Chicken Pitas With Cucumber Sauce Recipes

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.

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.

GREEK CHICKEN & CUCUMBER PITA SANDWICHES WITH YOGURT SAUCE

Steps:

• Combine lemon zest, lemon juice, 3 tsp. oil, oregano, 2 tsp. garlic, and crushed red pepper in a large bowl. Add chicken and toss to coat. Marinate in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour or up to 4 hours.
• Meanwhile, toss grated cucumber with 1/4 tsp. salt in a fine-mesh sieve. Let drain for 15 minutes, then squeeze to release more liquid. Transfer to a medium bowl. Stir in yogurt, mint, dill, ground pepper, and the remaining 2 tsp. oil, 3/4 tsp. garlic, and 1/4 tsp. salt. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
• Preheat grill to medium-high.
• Oil the grill rack (see Tip). Grill the chicken until an instant-read thermometer inserted in the center registers 165 degrees F, 3 to 4 minutes per side.
• To serve, spread some of the sauce inside each pita half. Tuck in the chicken, lettuce, red onion, tomatoes, and sliced cucumber.

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.

GREEK CHICKEN GYROS WITH TZATZIKI SAUCE

Steps:

• Place chicken, yogurt, lemon juice, olive oil, vinegar, salt, pepper, and oregano in bag and let marinate at least 30 minutes, preferably 2-4 hours. The ideal time is 24 hours.
• To make tzatziki sauce, stir together yogurt, olive oil, lemon juice, vinegar, salt, dill, and garlic. Stir in grated cucumber and taste for seasonings. Squeeze the cucumber to remove excess water before adding to rest of ingredients.
• To make greek salad, place tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, parsley, olive oil, salt and pepper in bowl. Stir to coat. Season to taste.
• Chicken can be cooked on grill or in skillet. To cook on grill -- place chicken on kebobs and heat grill to medium heat. Cook for 5-7 minutes per side or until chicken is full cooked.
• To cook chicken on skillet. Heat skillet to medium high heat. Sprinkle with oil. Add chicken and cook for 8-10 minutes, or until chicken is fully cooked and golden brown.
• Place chicken in pita bread. You can warm the pita bread to make it pliable. Top with tzatziki sauce and greek salad. Add additional feta, if desired.

GREEK CHICKEN AND CUCUMBER SAUCE

Steps:

• Combine marinade ingredients and pour over chicken.
• Marinate in the fridge for up to 24 hours.
• Remove chicken from marinade and grill over medium heat for 5 -7 minutes per side.
• Serve with rice, or oven roasted potatoes, and cucumber sauce.
• Makes 4 servings.
• Tip: The marinade can also be used on strips of chicken.
• After marinating, thread the strips onto skewers and grill for 5 - 7 minutes per side.
• CUCUMBER SAUCE:.
• In a strainer mix cucumber and salt and set aside for at least 15 minutes.
• Squeeze excess liquid from cucumber.
• Blend grated cucumber with remaining sauce ingredients and refrigerate until needed.
• Serve with Greek Chicken.
• Tip: If you don't have a strainer put cucumber and salt in a double layer of paper coffee filters.
• Gently squeeze the excess liquid out of the mixture.

CHICKEN PITAS WITH DILL YOGURT SAUCE

Steps:

• Slice the chicken into thin strips and place in a large bowl.
• Add the olive oil, spices and lemon juice then mix well. Allow to marinate for 10 minutes.
• Heat a large pan over high heat then cook the chicken, in batches, until golden and cooked through, approximately 5-7 minutes.
• Mix together yogurt, crushed garlic, chopped dill, fresh lemon juice, salt and pepper.
• Warm the pitas in a hot oven. Stuff the pitas with the chicken, sauce, lettuce, cucumber, onion and tomato. Serve immediately.

CORIANDER AND CUMIN CHICKEN PITA WITH CUCUMBER SALAD AND WHITE SAUCE

Steps:

• For the chicken pita: Combine the oil, cumin, oregano, coriander, cayenne, ginger, lemon zest and 1 tablespoon salt in a medium bowl. Add the chicken thighs and rub with the marinade. Cover and refrigerate for at least 6 hours and ideally 24 hours.
• For the cucumber salad: Add the dill, white vinegar, cucumber, tomato and onion to a small bowl and stir until the cucumber and tomato are evenly coated in the vinegar and dill. Season with salt and black pepper. Set aside.
• For the white sauce: Combine the mayonnaise, yogurt, white vinegar, garlic powder and onion powder to a small bowl and mix until combined.
• Prepare a grill for medium heat. Remove the chicken from the marinade, letting excess drip off, and drizzle with canola oil before placing on the grill. Cook for 6 minutes on one side, then flip and cook until an instant-read thermometer inserted in the thickest part of the thigh reaches 165 degrees F, about 4 minutes. Slice the chicken about 1/2 inch thick.
• Toast the pita on the grill for about 1 minute per side and assemble the pita with the chicken, cucumber salad and white sauce on top.

CHICKEN SOUVLAKI PITAS

Steps:

• Add yogurt and sour cream to a fine mesh sieve and place over bowl and leave to drain in the refrigerator for four or more hours.
• Grate the cucumber and add to another sieve and leave to drain for an hour or so. Press down to remove more water from the cucumber. If the grated strands of cucumber are long use a sharp knife to mince smaller.
• Mix drained yogurt and cucumbers with garlic, fresh lemon juice, lemon zest and dill. Combine and refrigerate for flavours to develop. Taste and adjust seasoning - you can add more lemon juice or zest if you wish. Refrigerate until ready to use.
• Cut chicken thighs into 1 inch (2.5 cm) cubes. Add to a plastic bag along with olive oil, red wine vinegar, garlic, pepper, salt and oregano. Seal bag and use your hands to work marinade through chicken. Place in refrigerator to marinate 1 hour or preferably overnight.
• Thread chicken pieces onto four skewers. If you don't have metal skewers, soak bamboo skewers in water 20 minutes so they don't burn on the grill.
• Heat grill to medium-high heat. Grill skewers for 20 minutes or until chicken reaches internal temperature of 165°F (74°C). Turn so the chicken browns evenly and doesn't burn.
• Shred romaine and add with cucumber to salad bowl. Meanwhile, cut cherry tomatoes in half. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
• Warm pitas on the grill or in the oven five minutes before serving.
• To serve, spread inside of pocket pita with Tzatziki sauce, followed by salad and warm grilled chicken pieces. Serve remaining Tzatziki on the side.