Steak Pitas With Tahini Cucumber Salad Recipes

FROM THE PANTRY: TUNA, WHITE BEAN AND OLIVE FLATBREAD PITAS

Steps:

• Pulse the beans, 4 of the sun-dried tomatoes, 2 tablespoons of the oil, 2 tablespoons water, vinegar, granulated garlic and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a food processor until blended and semi-smooth.
• Thinly slice the 2 remaining sun-dried tomatoes. Gently toss them with the tuna, olives, roasted red peppers, the 2 remaining tablespoons oil, red pepper flakes and a few grinds of black pepper in a medium bowl, breaking up the tuna slightly.
• Heat a griddle or large skillet over medium-high heat. Brush one side of the pitas with oil, lay the oiled side on the griddle and cook until lightly charred in spots, about 1 minute. Transfer, charred-side up, to serving plates.
• Spread some of the bean mixture on each pita, and top with some of the tuna-olive salad. Drizzle each with oil, and sprinkle with black pepper.

PITA SALAD WITH TAHINI DRESSING

Steps:

• For the salad: Heat 1/4 inch of oil in a skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Fry the pita pieces until lightly browned, 30 to 60 seconds on each side. Transfer to a paper towel and immediately sprinkle lightly with salt.
• In a large bowl, combine the pita chips with the spinach, mint, tomatoes, radishes, cucumber and onions. Season with a few turns of black pepper and salt to taste.
• For the tahini dressing: Whisk together the tahini, lemon juice, sumac, salt, garlic and 1/4 cup water, stirring until thickened. Drizzle half of the dressing over the salad and toss. Serve with the remaining dressing on the side.

STEAK SHAWARMA PITA

Steps:

• For the green chile zhoug: Blacken serrano chiles on top rack of a toaster oven set on broil for 2 minutes per side. Let cool until cool enough to handle, then remove stems. Place in a food processor fitted with an S blade along with the oil, cardamom, coriander, salt, green onions, garlic, lemon juice, cilantro, parsley, bell pepper and jalapeno and pulse for 3 to 5 turns, then process on high speed, adding 1/2 cup cool water. Adjust for salt and place in a glass jar with a tight-fitting lid. Keeps for up to 2 weeks, refrigerated. Use like hot sauce or salsa in a pita with shawarma.
• For the quinoa taboulleh: Combine the quinoa, 1 teaspoon salt and 2 cups water in a 1-quart saucepot and bring to a boil. Cover and turn off heat, then let rest without removing the lid for 20 minutes. Spread cooked quinoa over a dinner plate to cool and allow steam and moisture to dissipate.
• Meanwhile, mix oil, pepper, parsley, lemon juice, mint leaves and remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt in a large bowl, then fold in quinoa. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use. Taboulleh keeps, refrigerated for 3 days.
• For the steak shawarma: Mix the yogurt, vinegar, garlic, coriander, allspice, cardamom, cinnamon, cumin, lemon juice, salt and pepper in a medium bowl with a whisk. One at a time, dip each thinly sliced steak into marinade on both sides and place in a plastic tub that will accommodate all marinade and steak. Cover and refrigerate overnight or up to 3 days.
• Preheat a gas or charcoal grill to 450 degrees F. Line a pan with foil.
• Place steaks on hot grill and cook for 90 seconds per side, then place in lined pan. Cut thin steaks into 1/4-inch strips with a good knife. Return cut strips to pan and cover with foil to keep warm until ready to serve.
• Serve steaks in pitas, and top with quinoa tabbouleh and green chile zhoug.

SHRIMP-SALAD PITAS

Steps:

• Preheat the broiler. Soak the chopped onion in a bowl of cold water while you prepare the shrimp.
• Toss the shrimp with the olive oil, paprika, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and pepper to taste on a rimmed baking sheet. Spread in an even layer and broil until the shrimp are opaque, about 4 minutes. Transfer to a bowl and let cool. Wash and dry the baking sheet.
• Drain the onion and add to the shrimp along with the yogurt, carrot, cucumber, dill, and salt and pepper to taste. Grate in 1 teaspoon lemon zest and squeeze in about half of the lemon juice.
• Lay the pitas on the baking sheet and toast under the broiler. Cut the pitas in half and fill with the lettuce and shrimp salad.

