These straightforward pita pockets are loaded with juicy hen shawarma, crisp veggies, and creamy garlic yogurt sauce. Excellent for a fast weeknight dinner or meal prep for the week.
There’s one thing a few stuffed pita pocket that simply hits completely different. Possibly it’s the mixture of heat, fluffy bread, juicy, spiced hen, and creamy garlic yogurt sauce. Or perhaps it’s the truth that you may maintain all that deliciousness in a single hand—no fork required!
This hen shawarma pita pocket is every thing I like about my hen shawarma bowls, simply in a extra transportable (and enjoyable) kind. It’s good for meal prep, nice for on-the-go lunches, and full of daring flavors that make each chunk thrilling.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Massive taste, minimal effort – The hen marinates in a heat, spiced mix that offers you most taste with little or no hands-on time.
- Pita pockets = no mess – In contrast to a burrito or wrap, pita holds every thing inside, so that you get all of the toppings in each chunk (with out them spilling out).
- Nice for meal prep – Make a batch of hen 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 recent herbs? Go for it.
Elements Wanted
You solely want a handful of recent components and daring spices to make these pita pockets full of juicy, flavorful hen shawarma. Right here’s what you’ll want:
- hen thighs – boneless, skinless hen thighs keep tender and juicy when marinated and baked.
- lemon juice & olive oil – brilliant acidity and wholesome fat assist tenderize the hen 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 smooth, recent pita for one of the best texture. Heat it up barely earlier than filling!
- recent toppings – lettuce, tomatoes, pink onion, kalamata olives, and pickles or pickled turnips carry a mixture of crunch, tang, and freshness.
- tahini dressing & garlic yogurt sauce – these two sauces add creaminess and stability to the pita pocket. The tahini dressing has a wealthy ingredient, whereas the garlic yogurt sauce retains issues cool and creamy.
- recent herbs – chopped parsley or cilantro provides a burst of freshness.
Substitutions & Variations
I like how customizable these pita pockets are! Listed below are some straightforward swaps to suit your preferences or what you’ve gotten readily available:
- Spice degree: Need it milder? Skip the cayenne. Want extra warmth? Add a drizzle of harissa sauce or diced jalapeño.
- Need a vegetarian possibility? Swap the hen for crispy air fryer tofu or roasted chickpeas for a plant-based take.
- Pita alternate options: For those who don’t have pita, attempt serving the shawarma filling in naan, lavash, and even lettuce wraps for a lower-carb possibility.
- Further creamy? For those who love a saucy pita, add a bit hummus or tzatziki inside earlier than layering the fillings.
The way to Make
These yummy hen shawarma pita pockets come collectively in just some straightforward steps. Right here’s the right way to make them
Step 1: Whisk collectively the lemon juice, oil, and spices. Add the hen and marinate within the fridge for not less than 4 hours, ideally in a single day.
Step 2: Preheat your oven to 425°F. Place the marinated hen on a baking pan (discard extra marinade) and bake for 25–half-hour, or till totally cooked. Let relaxation, then slice thinly and toss with the juices within the pan.
Step 3: Whereas the hen 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 hen, lettuce, tomatoes, pink onion, olives, and pickles. Drizzle with tahini dressing and sprinkle with recent herbs. Get pleasure from!
Brittany’s Suggestions
- Marinate for optimum taste: Letting the hen sit within the marinade for not less than 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: Calmly warming the pita in a skillet, oven, or microwave makes it smooth and pliable, stopping cracks while you stuff it. Plus, a bit crispiness takes it to the subsequent degree!
- Slice the hen skinny: The thinner you slice the hen, the simpler it’s to stuff into the pita and get a bit of every thing in every chunk.
The way to Serve
- With crispy potatoes – You may’t go unsuitable pairing these with smashed potatoes or baked candy potato fries. The right stability of crispy, savory, and satisfying!
- With a recent salad – I like serving these alongside Shirazi salad, Greek salad, or a straightforward quinoa salad for one thing recent.
- As a part of a mezze platter – Skip stuffing the pita and serve every thing deconstructed with heat pita on the facet. Add some olives, feta, and further sauces (like my hummus) for the final word DIY scenario.
- With a comfortable bowl of soup – A heat bowl of lentil soup or tomato basil soup would spherical this out right into a comforting meal.
The way to Retailer & Prep in Advance
Pita pockets are nice for meal prep, however just a few easy tips will hold every thing recent:
Freeze the hen – If you wish to prep additional prematurely, the cooked hen might 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 hen forward of time – The hen shawarma might be cooked as much as 4 days prematurely 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 prematurely. Retailer every ingredient individually in hermetic containers within the fridge for simple meeting.
Retailer assembled pita pockets fastidiously – For those who’re meal prepping, retailer the pita, hen, and veggies individually to stop 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 hen 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 may also wrap the underside in parchment paper or foil to carry every thing collectively.
Reheat the hen shawarma in a sizzling skillet for a couple of minutes or microwave it in brief bursts till warmed by way of. A splash of water or broth might help forestall it from drying out.
Sure! The flavors are simply pretty much as good chilled, making it an awesome meal prep lunch. Simply retailer the sauce individually and drizzle it on when able to eat.
