Spicy Chicken Tomato Pitas Recipes

GREEK CHICKEN PITAS

Steps:

• Dice the chicken into one inch pieces. In a medium bowl, whisk the yogurt, 2 tablespoons olive oil, lemon juice, red onion, parsley, red wine vinegar, paprika, salt, and pepper together. Stir in the chicken, evenly coating it, then cover the bowl and place the chicken in the fridge to marinate. Let the chicken marinate for at least 3 hours, and ideally overnight. When you are ready to cook the chicken, heat a skillet over high heat. Drizzle enough olive oil into the pan to just coat it. Then add the pieces of chicken one by one so that any excess marinade falls off. Loosely fill the skillet, and as soon as the chicken has lightly browned, flip it over, place the lid on the skillet, and reduce the heat to as low as it will go. Let the chicken cook for 10 minutes. Repeat this process until all of the chicken has cooked. Serve the chicken with pita bread, tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, feta, and tzatziki.

CHICKEN CUCUMBER PITAS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the first 7 ingredients. In a small bowl, combine the ranch dressing, mayonnaise, Italian dressing, garlic powder and pepper; pour over chicken mixture and toss to coat. Fill each pita half with a scant 1/2 cup chicken mixture.

CHICKEN SOUVLAKI PITAS

Steps:

• Cut 3 lemons crosswise in half; squeeze juice from lemons. Transfer to a large bowl or shallow dish. Whisk in oil, garlic, oregano, salt and pepper. Add chicken; turn to coat. Refrigerate 1 hour. , Drain chicken, discarding marinade. Thinly slice remaining lemon. On 6 metal or soaked wooden skewers, alternately thread chicken and lemon slices. Grill kabobs, covered, over medium heat or broil 4 in. from heat until chicken is no longer pink, turning occasionally. Remove chicken from kabobs; discard lemon slices. Serve chicken in pita pockets with tzatziki sauce and toppings of your choice.

GREEK GRILLED CHICKEN PITAS

Steps:

• Marinate chicken in vinaigrette, covered, in refrigerator for at least 4 hours or overnight. In a small bowl, combine the sauce ingredients; chill until serving., Drain and discard marinade. If grilling the chicken, lightly oil the grill rack. Grill chicken, covered, over medium heat or broil 4 in. from the heat until a thermometer reads 170°, 4-7 minutes on each side., Cut chicken into strips. Fill each pita half with chicken, cucumber, tomatoes, onion and cheese; drizzle with sauce.

SPICY TOMATO CHICKEN (AYAM MASAK MERAH)

Steps:

• Rub the chicken with turmeric powder and salt. Set aside. Soak the dried red chile peppers in hot water until softened. Blend the softened dried chile, fresh red chile pepper, garlic, onion, and ginger in a blender to a paste.
• Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Brown the chicken in the hot oil until golden on all sides. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside. Remove excess oil from the skillet, leaving about 1 tablespoon. Cook and stir the chile paste with the cinnamon, star anise, cloves and cardamom seeds until fragrant. Return the chicken to the skillet. Stir in the water, adding more if needed. Toss in the tomatoes and stir in the ketchup and sugar. Bring to a boil then reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until no the chicken longer pink at the bone and the juices run clear, about 15 minutes. Serve hot.

SPICY CHICKEN TOMATO PITAS

Steps:

• In a small mixing bowl, add the tomatoes, onions and parsley and dress with lemon juice, olive oil, ground coriander, ground cumin and crushed pepper flakes. Toss to coat all over. Chill in the refrigerator until serving.
• In a small mixing bowl, combine the cumin, paprika, oregano, coriander, pepper flakes and salt.
• Rub seasoning over both sides of the chicken.
• On a grill pan over medium heat, heat some oil and cook the chicken for 4-7 minutes on each side until a thermometer reads 165°.
• Once cooked, transfer the chicken breasts to a plate and let stand for 5 minutes, then slice.
• Serve sliced chicken with relish inside pita halves.

CHILI CHICKEN PITAS WITH SPICY HOISIN MAYO

Steps:

• Stir together the chili sauce, hoisin and mayonnaise in a bowl.
• For the spice mixture: Heat a wok over medium-high heat. Add the peppercorns, fennel seeds, cloves, chiles and star anise and toast, tossing constantly until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Transfer to a mortar and pestle and grind until fine or pulse in an electric spice grinder. Transfer to a bowl to cool. Reserve 1 heaping teaspoon and transfer the remaining spice mixture to a jar for another use.
• Put the chicken in a medium bowl, sprinkle with the light and dark soy sauces and toss well to coat. Sprinkle the cornstarch and reserved spice mixture over the chicken, toss well and set aside for 5 minutes while you prepare the garnishes and sauce.
• Heat the wok over high heat until smoking, and then add the oil. Pour the chicken into the wok in a single layer and let it settle and begin to brown before stirring. Stir-fry using a spatula until just cooked through, about 4 minutes. Pour in the mirin and toss until the liquid evaporates. Remove from the heat.
• To assemble, spread the Spicy Hoisin Mayo evenly over the top and bottom pita halves. Divide the warm chicken among the pitas and top each with a slice of tomato, some pickled cucumbers and a lettuce leaf. Position the top pita in place and serve immediately. Alternatively, you can create pita pockets by slicing off the top third of each pita, pulling them apart, and stuffing them with the chicken, Spicy Hoisin Mayo and vegetables.
• Put the cucumber slices in a nonreactive bowl. Sprinkle the mirin, rice vinegar, salt, and sugar over them and toss to combine. Let stand for at least 10 minutes at room temperature before serving, or refrigerate for up to 3 days.

GREEK CHICKEN IN A PITA

Steps:

• In a blender combine juice, 1 tablespoon oil, garlic, coriander, cumin, salt and pepper and mint or cilantro leaves. Process until smooth and pour over chicken to marinate. Refrigerate chicken and allow to marinate for 30 minutes. In a small bowl stir together yogurt, cucumber and chopped mint.
• In a large skillet heat 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium high heat. Add marinated chicken and cook for 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Heat pitas under a broiler or in a toaster oven. Slice open pitas and stuff with chicken, tomatoes, lettuce and top with yogurt dressing. Serve immediately.

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.