These straightforward pita pockets are loaded with juicy rooster shawarma, crisp veggies, and creamy garlic yogurt sauce. Good for a fast weeknight dinner or meal prep for the week.
There’s one thing a few stuffed pita pocket that simply hits totally different. Perhaps it’s the mixture of heat, fluffy bread, juicy, spiced rooster, and creamy garlic yogurt sauce. Or possibly it’s the truth that you’ll be able to maintain all that deliciousness in a single hand—no fork required!
This rooster shawarma pita pocket is all the things I like about my rooster shawarma bowls, simply in a extra transportable (and enjoyable) kind. It’s good for meal prep, nice for on-the-go lunches, and filled with daring flavors that make each chew thrilling.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Large taste, minimal effort – The rooster marinates in a heat, spiced mix that provides you most taste with little or no hands-on time.
- Pita pockets = no mess – In contrast to a burrito or wrap, pita holds all the things inside, so that you get all of the toppings in each chew (with out them spilling out).
- Nice for meal prep – Make a batch of rooster shawarma forward of time, and also you’ll have straightforward lunches and dinners all week.
- Completely customizable – Load it up together with your favourite toppings! Love pickled onions? Further tahini? Extra contemporary herbs? Go for it.
Substances Wanted
You solely want a handful of contemporary elements and daring spices to make these pita pockets filled with juicy, flavorful rooster shawarma. Right here’s what you’ll want:
- rooster thighs – boneless, skinless rooster thighs keep tender and juicy when marinated and baked.
- lemon juice & olive oil – vivid acidity and wholesome fat assist tenderize the rooster whereas including taste.
- shawarma spices – a aromatic mix of cumin, coriander, garlic powder, onion powder, turmeric, paprika, cardamom, cinnamon, cayenne, salt, and pepper.
- pita bread – use comfortable, contemporary pita for the very best texture. Heat it up barely earlier than filling!
- contemporary toppings – lettuce, tomatoes, crimson onion, kalamata olives, and pickles or pickled turnips deliver a mixture of crunch, tang, and freshness.
- tahini dressing & garlic yogurt sauce – these two sauces add creaminess and steadiness to the pita pocket. The tahini dressing has a wealthy aspect, whereas the garlic yogurt sauce retains issues cool and creamy.
- contemporary herbs – chopped parsley or cilantro provides a burst of freshness.
Substitutions & Variations
I like how customizable these pita pockets are! Listed here are some straightforward swaps to suit your preferences or what you could have readily available:
- Spice stage: Need it milder? Skip the cayenne. Favor extra warmth? Add a drizzle of harissa sauce or diced jalapeño.
- Desire a vegetarian choice? Swap the rooster for crispy air fryer tofu or roasted chickpeas for a plant-based take.
- Pita options: In case you don’t have pita, attempt serving the shawarma filling in naan, lavash, and even lettuce wraps for a lower-carb choice.
- Further creamy? In case you love a saucy pita, add just a little hummus or tzatziki inside earlier than layering the fillings.
Easy methods to Make
These yummy rooster shawarma pita pockets come collectively in just some straightforward steps. Right here’s find out how to make them
Step 1: Whisk collectively the lemon juice, oil, and spices. Add the rooster and marinate within the fridge for at the least 4 hours, ideally in a single day.
Step 2: Preheat your oven to 425°F. Place the marinated rooster on a baking pan (discard extra marinade) and bake for 25–half-hour, or till absolutely cooked. Let relaxation, then slice thinly and toss with the juices within the pan.
Step 3: Whereas the rooster bakes, combine collectively the Greek yogurt, lemon juice, garlic, tahini, salt, and pepper till easy. Style and modify seasoning as wanted.
Step 4: Heat the pitas, unfold the yogurt sauce inside, then layer within the sliced rooster, lettuce, tomatoes, crimson onion, olives, and pickles. Drizzle with tahini dressing and sprinkle with contemporary herbs. Get pleasure from!
Brittany’s Ideas
- Marinate for optimum taste: Letting the rooster sit within the marinade for at the least 4 hours (or in a single day!) makes an enormous distinction. The longer it marinates, the extra flavorful and juicy it’ll be.
- Toast the pita: Frivolously warming the pita in a skillet, oven, or microwave makes it comfortable and pliable, stopping cracks once you stuff it. Plus, just a little crispiness takes it to the following stage!
- Slice the rooster skinny: The thinner you slice the rooster, the better it’s to stuff into the pita and get just a little of all the things in every chew.
Easy methods to Serve
- With crispy potatoes – You possibly can’t go incorrect pairing these with smashed potatoes or baked candy potato fries. The proper steadiness of crispy, savory, and satisfying!
- With a contemporary salad – I like serving these alongside Shirazi salad, Greek salad, or a straightforward quinoa salad for one thing contemporary.
- As a part of a mezze platter – Skip stuffing the pita and serve all the things deconstructed with heat pita on the facet. Add some olives, feta, and additional sauces (like my hummus) for the last word DIY scenario.
- With a comfy bowl of soup – A heat bowl of lentil soup or tomato basil soup would spherical this out right into a comforting meal.
Easy methods to Retailer & Prep in Advance
Pita pockets are nice for meal prep, however just a few easy methods will maintain all the things contemporary:
Freeze the rooster – If you wish to prep additional upfront, the cooked rooster may be frozen for as much as 3 months. Let it thaw within the fridge in a single day and reheat when prepared to make use of.
Make the rooster forward of time – The rooster shawarma may be cooked as much as 4 days upfront and saved in an hermetic container within the fridge. Simply reheat in a skillet or microwave earlier than assembling your pita pockets.
Prep the toppings – Chop the veggies, slice the pickles, and make the garlic yogurt sauce upfront. Retailer every ingredient individually in hermetic containers within the fridge for straightforward meeting.
Retailer assembled pita pockets fastidiously – In case you’re meal prepping, retailer the pita, rooster, and veggies individually to forestall sogginess. Assemble proper earlier than consuming or wrap every pita tightly in foil or parchment paper for grab-and-go meals.
Continuously Requested Questions
Completely! Swap the rooster shawarma for crispy air fryer tofu or roasted chickpeas for a plant-based model.
In case your pita bread is dry, heat it barely within the oven or microwave to make it extra pliable. You can too wrap the underside in parchment paper or foil to carry all the things collectively.
Reheat the rooster shawarma in a scorching skillet for a couple of minutes or microwave it in brief bursts till warmed by way of. A splash of water or broth may also help forestall it from drying out.
Sure! The flavors are simply nearly as good chilled, making it a terrific meal prep lunch. Simply retailer the sauce individually and drizzle it on when able to eat.
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