Chicken Tahini Salad With Pine Nuts On Mini Pita Rounds Recipes

CHICKEN TAHINI SALAD WITH PINE NUTS ON MINI PITA ROUNDS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F
• Brush cut side of pita bread rounds lightly with olive oil; arrange rounds on heavy large baking sheet.
• Bake until crisp and golden, about 6 minutes; cool pita rounds.
• Mince garlic in food processor.
• Add tahini, 1/2 cup lemon juice, and lemon peel; blend well.
• With machine running, gradually add 1/2 cup water, blending until mixture is smooth and thick.
• Mix in 1/2 cup chopped cilantro; season sauce to taste with salt and pepper.
• Place chicken in large bowl.
• Mix in 1 1/2 cups sauce, 1/4 cup cilantro, and remaining lemon juice (reserve remaining sauce for another use).
• Season chicken salad to taste with salt and pepper.
• Can be made 1 day ahead. Store pita rounds in an airtight container at room temperature. Cover chicken salad and refrigerate.
• To serve:.
• Spoon generous 1 tablespoon chicken salad atop each pita round.
• Arrange on platter. (Can be made 2 hours ahead. Cover and refrigerate.) Sprinkle with pine nuts and remaining 1/4 cup cilantro and serve.

TAHINI CHICKEN SALAD

Steps:

• Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 450°F.
• Rub chicken with oil in a shallow baking pan (1 inch deep) and sprinkle with pepper and 1 teaspoon salt. Roast chicken until just cooked through, 40 to 45 minutes.
• While chicken roasts, blend tahini, water, lemon juice, garlic, sugar, and remaining teaspoon salt in a blender until smooth.
• Blanch sugar snaps in a 2-quart saucepan of 1 minute, then drain in a colander. Rinse under cold running water to stop cooking and drain well.
• When chicken is cool enough to handle, remove skin and discard. Remove meat from bones in large pieces, discarding bones, then pull meat into 1/3-inch-wide strips and transfer to a large bowl. Add sugar snaps, bell pepper, and dressing and toss to coat. Sprinkle with sesame seeds.