Peppery Chicken Pitas Recipes

EGGPLANT, ROASTED PEPPER AND CHICKEN PITAS

Steps:

• Sprinkle sliced eggplant with salt and allow to drain in a colander for 20 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat a grill for medium-high heat (see Cook's Note).
• Pound chicken breasts between two sheets of plastic wrap to a thickness of 1/4-inch. Dredge with flour, shake off excess, dip into beaten egg, then press into seasoned bread crumbs to coat.
• Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken breasts and cook until golden brown. Set aside.
• Wipe eggplant dry with a paper towel. If grilling, brush slices with remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil. Grill until tender and well marked.
• Crush garlic with a mortar and pestle with a pinch of salt. Whisk together garlic, red wine vinegar, and extra-virgin olive oil. Slice grilled eggplant into strips and toss with roasted peppers and balsamic dressing; season to taste with salt and pepper.
• To assemble, heat pita breads on the grill until hot and marked. Slice chicken into strips and place into warm pitas along with marinated eggplant and red peppers.

POPPY SEED-CHICKEN PITAS

Steps:

• Cover the chicken with cold water in a saucepan and add 1 teaspoon salt. Remove strips of zest from half of the orange with a vegetable peeler; add the zest to the water. Cover and bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer, uncovered, until the chicken is cooked through, about 18 minutes. Remove the chicken and let cool.
• Grate the remaining orange zest into a large bowl; juice the orange into the bowl. Stir in the mayonnaise, sour cream, mustard, celery, nuts, chives, poppy seeds, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and pepper to taste. Add the apricots, if desired.
• Shred the chicken, discarding the bones and skin, and toss with the dressing. Stuff a few lettuce leaves and some of the chicken salad into each pita.

PEPPERED PORK PITAS WITH GARLIC SPREAD

Steps:

• In small bowl, mix mayonnaise, milk and garlic; set aside.
• In medium bowl, mix pork, oil and pepper. Heat 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat. Cook pork in skillet 5 to 6 minutes, stirring occasionally, until pork is lightly browned and no longer pink in center. Stir in bell peppers; heat until warm.
• Heat pita folds as directed on package. Lightly spread one side of each pita fold with garlic mixture. Spoon pork mixture over each; fold up.

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.

GRILLED CHICKEN PITAS

Steps:

• Combine 3 T lemon juice, soy sauce, garlic and 1 tsp of the oregano in a gallon Ziploc bag. Add the chicken, turn to coat.
• Allow the chicken breast to marinate for 30 minutes a room temperature or overnight in the refrigerator.
• Combine the tomatoes and feta cheese in a small glass dish. Add the remaining 2 tsp lemon juice, olive oil and the remaining 1 tsp oregano.
• Stir to combine and allow to sit at room temperature for 30 minutes.
• For the yogurt sauce, whisk together the yogurt, garlic, walnuts and olive oil. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.
• Preheat a grill pan to medium heat and coat with cooking spray.
• Grill the chicken breasts and onion rings for 8-10 minutes, turning frequently. (Grill until chicken is no longer pink in the thickest portion of the breast.).
• Remove chicken and onion rings from pan and set aside to cool. Slice the chicken into thin pieces.
• To assemble the sandwiches, cut each pita in half and split.
• Place several slices of grilled chicken, 3-4 slivers of onion, 1 T of the tomato-feta mixture, lettuce, olives and 1-2 slices of bacon to each pita.
• Top with yogurt sauce and a wad of alfalfa sprouts. Add salt and pepper, to taste.

SPICY CHICKEN TOMATO PITAS

Steps:

• In a bowl, whisk the first five ingredients. Add tomatoes, onion and parsley; toss to coat. Refrigerate until serving., Combine cumin, paprika, oregano, coriander, pepper flakes and salt; rub seasonings onto both sides of chicken. On a lightly oiled grill, cook chicken, covered, over medium heat or broil 4 in. from heat 4-7 minutes on each side or until a thermometer reads 165°., Cut chicken into slices. Serve in pita halves with relish.

CHICKEN CAESAR PITAS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Place chicken in a saucepan with garlic powder, thyme, and rosemary; add water to cover. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce heat medium-low, cover, and simmer until chicken is tender and no longer pink in the center, about 15 minutes. Remove chicken, let cool, and cut into strips.
• Meanwhile, place bread cubes on a baking sheet. Spray with butter spray; sprinkle with garlic salt and parsley.
• Bake bread cubes in preheated oven for 5 minutes. Turn cubes; spray again with butter spray and sprinkle with garlic salt and parsley. Bake another 5 to 10 minutes until golden brown and crunchy. Remove croutons, and let cool.
• Place bacon in a large, deep skillet. Cook over medium high heat until evenly browned and crispy. Remove bacon from skillet, drain on paper towels and crumble.
• Combine chicken, bacon, lettuce, and croutons in a large bowl. Toss with Caesar salad dressing and Parmesan cheese. Season to taste with salt and pepper and toss again. Spoon salad mixture into pita bread halves.

PEPPERY CHICKEN PITAS

Steps:

• Cut chicken into narrow strips and place in a large zip-top plastic bag.
• Add teriyaki sauce and marinate in the refrigerator for 2 hours.
• Remove chicken strips from teriyaki and discard remaining sauce.
• Combine thyme and next 4 ingredients; sprinkle over chicken.
• Heat oil in large skillet, add chicken and cook until no longer pink and cooked through, about 7-9 minutes.
• Combine mayonnaise and horseradish, carefully spread in each pita.
• Sprinkle lettuce evenly in each pita, then top with chicken mixture.