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 completely different. Possibly it’s the mixture of heat, fluffy bread, juicy, spiced rooster, and creamy garlic yogurt sauce. Or perhaps it’s the truth that you possibly can maintain all that deliciousness in a single hand—no fork required!
This rooster shawarma pita pocket is every little thing I really like about my rooster shawarma bowls, simply in a extra moveable (and enjoyable) kind. It’s good for meal prep, nice for on-the-go lunches, and full of daring flavors that make each chew thrilling.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Massive taste, minimal effort – The rooster marinates in a heat, spiced mix that offers you most taste with little or no hands-on time.
- Pita pockets = no mess – Not like a burrito or wrap, pita holds every little thing 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 recent herbs? Go for it.
Substances Wanted
You solely want a handful of recent substances and daring spices to make these pita pockets full of 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 – shiny 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 mushy, recent pita for the perfect texture. Heat it up barely earlier than filling!
- recent toppings – lettuce, tomatoes, purple onion, kalamata olives, and pickles or pickled turnips convey 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.
- recent herbs – chopped parsley or cilantro provides a burst of freshness.
Substitutions & Variations
I really like how customizable these pita pockets are! Listed here are some straightforward swaps to suit your preferences or what you have got 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 rooster for crispy air fryer tofu or roasted chickpeas for a plant-based take.
- Pita options: In case you don’t have pita, strive serving the shawarma filling in naan, lavash, and even lettuce wraps for a lower-carb possibility.
- Further creamy? In case you love a saucy pita, add somewhat 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 the best way to make them
Step 1: Whisk collectively the lemon juice, oil, and spices. Add the rooster and marinate within the fridge for at the very 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 clean. Style and regulate seasoning as wanted.
Step 4: Heat the pitas, unfold the yogurt sauce inside, then layer within the sliced rooster, lettuce, tomatoes, purple onion, olives, and pickles. Drizzle with tahini dressing and sprinkle with recent herbs. Take pleasure in!
Brittany’s Suggestions
- Marinate for max taste: Letting the rooster sit within the marinade for at the very 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: Calmly warming the pita in a skillet, oven, or microwave makes it mushy and pliable, stopping cracks once you stuff it. Plus, somewhat crispiness takes it to the subsequent degree!
- Slice the rooster skinny: The thinner you slice the rooster, the simpler it’s to stuff into the pita and get somewhat of every little thing in every chew.
Easy methods to Serve
- With crispy potatoes – You may’t go incorrect pairing these with smashed potatoes or baked candy potato fries. The right steadiness of crispy, savory, and satisfying!
- With a recent salad – I really like serving these alongside Shirazi salad, Greek salad, or a simple quinoa salad for one thing recent.
- As a part of a mezze platter – Skip stuffing the pita and serve every little thing deconstructed with heat pita on the facet. Add some olives, feta, and further sauces (like my hummus) for the last word DIY state of affairs.
- 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 tips will preserve every little thing recent:
Freeze the rooster – If you wish to prep additional prematurely, the cooked rooster 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 rooster forward of time – The rooster 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 – In case you’re meal prepping, retailer the pita, rooster, 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.
Regularly 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 too can wrap the underside in parchment paper or foil to carry every little thing collectively.
Reheat the rooster shawarma in a scorching skillet for a couple of minutes or microwave it in brief bursts till warmed by. A splash of water or broth may help forestall it from drying out.
Sure! The flavors are simply nearly as good chilled, making it an awesome meal prep lunch. Simply retailer the sauce individually and drizzle it on when able to eat.
Extra Rooster Recipes
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