CUCUMBER AND TOMATO SALAD WITH TAHINI DRESSING

Steps:

• Combine cucumber, tomatoes, and mint in a large bowl; season with salt and pepper. Gently toss.
• Divide salad among four plates, and drizzle with Tahini Dressing. Serve immediately.

TOMATO, CUCUMBER, AND PITA SALAD

Steps:

• Marinate olives:
• Stir together all olive ingredients in an airtight container and marinate olives, chilled, at least 8 hours. Bring to room temperature before using.
• Make pita toasts:
• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Brush rough sides of pita halves with oil and sprinkle with za'atar. Cut each round into 8 wedges, then halve each wedge diagonally. Arrange triangles, oiled sides up, on 2 baking sheets and bake in batches in middle of oven until crisp and pale golden, about 10 minutes. Cool on a rack.
• Assemble salad:
• Add lemon juice to marinated olives, then close container and shake vigorously. Divide olive mixture between 2 large salad bowls. Divide romaine, cucumber, tomatoes, feta, and pita toasts between bowls, then sprinkle with za'atar and toss.

PITA SALAD SANDWICHES WITH TAHINI SAUCE

Steps:

• In a small bowl, mix all sauce ingredients until blended.
• Slice an edge from each pita bread, and carefully open pockets.
• In a medium bowl, combine feta, tomatoes, and spinach. Add 1/4 cup of sauce, and toss gently to mix. Spoon the mixture into each pocket.
• Divide sprouts, cucumber, and avocado among the sandwiches. Drizzle each with about 1 Tbsp of tahini sauce.
• Serve right away.

GREEK STEAK PITAS

Steps:

• Combine first 3 ingredients in a large zip-top plastic bag; add steak to bag. Marinate 3 minutes, turning once. Remove steak from bag; discard marinade. Sprinkle steak with 1/4 teaspoon salt. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add butter and oil. Add steak; cook 5 minutes on each side or until desired doneness. Let stand 2 minutes. Cut steak across grain into thin slices.
• Return pan to heat. Add juice, garlic, and spinach; sauté 1 minute. Remove from heat; add remaining salt.
• Spoon 2 tablespoons spinach mixture into each pita half. Place 1 tablespoon onion, 3 cucumber slices, and 1 1/2 ounces steak in each pita half; sprinkle 1 tablespoon cheese in each pita half.

TURKEY PITAS WITH CUCUMBERS, CHICKPEAS AND TAHINI

Steps:

• In a large bowl, stir together onion, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, salt, cumin and sugar. Let sit for at least 10 minutes while you prepare the rest of the ingredients.
• Meanwhile, in a small bowl, stir together tahini, remaining 1 tablespoon lemon juice, garlic, pinch of salt and 2 to 3 tablespoons warm water to thin the sauce. It should be thick but pourable. Taste, and add more salt and lemon juice, if needed.
• Into the bowl with onions, stir in chickpeas, cucumbers, tomatoes and oil. Taste, and add more salt and lemon juice if needed.
• In each pita half, layer turkey, then drizzle with tahini-lemon mixture. Add spoonfuls of chickpea salad, cilantro and mint. Drizzle liberally with more tahini sauce and zhug, if you like.

GREEK STEAK PITAS WITH DILL SAUCE

Steps:

• Prepare grill or broiler. To prepare sauce, combine first 5 ingredients, stirring with a whisk. To prepare steak, combine juice and next 4 ingredients (juice through steak) in a large zip-top plastic bag; seal. Marinate in refrigerator 10 minutes, turning once. Remove steak from bag; discard marinade. Place steak on grill rack or broiler pan coated with cooking spray; cook 6 minutes on each side or until desired degree of doneness. Let stand 5 minutes. Cut steak diagonally across grain into thin slices. Line each pita half with 1 lettuce leaf half. Divide steak evenly among pita halves. Spoon 1 tablespoon sauce and 1 1/2 teaspoons cheese into each pita half. Yield: 4 servings (serving size: 2 stuffed pita halves) NUTRITION PER SERVING CALORIES 386(25% from fat); FAT 10.9g (sat 4.9g,mono 3.9g,poly 0.7g); PROTEIN 31.6g; CHOLESTEROL 64mg; CALCIUM 165mg; SODIUM 643mg; FIBER 1.7g; IRON 4.2mg; CARBOHYDRATE 38.4g

