Round 2 Recipe Pita Pile On With Spicy Yogurt Sauce

FALAFEL IN PITA WITH YOGURT SAUCE

Steps:

• In medium skillet over medium heat, add 2 tablespoons oil and sweat onion and peppers 2 to 3 minutes then garlic and cook until translucent, about 5 minutes.
• In a food processor, pulse together chick peas, red chili flakes, ground cumin, the egg, salt and black pepper to form a coarse consistency. Then add flour, parsley, and cilantro. Pulse until mixture starts pulling from the sides of the food processor.
• Remove mixture to a large bowl and mix in the onion mixture. Chill falafel until ready to cook.
• Roll falafel dough into 1-inch rounds. Then form rounds into an oblong quenelle shape, like a football.
• In a thick-bottomed skillet heat 1/2 inch of canola oil over medium heat to 350 degrees F. Cook falafel balls a few at a time, until golden brown, about 5 minutes. Be sure to turn them so they do not burn or stick to the bottom of the pan. Drain on paper towels and sprinkle with salt while still hot.
• Open the pita bread to make pockets. Place 3 to 4 falafels inside. Stuff with lettuce tomato and cucumbers and drizzle sauce generously on the inside. Serve immediately.
• Mix the yogurt, lemon zest, lemon juice, cilantro, parsley and cumin together in a small bowl. Add salt to taste. Chill until ready to use.

BEEF PITAS WITH YOGURT SAUCE

Steps:

• In a small bowl, mix yogurt, parsley, garlic and 1/8 teaspoon salt. Toss beef with herbs, pepper and remaining salt., In a large cast-iron or other heavy skillet, heat 2 teaspoons oil over medium-high heat. Add onion; cook and stir until tender, 4-6 minutes. Remove from pan., In same skillet, heat remaining oil over medium-high heat. Add beef; cook and stir until no longer pink, 2-3 minutes. Serve on pitas; top with onion and sauce.

ROUND 2 RECIPES -BEEF KEBOB PITA POCKETS

Steps:

• Heat a grill pan over medium-high heat and spray pan with nonstick cooking spray. Grill kebabs 3 minutes per side until medium-rare.
• In a small bowl combine cucumbers and leftover reserved yogurt marinade.
• Slice the top off the pita pockets. Fill the pockets with the beef, couscous and yogurt cucumber mixture. Place on serving dishes and serve.
• In a large bowl whisk together canola oil, garlic, yogurt, cumin, salt, pepper and hot sauce. Reserve half the marinade, in a covered bowl, and refrigerate. Add beef cubes to remaining marinade, cover and refrigerate for anywhere from 30 minutes to overnight.
• Preheat grill pan or outdoor grill to medium high heat. Be sure to oil the grill surface before grilling the kebabs.
• Thread beef cubes and onion pieces onto skewers, alternating 3 pieces of beef and onion per skewer. Set aside extra beef cubes. Place skewers on the grill pan and cook 3 to 4 minutes on each side for medium-rare.
• Place kebabs on a serving platter along with Spicy Couscous. Drizzle with some of the reserved marinade and serve.
• Heat oil in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat. Saute garlic with red pepper flakes for 2 minutes being careful not to burn garlic. Add the chicken broth, turn up heat to medium-high and bring to a boil. Stir in couscous, cover and remove from the heat. Let stand 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper and fluff with fork. Transfer to a serving bowl and serve.

ROUND 2 RECIPE - BAKED FALAFEL WITH YOGURT SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Place a baking sheet in to the oven.
• Combine all falafel ingredients, including the Chickpea Salad, in the bowl of a food processor fitted with the blade attachment. Pulse mixture until coarsely ground.
• Using your hands, form the falafel mixture into balls about the size of walnuts and set aside. If the falafel mixture sticks to your hands dip them in cold water in between rolling each ball.
• Remove the baking sheet from the oven and spray with nonstick cooking spray. Place the falafel onto the sheet pan and bake for 15 to 20 minutes, turning halfway through the cooking, to brown on both sides.
• Place on a serving platter and serve with yogurt sauce on the side.
• Add all the sauce ingredients to a small bowl and combine well.
• Combine all ingredients in a large mixing bowl and toss to combine.

SPICY YOGURT SAUCE

Steps:

• Saute the onions and chiles in the oil until tender, about 10 minutes. Add the cumin and coriander and saute for a minute, stirring constantly. Stir in the tomato and flour and cook for 2 minutes. Finally, stir in the yogurt. Heat the sauce thoroughly, but do not allow it to boil or the yogurt will curdle. Add salt to taste and serve

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.

LAMB PITAS WITH YOGURT SAUCE

Steps:

• In a large skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat; brown lamb in batches. Transfer lamb to a 3- or 4-qt. slow cooker, reserving drippings in skillet., In drippings, saute onion over medium heat until tender, 4-6 minutes. Add garlic and tomato paste; cook and stir 2 minutes. Stir in wine, 1 teaspoon salt, oregano and basil. Add to lamb. Cook, covered, on low until lamb is tender, 6-8 hours., To serve, dice enough cucumber to measure 1 cup; thinly slice remaining cucumber. Combine diced cucumber with yogurt and remaining salt. Fill pita halves with lamb mixture, tomatoes, sliced cucumbers and yogurt mixture. Freeze option: Freeze cooled lamb mixture in freezer containers. To use, partially thaw in refrigerator overnight. Heat through in a saucepan, stirring occasionally; add a little broth or water if necessary.

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.