rice is tender and has absorbed all the liquid.
• To serve, spoon the rice onto a deep-sided platter and ladle the Spanish chicken and vegetables over top. Garnish with the olives and squeeze over the remaining lemon juice.
• In a large zip-top bag, mix together the flour, paprika, garlic powder and some salt and pepper. Add the chicken and toss to coat completely.
• In a large saucepan over medium heat, heat the canola oil. Add the chicken and brown on all sides, 3 to 4 minutes per side. While the chicken is cooking, to a slow cooker add the tomatoes, peppers and onions. Top with the chicken thighs.
• In same skillet used to brown the chicken, add the tomato paste and cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Add the chicken broth and bring to a simmer, stirring to scrape any browned bits off the bottom of the pan. Pour over top of the chicken in the slow cooker. Cook on low for 4 hours, or until the chicken is extremely tender.
• In a medium pot, combine 2 cups water, the rice, red pepper flakes, lemon zest, juice of half the lemon and a pinch of salt. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer and cook, covered, until the rice is tender and has absorbed all the liquid.
• To serve, spoon the rice onto a deep-sided platter and ladle the Spanish chicken and vegetables over top. Garnish with the olives and squeeze over the remaining lemon juice.

LEMON BURGERS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine all of the ingredients, except the cooking spray and buns.
• Shape into 4 patties.
• Grill, 4-6 minutes. Serve on buns with your favorite toppings.

SHAWARMA-SPICED CHICKEN PITA WITH TAHINI-YOGURT SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425°F. Combine cumin, coriander, paprika, cayenne, cinnamon, 2 Tbsp. oil, 3/4 tsp. salt, and 1/4 tsp. pepper in a large bowl. Add chicken and toss to coat. Spread on a rimmed baking sheet and roast until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of thigh registers 165°F, 12-15 minutes; wrap pitas in foil and warm in oven during the last 5 minutes of cooking.
• Meanwhile, mix yogurt, tahini, garlic, lemon zest, 2 Tbsp. lemon juice, 1/2 tsp. salt, and 1/4 tsp. pepper in a medium bowl until incorporated. Fold in 2 Tbsp. dill and 2 Tbsp. mint.
• Toss cucumber, lettuce, tomatoes, onion, remaining 2 Tbsp. lemon juice, 2 Tbsp. oil, 1/4 tsp. salt, and 1/4 tsp. pepper in another medium bowl.
• Thinly slice chicken. Place 1 warmed pita on each plate and top evenly with chicken and tomato-cucumber salad. Drizzle each pita with 2 Tbsp. tahini-yogurt sauce; top with dill and mint. Serve remaining tahini-yogurt sauce alongside.
• Do Ahead
• Tahini-yogurt sauce can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and chill.

LEMON CHICKEN PICCATA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 200 degrees F (95 degrees C). Place a serving platter into the oven to warm.
• Season the chicken breast pieces with salt and pepper and dredge them in flour. Shake off excess flour. Heat the vegetable oil in a skillet; pan-fry the chicken pieces until golden brown on both sides, about 3 minutes per side. Work in batches and do not crowd skillet, adding oil as needed . Place the chicken pieces onto the warmed platter in the oven. When finished with all the chicken, drain most of the oil from the skillet, leaving a thin coating on the surface of the pan.
• Cook and stir the minced garlic in the skillet until fragrant, about 20 seconds. Pour in the chicken broth. Scrape and dissolve any brown bits from the bottom of the skillet. Stir in the lemon slices and bring the mixture to a boil. Let cook, stirring occasionally, until the sauce reduces to about 2/3 cup, 5 to 8 minutes. Add the lemon juice and capers; simmer until the sauce is reduced and slightly thickened, about 5 minutes more. Drop the butter into the skillet and swirl it into the sauce by tilting the skillet until the butter is melted and incorporated. Add the parsley; remove from heat and set aside.
• Arrange the chicken medallions on serving plates and spoon sauce over each portion to serve.

GRILLED CHICKEN PITA WITH YOGURT SAUCE AND ARUGULA

Steps:

• Season chicken breasts on both sides with salt and pepper and rub with a little olive oil. Bring to room temperature.
• Place a cast-iron pan or a stovetop grill pan over medium-high heat. When pan is hot, add chicken breasts, lower heat to medium and cook gently for about 3 to 4 minutes on each side, until firm to the touch. (To keep meat moist, do not overcook.) Set aside to rest and cool to room temperature, then slice crosswise at a diagonal.
• Meanwhile, in a small bowl, mix together yogurt, olives, cucumber, mint, parsley, garlic, oregano, sumac and red-pepper flakes. Season with salt to taste.
• Heat pita breads in toaster oven or a dry skillet over medium-high. Cut each pita in half to make half-moon pockets. Fill each pocket with chicken, yogurt sauce and arugula. Serve with extra sauce on the side.