CURRIED BEEF PITAS WITH CUCUMBER SAUCE

Steps:

• In a small bowl, mix the first seven ingredients. Refrigerate until serving., In a large skillet, cook beef and onion over medium heat 6-8 minutes or until beef is no longer pink; crumble beef; drain. Add apple, raisins, curry powder and salt; cook until apple is tender, stirring occasionally. Serve in pita halves with sauce.

SPICED CHICKPEA SALAD WITH TAHINI AND PITA CHIPS

Steps:

• Make the chickpeas: Heat oven to 425 degrees. Pour the chickpeas into a small baking dish, about 6 inches by 8 inches. The chickpeas should be crowded together in a thick layer, not spread out. Pour in olive oil just until chickpeas are covered. (This will look like a lot, but don't worry: It forms part of the dressing.)
• Add garlic, cumin, paprika, and 2 big pinches each of salt and pepper. Stir gently to combine. Bake until oil is bubbling around the chickpeas and they are turning reddish-brown, 35 to 40 minutes. Set aside to cool.
• Meanwhile, make tahini sauce: Pour tahini into a bowl and whisk in lemon juice and garlic. The tahini will thicken and clump. Slowly whisk in warm water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until sauce becomes smooth, creamy and pourable. Taste and season with salt, pepper and more lemon juice, if desired. Set aside.
• Cook the greens: Place a large frying pan over medium heat and drizzle lightly with olive oil. When hot, add the greens in batches, along with a big pinch of salt. Stir until wilted and tender and set aside.
• When ready to serve, in a large bowl, gently mix chickpeas and their cooking oil with the cooked greens, half the pita chips, and the chopped herbs. Mound chickpea mixture in 4 shallow bowls. Divide cucumber slices around chickpeas. Drizzle thickly with half the tahini sauce and scatter remaining pita chips on top. Place a lemon wedge on the side and serve, passing extra tahini sauce at the table.

TOMATO AND CUCUMBER SALAD WITH PITA BREAD AND ZA'ATAR

Steps:

• Stir together tomatoes, cucumber, scallions, parsley, and salt and pepper to taste. Squeeze lemon juice over salad and stir. Drizzle oil over salad and stir.

STEAKS WITH CUCUMBER SAUCE

Steps:

• Place steaks in a shallow dish; add teriyaki sauce and turn to coat. Cover; refrigerate overnight. In a bowl, combine the cucumber, sour cream, mayonnaise, chives, dill and salt. Cover and refrigerate., Drain steaks, discarding marinade. Grill steaks, covered, over medium-hot heat for 4-5 minutes on each side or until meat reaches desired doneness (for medium-rare, a thermometer should read 135°; medium, 140°; medium-well, 145°). Serve with cucumber sauce.

TURKEY PITA WITH CABBAGE, CUCUMBERS AND TAHINI DRESSING

Steps:

• Put cabbage and carrot in a bowl, season with salt and pepper, then toss with pomegranate molasses and 1/2 teaspoon garlic and set aside. Put cucumber in a separate bowl and season with salt and chopped mint.
• Make the tahini dressing: In a small bowl, stir together tahini, lemon juice, remaining 1/2 teaspoon garlic and cayenne. Whisk in yogurt and season with salt and pepper.
• Put olive oil in a cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add turkey and let sizzle. Season with salt, pepper, cumin, coriander and red pepper flakes. Stir-fry for 1 minute and turn off heat.
• Warm pitas briefly in a toaster oven and cut in half to make 8 pockets. Spoon some warm turkey into each pita, then a spoonful of cabbage, a bit of cucumber, some sliced radish, if using, and a large dollop of tahini dressing. Serve 2 filled pockets per person.